Material properties and their applications in textile products

Material properties and their applications in textile products

Material Properties

  • Define the characteristics and attributes of a material that can affect its performance and use.
  • These include tensile strength, elasticity, toughness, hardness, ductility, malleability, and absorption.

Tensile Strength

  • Refers to the ability of a material to resist breaking under tension.
  • Materials with high tensile strength, such as nylon and polyester, are often used in applications like heavy-duty threads and webbing for bags and safety gear.

Elasticity

  • Describes how much a material can be stretched or deformed and still return to its original shape.
  • Fabrics like spandex and elastane have high elasticity, allowing them to be used in sportswear, underwear and other clothing items where stretch and recovery are required.

Toughness

  • Refers to the ability of a material to absorb energy and deform without fracturing.
  • Materials with a high degree of toughness, such as leather and high impact polymers, are used in products that need to withstand wear and tear like shoes, belts and protective gear.

Hardness

  • The measure of a material’s resistance to localised plastic deformation, like a dent or a scratch.
  • Hard and stiff components like plastic buttons and metallic zippers frequently appear in textiles.

Ductility

  • Represents a material’s ability to deform under tensile stress; this often includes the ability to stretch into a wire.
  • Copper and gold, while not frequently found in textile products themselves, are used in conductive threads and edgings due to their high ductility.

Malleability

  • How easily a material can be shaped or hammered without breaking or cracking.
  • Material like thermoplastic—used in heat-set applications such as fusible webbing and heat-shrink fabrics—or waxed cotton can be shaped under specific conditions and will hold their shape when those conditions change.

Absorption

  • The property that defines how well a material extracts or holds moisture.
  • Natural fibres like cotton and wool are highly absorbent, finding use in towels, robes, and other home textiles.
  • Conversely, synthetic fibres like polyester and acrylic are less absorbent, which lends itself well to sportswear and other moisture-wicking applications.

Fabric Construction

  • Combines the mechanical properties of a fibre with the aesthetic aspects of yarn and textile design.
  • Includes methods such as weaving, knitting, and bonding, and depends heavily on the qualities of the materials used and the product’s intended function.

Weaving

  • Transform thread or yarn into fabric by interlacing the threads lengthwise and widthwise.
  • Produces a wide range of fabric types, including denim, satin, and twill.

Knitting

  • Forms a fabric by interlocking loops of yarn together.
  • Yields fabrics that are commonly stretchable and comfortable, like jersey, terry and rib knit.

Bonding

  • Adheres fibres together using heat, moisture, and pressure, or uses a binding agent to bond separate fabric layers.
  • Applied to produce items like fusible interfacing, laminated fabrics or fleece linings in jackets.