Major Types of FIbers

Nylon- Molecules with an acid (-COOH) group on each end are reacted with molecules containing amine (-NH2) groups on each end to form the resulting nylon fibers. Nylon was intended to be a synthetic replacement for silk that would be substituted for it in many different products when silk became scarce and impractically expensive. This helped to make nylon the first successful synthetic polymer. Its appearance under a microscope reveals what appears to be chain links formed in a repeating pattern. Since such a structure is not natural, it’s rather easy to classify nylon as synthetic without knowing what it is.

Nylon under a microscope

Cotton- Cotton is a natural forming fiber that grows on cotton plants as large fluffy balls or in a protective casing. The fibers of cotton look like tiny, hallow, interwoven threads under a microscope (similar to a DNA strand appearance). While most all natural, non-color treated cotton is white, the image of the fibers under a microscope is black. These cotton fibers are used in textiles as well as many other items, making cotton an important resource.

Cotton under a microscope

Chenille- Chenille is named from the unique process by which it is made. The chenille yarn is manufactured by placing short lengths of yarn, called the "pile", between two "core yarns" and then twisting them together. The edges of the piles then stand at right angles from the yarn’s core. This gives chenille both its softness and its characteristic look. Chenille looks different in one direction compared to another since the fibers catch and refract the light differently. Chenille can appear iridescent without the use of iridescent fibers. Iridescence is created by the various light refraction patterns seen based on how the material was twisted. The yarn is commonly manufactured from cotton, but can also be made using acrylic, rayon and olefin.

Chenille under a microscope

Hemp- Hemp is a natural fiber made from the Hemp plant by bast outside the woody plant’s stalk. As of today, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, and construction with only modest commercial success. Hemp is also used to make hemp yarn which is a very tough string with a multitude of uses. Other purposes for hemp are being experimented on such as use as biodegradable plastic or strong construction materials for housing insulation and building.

Hemp under a microscope

Silk- Silk is a natural protein fiber that can usually be woven into textiles. Silks are produced by several other insects, but only the silk of moth caterpillars has been used for textile manufacturing. The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons of the larvae mulberry silkworms which are commonly bread in captivity. The shimmering appearance of silk is due to the triangular prism-like structure of the silk fiber. This shape allows silk cloth to refract incoming light at different angles; thus, producing different colors.

Silk under a microscope