Pashmina Wool Fibers

Pashmina is another name for Cashmere is a downy undercoat of the Capra Hircus Laniger goats that mainly live in the Trans-Himalayan regions classified as speciality hair fibres which possess special qualities of fineness and lustre, which is used for making finest quality shawls and hijabs.

The History

Woven shawls in India have been worn as early as the Indus Valley Civilization. A famous example is the statue of a priest-king found at Mohenjo-Daro, who is draped in a shawl decorated with trefoil patterns.

The past of this super-luxurious wool resonates with the history of India itself, going back to the pre-Mughal time when the first details of this enticing fabric were documented. It is however believed that unstitched woollen wraps on the shoulders were already being used for warmth some 3500 years ago – roughly the age of “Mohenjo Daro” civilization. “Buddha”, along with his disciples, is also shown in elegant drapes in most of the depictions

Definition

Pashmina, a prince of the speciality hair fibre is one of the finest natural fibre. Encyclopedia of textiles (1980) defines speciality hair fibres as the rare animal fibres which possess special qualities of fineness and lustre. Pashmina is the down fibres or undercoat derived from domestic goat known as Capra hircus, which is native to India (Von Bergen, 1963). Pashmina can also be defined as the down (undercoat) fibre derived from Cashmere goats with a diameter of 15 microns or less (ASTM, D-123-59).

#??#

Pashmina has derived its name from the Persian word “pashm“ meaning “soft gold“, the king of fibres (Anon, 2005). It is well known for its fineness, warmth, softness, desirable aesthetic value, elegance and timelessness in fashion. It is the most luxurious fibre which is much softer than superfine merino wool of the same diameter with the result it commands a much higher price. It has occupied a unique position among the fibres of animal origin because of its warmth, lightness, handle and its better ability to absorb dyes and moisture.

On an equal weight basis, it is having 3 times more insulating capacity as that of wool (Von Bergen, 1963). The term Pashmina is also known as Cashmere, Kashmir, Pashm, Tiflit, Tiftik, Tivit, Tibit based on the effect on fibre yield. There is an apparent variation in the fibre length of Pashmina from different body regions in case of both male and females. As Pashmina grows as the undercoat and acts as a protective mechanism in Pashmina goats, so the sub-zero winter temperature also has an effect on the growth of Pashmina fibres.

The Changthang Region and the Changra goats

The pristine beauty of the Changthang region in Ladakh is marred by the stench of death that hangs over it. In the past three months, thousands of Changra goats, whose cold-shielding wool—six times finer than a human hair—is used to weave the famed pashmina shawls, have died because of heavy snowfall.

News of sporadic deaths came in the first week of February from the inaccessible transit settlements of the nomadic Changpas who rear Changra goats. Before the information could reach the state headquarters in Srinagar, there were more deaths. As per the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), 25,000 Changra goats died in February and March, putting livelihoods of the Changpas at risk.

#??#

Changthang is a remote plateau in south-eastern Ladakh, bordering China (see map). At an altitude ranging from 4,200 metres to 5,700, the region is a cold desert that receives little rain. The summer rain of four to five days supports small patches of pastures, dictating the delicate ecology-economy equation of the Changpas. The pastoralist community largely depends on livestock products for survival. Dairy products are converted into less perishable forms like butter and cheese, which are used during winters. The produce is also used as currency in the barter system practised in the region.

Changthang usually experiences five centimetres of snow during winters when the temperature dips to -30°C. But this year it received 121 cm of snowfall, which many claims is the worst in the past half a century. “This is unusual and has triggered the crisis,” says Monisha Ahmed, an anthropologist working in the region. According to residents and government officials in Leh, most of the goats have died due to starvation. There was very little rain last summer due to which there weren’t enough pastures. Adding to the woes, heavy snowfall cut off the region from the outside, causing a delay in fodder supply from the government. Whatever pastures that sprouted were buried under snow, making grazing impossible. Mostly young and the old goats have died. It is not the cold but the thick snow cover over pastures that killed them, says Nawang Tharchen, a resident of Rupshu valley and a Changpa.

For more news, please pay attention to Yarn Fair.

Source: textileschool

#??#

Carbon fiber is a super strong material that is extremely lightweight. It is five times as strong as steel, two times as stiff, yet weighs about two-thirds less. Carbon fiber is basically very thin strands of carbon (even thinner than human hair). The strands can be twisted together, like yarn and then be woven together, like cloth. To make carbon fiber take on a permanent shape, it can be laid over a mold and coated with a stiff resin or plastic. Carbon fiber can also be defined as a fiber containing at least 92 wt % carbons.

Carbon fibers are a new breed of high-strength fiber. It came into existence in 1879 when Edison took out a patent for the manufacture of carbon filaments suitable for use in electric lamps. However, in the early 1960s, when there was a need f of the aerospace industry – especially for military aircraft – for better and lightweight materials, successful commercial production started.

In recent decades, carbon fibers have found wide usage in aeronautics, athletic performance, automobiles, building structures and, of course, musical instruments. Carbon fibers are used in composites with a lightweight matrix.

Carbon fiber composites are ideally suited for applications where strength, stiffness, lower weight, and outstanding fatigue characteristics are critical. They are used in the occasion where high temperature, chemical inertness, and high damping are important. They have been extensively used in composites in the form of woven textiles, prepregs, continuous fibers/roving, and chopped fibers. The composite parts can be produced through filament winding, tape winding, protrusion, compression molding, vacuum bagging, liquid molding, and injection molding.

There are two most important precursors in the carbon fiber industry are polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and mesophase pitch (MP). The structure and composition of the precursor affect the properties of the resultant carbon fibers significantly. Although the essential processes for carbon fiber production are similar, different precursors require different processing conditions in order to achieve improved Performance.

#??#

Examples of Application

Aerospace – flights, rockets, satellites

Environment and Energy-related – wind power blade, tube power tank, battery charging flywheel, fuel cell, tidal power blade, the electric cable core

Auto-mobile – hood, roof, propeller shaft, body panel for the bus, compressed natural gas tank

Industrial use- the body of trains, x-ray top panel, pc housing, robot hand for liquid crystal panel, bridge pier reinforcement

Sports material – fishing rod, bicycle, hockey stick, racket, golf shaft.

Benefits of Carbon fiber

The potentially low-cost carbon fiber composites will be in a position to provide enormous advantages to a number of technologies for current and future everyday life applications, including a number of advanced technologies that are not currently commercially feasible. Lightweight components for automobiles, buses, trains, aircraft, ships, and applications including lightweight panels and load-bearing structures could result in weight savings, leading to a major saving in the nation’s and world’s energy consumption.

Low-cost carbon fiber is a national goal towards accomplishing a number of manufacturing technological breakthroughs.

Difficulties of Carbon Fiber

Cost is the main hurdle carbon fiber will have to overcome before it can provide a viable energy solution.

The second hurdle is waste disposal. When a typical car breaks down, its steel can be melted and used to construct another car (or building, or anything else made of steel). Carbon fiber can’t be melted down, and it’s not easy to recycle. When it is recycled, the recycled carbon fiber isn’t as strong as it was before recycling.

Lack of high-speed composite fabrication techniques

#??#

Classification and types of carbon fiber

Based on modulus, strength, and final heat treatment temperature, carbon fibers can be classified into the following categories:

Based on carbon fiber properties, carbon fibers can be grouped into:

Ultra-high-modulus, type UHM (modulus >450Gpa)

High-modulus, type HM (modulus between 350-450Gpa)

Intermediate-modulus, type IM (modulus between 200-350Gpa)

Low modulus and high-tensile, type HT (modulus < 100Gpa, tensile strength > 3.0Gpa)

Super high-tensile, type SHT (tensile strength > 4.5Gpa)

Based on precursor fiber materials, carbon fibers are classified into:

PAN-based carbon fibers

Pitch-based carbon fibers

Mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers

Isotropic pitch-based carbon fibers

Rayon-based carbon fibers

Gas-phase-grown carbon fibers

Based on final heat treatment temperature, carbon fibers are classified into:

Type-I, high-heat-treatment carbon fibers (HTT), where final heat treatment temperature should be above 2000°C and can be associated with high-modulus type fiber.

Type-II, intermediate-heat-treatment carbon fibers (IHT), where final heat treatment temperature should be around or above 1500?C and can be associated with high-strength type fiber.

Type-III, low-heat-treatment carbon fibers, where final heat treatment temperatures not greater than 1000?C. These are low modulus and low strength materials.

#??#

Manufacturing of Carbon fibers

Carbon fiber is a super strong material that is extremely lightweight. Carbon fibers generally have excellent tensile properties, low densities, high thermal and chemical stabilities in the absence of oxidizing agents, good thermal and electrical conductivities, and excellent creep resistance. Therefore Carbon fiber is enabling advancement in aeronautics, athletic performance, automobiles, building structures and, of course, musical instruments.

Carbon fibers are manufactured by a controlled pyrolysis of stabilized precursor fibers. First Oxidization process is done wherein the stabilization of precursor fibers at about 200-400 °C in air is done. Then carbonization is done wherein these fibers which are stabilized and infusible are treated at a high temperature of about 1,000 °C in an inert atmosphere to remove hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and other non-carbon elements.

Then graphitized is done on those carbonized fibers at an even higher temperature up to around 3,000 °C to achieve higher carbon content and higher Young’s modulus in the fiber direction. The properties of the resultant carbon/graphite fibers are affected by many factors such as crystallinity, crystalline distribution, molecular orientation, carbon content, and the number of defects. The resulting carbon fibers are then post-treated to improve their adhesion to composite matrices.

For more news, please pay attention to Yarn Fair.

Source: textileschool

#??#

Generally, socks with a cotton content of more than 75% can become pure cotton socks. Generally, socks with a cotton content of 85% are very high-end cotton socks. In addition to adding cotton to cotton socks, functional fibers need to be added to maintain the elasticity, fastness, and comfort of the socks. What are the benefits of cotton socks? Are cotton socks deodorant? How to wash cotton socks? Now, let's learn the knowledge of cotton socks with Socks Fair.

1. Cotton socks introduction

The cotton content of cotton socks is generally 70% -85%, and other components are 15% -30% of elastic fibers (such as spandex, nylon and the like). In theory, socks made of 100% cotton are inelastic, so adding high-quality elastic fibers (such as Lycra) will show you a pair of high-end cotton socks with excellent comfort. 100% cotton socks (elastic Except fiber) has become synonymous with high-end comfortable cotton socks.

During the wearing of socks, the non-wearable natural fibers (cotton or bamboo fibers) are first abraded, and the synthetic fibers have good abrasion resistance and are not easy to break. In this way, the abraded natural fibers are wound on the synthetic fibers to form pilling. phenomenon. If the socks are completely synthetic fibers, there will be no fiber breakage and no pilling, but they will not absorb moisture and perspiration, and they will easily smell feet. If the socks are completely natural fibers, they will not pilling, the fibers will be worn out, and the hair will fluff There will be no small balls, good moisture absorption and perspiration, and no smelly feet, but it is not elastic, not durable, and the cost is high.

Therefore, the ball that we usually require is mainly a reasonable distribution ratio. Generally, the natural fiber content is more than 80%, and the pilling resistance is very good. At the same time, it absorbs moisture and sweats and has a good foot feel. For example, the combed cotton series uses natural fiber blends to keep warm and absorb sweat.

#??#

2. Benefits of cotton socks

Cotton socks are soft and comfortable, do not burn feet, do not smell feet, sweat absorption and breathability are very good. The sweat absorbing characteristics of pure cotton socks will make you feel dry and comfortable on any occasion. Wearing a pair of cotton socks that are not stinky and moist is a great choice for friends who sweat easily. If it is made of polyester or acrylic fiber, it looks like cotton socks, but it will cause slipping, foot odor, and tightness when worn on the feet.

3. Are cotton socks deodorant?

First of all, from the perspective of materials: At present, the deodorant socks on the market are mainly divided into two types, combed cotton and bamboo fiber.

In terms of skin contact comfort, bamboo fiber is much more comfortable than pure cotton.

Summer bamboo fiber is cool, comfortable, and sweat-absorbent. Winter is suitable for cotton.

In terms of durability, cotton is more durable than bamboo fiber.

Price, bamboo fiber is more expensive than pure cotton.

4. Purchase of cotton socks

Touch: Cotton socks feel plump and thick. They look like socks of the same thickness. Pure cotton feels delicate texture and is quite muscular.

Look: Are there any "Aurora" in pure cotton socks? Use two hands to flatten the socks and apply a certain amount of tension. The socks are at a 45-degree angle with the body. ingredient.

#??#

Pinch: Cotton socks have obvious folds after pinching. Fold the socks in half with your nails. After unfolding, there is a clear fold line. However, there is no folds when the synthetic fabrics are pinched.

Burning: Cotton fiber will not melt or shrink near the flame. It will burn immediately when it comes into contact with fire. There is a smell of burning paper when burning. After burning, it is fine and soft gray and black and white floc ash without scorching.

5. How to wash cotton socks

Generally, cotton socks need to be washed and changed frequently. For cotton socks that have a lot of dirt, change them and soak them in clean water for about half an hour, then wipe them with soap and rub them with warm water, so that the dirt is easy to remove. Put a little vinegar on the socks to make them taste good. The main ingredient of vinegar is acetic acid, which has the function of cleaning and sterilizing. It can also remove acid odor and is a natural cleaning agent. Not only can the odor of socks be removed, but also vinegar can penetrate deep into the fiber of the socks to completely remove the dirt, and it can also effectively sterilize the socks. Vinegar is also a natural softener and brightener, which can reduce the discoloration of socks and prevent them from becoming hard and stiff.

Try to wash them separately, and do not soak for a long time before washing, it can effectively extend the service life of socks. Try to avoid direct sunlight when drying, so that the color of the socks can be maintained for a longer time without discoloration and discoloration. Drying your socks may cause your socks to age quickly, harden, and lose elasticity and gloss. Pay special attention to this.

Source: maigoo

#??#