Growing awareness of environmental issues has led to increasing demand for goods produced from natural products, including natural fibres. The two-volume Handbook of natural fibres is an indispensible tool in understanding the diverse properties and applications of these important materials. Volume 1: Types, properties and factors affecting breeding and cultivation is an essential guide to a wide range of natural fibres, and highlights key techniques for their improvement.Part one reviews key types and fundamental properties of natural textile fibres. The production, identification and testing of a range of cotton, bast, silk and wool fibres are discussed, alongside bioengineered natural textile fibres. Part two goes on to explore the improvement of natural fibre properties and production through breeding and cultivation, beginning with a discussion of fibrous flax and cotton. Improved natural fibre production through the prevention of fungal growth is explored, along with the use of genetic engineering and biotechnology to enhance desirable characteristics. Finally, the wider impact of natural textile production is discussed, using wild silk enterprise programs as an example.With its distinguished editor and international team of expert contributors, the two volumes of the Handbook of natural fibres are essential texts for professionals and academics in textile science and technology. - Provides an essential guide to a wide range of natural fibres and highlights key techniques for their improvement - Reviews key types and fundamental properties of natural textile fibres, addressing the production, identification and testing of a range of cotton, bast, silk and wool fibres - Explores the improvement of natural fibre properties and production through breeding and cultivation, beginning with a discussion of fibrous flax and cotton

This important new handbook provides comprehensive coverage of how high performance fibres are designed and manufactured and covers their capabilities and applications. The high-modulus, high-tenacity (HM-HT) fibres fall naturally into three groups – polymer fibres such as aramids and polyethylene fibres; carbon fibres such as Kevlar; and inorganic fibres based on glass and ceramic fibres.The books shows how high performance fibres are being increasingly used for a wide range of applications including goetextiles and geomembranes and for construction and civil engineering projects as well as in specialist fibres within composite materials where their ability to fulfil demanding roles makes them an effective choice for the engineer and materials scientist. - Provides a comprehensive overview of how high performance fibres are designed and manufactured and covers their capabilities and applications - Explains how high performance fibres are being increasingly used for a wide range of applications, including geotextiles and geomembranes and construction and civil engineering projects

Fibres usually experience tensile loads whether they are used for apparel or technical structures. Their form, which is long and fine, makes them some of the strongest materials available as well as very flexible. This book provides a concise and authoritative overview of tensile behaviour of a wide range of both natural and synthetic fibres used both in textiles and high performance materials. After preliminary chapters that introduce the reader to tensile properties, failure and testing of fibres, the book is split into two parts. Part one examines tensile properties and failure of natural fibres, such as cotton, hemp, wool and silk. Part two discusses the tensile properties and failure of synthetic fibres ranging from polyamide, polyester and polyethylene fibres to carbon fibres. Many chapters also provide a general background to the fibre, including the manufacture, microstructure, factors that affect tensile properties as well as methods to improve tensile failure. With its distinguished editor and array of international contributors, Handbook of tensile properties of textile and technical fibres is an important reference for fibre scientists, textile technologists and engineers, as well as those in academia. Provides an overview of tensile behaviour of a wide range of both natural and synthetic fibres Examines tensile characterisitics, tensile failure of textiles fibres and factors that affect tensile properties Discusses mircostructures and each type of fibre from manufacture to finished product

This important book provides a guide to the fundamentals and latest developments in smart technology for textiles and clothing. The contributors represent a distinguished international panel of experts and the book covers many aspects of cutting edge research and development.Smart fibres, fabrics and clothing starts with a review of the background to smart technology and goes on to cover a wide range of the material science and fibre science aspects of the technology including: Electrically active polymeric materials and the applications of nonionic polymer gel and elastomers for artificial muscles; Thermally sensitive fibres and fabrics; Cross-linked polyol fibrous substrates stimuli-responsive interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel; Permeation control through stimuli-responsive polymer membranes; optical fibre sensors, hollow fibre membranes for gas separation; integrating fibre-formed components into textile structures; Wearable electronic and photonic technologies; Adaptive and responsive textile structures (ARTS); Biomedical applications including the applications of scaffolds in tissue engineeringIt is essential reading for academics in textile and materials science departments, researchers, designers and engineers in the textiles and clothing product design field. Product managers and senior executives within textile and clothing manufacturing will also find the latest insights into technological developments in the field valuable and fascinating.

Sustainable Fibres and Textiles provides a whole-lifecycle approach to the subject of sustainable textiles, from fiber production, through manufacturing and low-energy care and recycling. The scientific, industrial, regulatory and social aspects of this lifecycle are explored by an expert author team who bring global perspectives to this important subject. The first part of the book provides detailed coverage of the sustainable production of textiles, with chapters devoted to each of the main fiber types, including new biosynthetic fibers, such as textiles produced from Polylactic Acid (PLA). The second part examines sustainable production methods, focusing on low carbon production technologies and sustainable, low-pollution methods of processing and dyeing fabrics. The final sections explore the benefits of textiles designed to enable low-energy fabric care via both finishes used to treat the fabric and better care labelling. Re-use and recycling options are also covered, as are ethical aspects, such as fair trade fabrics. - Presents an integrated understanding of sustainability through the whole supply-chain – from agriculture, through manufacturing and fabric care, to recycling - Teachers users how to make optimal choices of fiber and manufacturing technologies to achieve the sustainable production of high-quality apparel and other textile products - Provides a wider understanding of emerging regulatory frameworks that will shape the future of sustainable textiles

Environmental concerns have regenerated interest in the use of natural fibers for a much wider variety of products, including high-tech applications such as geotextiles, and composite materials for automotive and light industry use. Covering minor as well as major fibers produced worldwide, Bast and Other Plant Fibers analyzes flax, hemp, jute, kenaf, ramie, sisal, coir, and nettle, and provides an index of fiber-yielding plants. Each chapter examining chemical and physical structure, fiber, yarn and fabric production, dying, handle and wear characteristics, economics, and environmental, health and safety issues. A comprehensive set of tables makes it easy to compare the physical and chemical characteristics of different fibers.

This comprehensive practical guide to the identification of vegetable fibres will be of use to forensic scientists, archaeologists, conservators of antiquities, botanists and any others who need to identify plant fibres. It presents the microscopical characteristics of ten of the most widely used commercial fibres (Flax, Hemp, Sunn hemp, Ramie, Jute, Kenaf, Roselle, Sisal, Abaca [Manilla hemp]), and describes in detail features, which are useful for identifying fibre cells.