Page 31 - Curriculum Visions Dynamic Book

3: Artificial fibres
(Above and below) The raw materials of artificial fibres begin as a collection of liquids and gases distilled from petroleum.
Artificial fibres, also called man-made fibres, are fibres manufactured from a raw material. As mentioned
in the first section, there are two kinds of artificial fibres: regenerated fibres and synthetic fibres. During processing, the raw material of an artificial fibre is separated into simple molecules, which are then made to join into new polymers.
Regenerated fibres use the same chemicals that make up natural fibres. For example, rayon uses the same cellulose as is found in wood. The raw material for rayon is a liquid containing cellulose that is produced as part of wood pulp processing.
Synthetic fibres are those in which the fibres are manufactured from a material that was not originally similar to that of natural fibres. Polyester and nylon are examples of synthetic fibres. Nearly all synthetic fibres begin as petroleum, although natural gas and coal are also used. Synthetic fibres are made in far bigger quantities and used for a much greater range of fibres than regenerated fibres.
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