Introduction Native Fiber
Native fibers are the fibers that are produced from plant, animal and mineralsources are renewable, biodegradable and therefore environmentally friendly. These fibers have been used, and continue to be used, in clothing, rugs and ropes among others, this puts to test their inestimable value to society. Some of the native plant fibers include; cotton, jute, flax and hemp while other natural fibers include wool, silk and alpaca.
The uniqueness of native fibers lies in their propriety to degrade over time, be naturally renewable, and have relatively low environmental impact during manufacturing. While synthetic fiber is derived from petroleum products and many of them take hundreds of years to decompose, native fiber breaks down and returns to nature. Also, they can breathe exceptionally well, being comfortable and very durable that makes them suited for wearing apprels, home textiles and industrial utilities.
As sustainability becomes a buzzword, native fibers are experiencing a revival. A number of improvements in the agricultural, technology, and construction areas continue to improve it and increase its applications. The interest of consumers and industries to opt for natural products open opportunities for native fibers to contribute greatly to the society’s quality and sustainable future with concern for indigenous people’s heritage and economy.
What is native fiber?
Native fiber on the other hand is new fibers derived from plant, animal or mineral, originating from any geographical location. It is renewable, easily degradable and naturally derived fibers that have been in use for hundreds of years to produce clothing, cords and other things. Some of the familiar natural fibers are vegetable fibers including cotton, jute, flax (linen), and hemp; animal fibers includes wool, silk, alpaca, and cashmere.
Also, native fibers do not belong to synthetic fibers which are derived from petroleum products that cause pollution of the environment. They degrade in the environment, thus are environmentally friendly. Native fibers due to their inherent characteristic like breath ability, moisture absorbent and comfortable for wear, adopts for wearing apparel, upholsteries and industrial uses .
The usage and growth of native fiber are culturally inherent and significantly important in providing economic assistance. With the increase in uses of raw materials that are readily sustainable in the market today, native fibers have come to the limelight due to their versatility and durability in the market and relatively have very low impacts on the environment. The following also supports the native fibers which at the same time supports sustainable creativity and fighting off extinction of crafts and plant species.
What is natural fiber examples?
Natural fibers are those derived from plant, animal and or minerals that can be processed to produce yarns and fabrics. These fibers are biodegradable, renewable materials that can be described as environmentally friendly for the purpose of their use in different applications.
Examples of Natural Fibers:
1.Plant-Based Fibers:
Cotton: smooth, light and most often applied in making of garments and other home products.
Linen (flax): is stiff but very light, and is good for the warmer weather which we associate with the summer.
Jute: Coarse and strong, usually employed for the manufacture of ropes, bags as well as mats.
Coir: derived from the outer layer of the coconut bunch and are used for making brushes, mats and ropes.
Hemp: coarse, long, strong fiber, applied in cloth, ropes and other green goods.
2.Animal-Based Fibers:
Wool: Origin form sheep; used in clothing and carpets that are used to make warm clothes.
Silk: Having silky texture, lustraous, produced from the cocoons of the silkworm.
Alpaca and Llama Wool: light and warm they are also popular as fabric for garments.
Cashmere: As for the material, Merino is a fine wool of goats that provide appearence of softness and comfort for luxurious products.
3.Mineral-Based Fiber:
Asbestos: was used for insulating materials, fireproofing etc. (now restricted for health reasons).
These fibers are widely applied in wearing apparel, home textile and industrial stuff, which are significantly encouraging environmental protection in different trades.
What is native cellulose?
Native Cellulose is cellulose in its particularly raw and untouched form as it is found in plant cell walls. Chitin is a polymer of β – 1, 4 – linked D-glucose, providing linear chains that organize crystalline micro fibrils. These microfibrils give rigidity and tensile strength to different plant cells.
Native cellulose is mainly originated from plant, algae, and specific bacteria. Chitin is the second abundant natural polymer on Earth and a primary component of biomass, Lendlein & Schroeder. In plants it is present in combination with hemicellulose and lignin the main and secondary cell walls or sclerenchyma cells.
It is noted that native cellulose has some specific characteristics due to its molecular structures organization. The crystalline areas provides tensile strength while the amorphous areas offer flexibility to the elusive material. This dual function makes cellulose and largely composes structural material in nature.
In industry native cellulose is employed as a material base in production of paper, fabrics, and other biopolymer products. Its biodegradability and renewability make it a cornerstone of sustainable material development and bioinformatics for application in biofuel and nanocellulose industries.
What is fiber type?
Fiber type may therefore be categorized according to the source of the fiber, the structure of the fiber or the characteristics displayed by the fiber. Fibers are fine, elongated and ductile, and can be used in textile, composite and paper industries. There are two main groups namely natural fiber and synthetic fiber.
1.Natural Fibers: These are those derived from natural product sources such as plants, animals or minerals. Examples include:
Plant-based fibers: cotton, jute, flax, and hemp that are known to be made up of mainly cellulose.
Animal-based fibers: The earlier classification of fabric types provided here included cotton, wool, silk, and alpaca (most of which are protein fiber).
Mineral-based fibers: asbestos.
2.Synthetic Fibers: These are synthesized via chemical means and most of which originate from petroleum based products. These are polyester, nylon, acrylic and spandex. These are variety of human-made fibers that are developed for specific characteristics such as strength, flexibility, and reaction to conditions.
Fiber types can also be classified based on their applications, such as:
•Textile fibers: for clothing and furnishings.
•Technical fibers: For applications such as ropes, composites and as insulation.
It is very important to differentiate fiber types because fiber choice influences its use, efficiency and the ability to portray intended application and desired durability.
What is fiber with example?
Fiber is a narrow elongated structure with a large length to diameter ratio which can be drawn to yarns or as part of material such as cloth, cable, or composite. Fibers can be natural or man made and are classified more in terms of how they act and hold their properties of flexibility and strength; and how they can be woven or processed to make other products.
Types of Fibers:
1.Natural Fibers: These are sourced naturally and include:
Plant-based: cotton from cotton bearing plants, jute from jute plants, and flax used in making linen.
Animal-based: wool from sheep that is pure, silk from silkworms and alpaca from alpacas.
Mineral-based: Insulating and fire proofing, asbestos.
2.Synthetic Fibers: Most of them are synthetic developed from petrochemicals. Examples include:
Polyester: used mainly in cloth and in house furniture.
Nylon: Diameter : 4mm-22mm, used for stockings, ropes, outdoor gear.
Acrylic: A clothing material that is warmed for sweaters and blankets similar to the wool fiber.
Example:
Cotton, one of the natural fibers, is employed to create fabrics for rich clothes that have good ventilation and proper texture. On the other hand, synthetic fiber known as polyester is favored for its durability, the feature of being non-creased as well as being used in sportswear. Fibers are used in a variety of applications today, including fashion, construction and technology to name a few.
Conclusion: Native Fiber
Native fibers, which are extracted from plant, animal, and mineral sources, are a very relevant part of man’s existence and the economy. These fibers include cotton, wool, silk, jute, etc., which have been used for many years because of the characteristics associated with them, which are sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable. They act as a base in a number of applications, such as textiles, ropes, and composites, and can also be used in biomaterials applications.
Sources of strength and flexibility in native fibers owe their origins to molecular structures they possess, like fibers derived from plant sources that contain cellulose molecules, whereas fibers from animal sources contain protein-based molecules. Their source is natural, and this makes them better than artificial fibers, which are derived from petroleum, thereby making it difficult for them to decompose easily.
Available native fibers have gained importance in today’s world, where awareness about the environment is well spread. They are not only renewable energy sources but also help cut down on carbon emissions for industries. As technology improves, the applicability of native fibers is transcending to other uses, such as
bio-composites and eco-friendly fabrics, ensuring their relevance in the future of sustainable development.