Length to Diameter Ratios of Natural Textile Fibres

Fibre Typical Length (mm) Typical Diameter (µm) Slenderness Ratio

Cotton 25 17 1500
Wool 75 25 3000
Cashmere 40 18 2200
Mohair 55 28 1900
Flax 25 20 1250
Jute 2.5 15 170
Hemp 40 25 1600
Ramie 150 50 3000

Minimal Number of Fibres Required to Spin a 100% Polyester Yarn from 1.5 denier, 38 mm
Polyester Fibre

Spinning System Number of Fibres

Ring Spinning 60
Rotor Spinning 120
Open-end Friction Spinning 100
Air-jet Spinning 70
Filament Wrap Spinning 40

Fibre Densities

DENSITY SPECIFIC VOLUME

FIBRE ( g/cm3, mg/cm3) (cm3/g)
DRY 65 % RH DRY 65 % RH
Cotton (lumen filled) 1.55 1.52 0.64 0.66
Viscose rayon 1.52 1.49 0.66 0.67
Secondary acetate, triacetate 1.31 1.32 0.76 0.76
Wool 1.30 1.31 0.77 0.76
Silk 1.34 1.34 0.75 0.75
Regenerated protein (casein) 1.30 1.30 0.77 0.77
Alginate 1.75 0.57
Nylon 66, nylon 6 1.14 1.14 0.88 0.88
Polyester (PET) 1.39 1.39 0.72 0.72
Acrylic (PAN) 1.19 1.19 0.84 0.84
Polyethylene (high density) 0.95 0.95 1.05 1.05
Polypropylene 0.91 0.91 1.09 1.09
Modacrylic (Dynel) 1.29 1.29 0.78 0.78
Modacrylic (Teklan) 1.34 0.75
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) 1.40 0.71
Polylactic acid (PLA) 1.25 0.80
Glass 2.5 2.5 0.40 0.40
 Comparison of the Properties of Bast Fibres with those of Cotton

Property Hemp Cotton Flax

Fibre Fineness (denier) 3 – 20 1–3 2 – 16
Moisture Absorption (%) 8 8 7
Strength (cN/tex) 44 – 53 26 – 53 44 – 53
Extension at Break (%) 2–3 3–7 ̴3

Comparison of Tensile Properties of Tencel Fibre with Viscose, Cotton and Polyester

Property Tencel Viscose Cotton Polyester

Linear Density (decitex) 1.6 1.6
Dry Tenacity (cN/tex) 42 – 44 23 – 27 21 – 25 42 – 53
Dry Elongation at Break (%) 14 – 16 20 – 25 7–9 25 – 30
Wet Tenacity (cN/tex) 37 – 40 10 – 16 27 – 31 42 – 53
Wet elongation at Break (%) 16 – 18 25 – 30 12 – 14 25 – 30