Cotton
General
For a long time, cotton played an unimportant role among textiles.
Its high price due to the tedious task of seeding hindered its advance.
It took many times to remove the seeds from a medium-sized bale of cotton.
For these reasons cotton was a luxury fibre.
By the invention of the cotton gin and the development of the spinning and weaving looms cotton gained importance.
The development of synthetic fibres caused the decrease in cotton's present rate of 45-50 % of the market today.
Without synthetic fibres, it would be impossible to clothe the world's population today.
Applications
Based on its positive properties, cotton is often processed unblended, in the %100 state.
In order to minimize its negative properties, however, it is blended with other fibres.
It is mostly blended with polyester or polyamide fibers.
Functions
Cotton belongs to the category of one-celled fibres.
Cotton fibre consists of one cell with tree layers; Cell Membran, Nucleus, Cell Body.
Row cotton contains the following substances:
Cellulose: 82-89 %
Water: 7-10 %
Proteins: 1.0-1.8 %
Pectines: 0.6-1.1 %
Minerals: 0.6-1.5 %
Organic acids: 0.5-0.9 %
Waxes: 0.4-0.9 %
Other residues: Remainder
Specifications
Highest rub resistance of all natural fibres
High tensile strength (dry and wet)
Relatively heavy (density: 1,5 g/cm^3)
Very supple and therefore readily and finely spinnable
Good bleachability
Good dyeability
High absorbancy and water retention properties
High air permeability
Little to no gloss
Soft, pleasing handle
No electrostatic charging
Pleasant on the skin
Can be ironed at high temperatures
Good resistance to caustic soda solutions
Solvent-resistant, therefore capable of being dry cleaned
Adequate stability to bleaching agents
Medium light and weathering stability
Moderate resistance to microorganisms
Low heat conservation
Slow-drying
Tends to fluff
Prone to soil
Low elasticity
Poor dimensional stability
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