Discovering textile fabrics  (Page 3/5)

1. Strength: Try to tear the cloth and make a note of whether it is easy to tear or not.
2. Flammability : For this you will have to remember that working with fire is dangerous, because you may get burnt. You should keep a first aid kit at hand and work under supervision of your educator. You will need a pair of tongs, a candle, matches and a sheet of metal.

Set a corner of each piece of cloth alight and take note of the following:

Does it burn or smoulder? Does it burn quickly or slowly? Does it burn to ashes (a soft dust) or does it melt and form a hard pellet? Smell and feel the fabric after it has been burnt and cooled down. Does it smell like burnt paper or is there an acrid smell like chemicals?

1. Absorbency: You will need water, a measuring jug, a bowl and a stopwatch. Lay the cloth in the bowl. Pour 50 ml of water on the cloth and check how long it takes for the cloth to get soaked. Does it happen fairly quickly or fairly slowly?
2. Colour: Write down what the colour of the cloth is.
3. Durability: For this you will need a brick. Rub each of the pieces of cloth back and forth against the brick. Count how many times you have to do this before the cloth is weak enough to be torn / worn through.
4. Appearance: Describe the textile fabric. Is it coloured in plain colours, dark, light, or pastel colours, or patterned with stripes, checks, floral emblems, etc.?
5. Texture: Feel it. Is it smooth, elastic, woolly, coarse, rough, corded, crunched?
6. Feel: Is it soft and flexible or stiff?
7. Warmth: Does it feel warm or cool?

Copy the following table, and complete:

Textile fabrics

[lo 1.3]

Assignment 6 B

1. Are you able to identify three qualities of textile fabrics made from natural fibres?
2. Are you able to identify three qualities of textile fabrics made from synthetic fibres?

1. Complete by writing down the correct answer:

Textile fabrics made from wool are warm and are more suitable for (summer / winter) clothes because they retain heat, while textiles made from cotton and linen are more suitable for (summer / winter).

When heat flows through some solid material from where the temperature is high to where the temperature is lower, we speak of conduction . When we use a material that is a poor conductor to keep heat in or out, such a material is called an insulator . A cool bag or tea cosy is made from fibres that are poor insulators. Fibres like wool, leather, fur and feathers keep warm air in and they therefore are good insulators. Natural fibres like wool are therefore preferred for (summer / winter) clothing.

Synthetic fabrics (let water through easily / do not let water through easily) and keep heat (in / out).

[LO 1.3]

Assignment 6 C (enrichment)

Design an experiment for determining the crease resistance / colour fastness / elasticity of different textile fabrics.

• Aim:
• Method and requirements.