2. Cotton
Polymer Elongation 1% 2% 3% 5%
Chemical
composition
Cellulose Elastic recovery 91% 74% 66% 45%
Dimensions Extremely long Handle Medium to hard
crisp
Approx. length 5000 nm Hygroscopic
nature
Absorbent
Approx. thickness 0.8 nm Moisture regain %
Degree of
polymerization
5000 At 65% RH 7.0-8.5%
Polymer system Crystalline At 95% RH 18.8-19.6%
Amorphous region 35-30% At 100% RH 23.6%
Crystalline region 65-70% Thermal properties Very heat resistance
Tenacity Strong Softening range 150’c begins to
discolor
Dry 27-44g/tex Melting point Does not melt
Wet 27-46g/tex Decomposition 240’c
3. Flax
Polymer Elongation 1% 2% 3%
Chemical
composition
Cellulose Elastic recovery 90% 70% 60%
Dimensions Extremely long Handle Hard, very crisp
Approx. length 18 000 nm Hygroscopic
nature
Absorbent
Approx. thickness 0.8 nm Moisture regain %
Degree of
polymerization
18 000 At 65% RH 7.0%
Polymer system Crystalline At 95% RH Unavailable
Amorphous region Less then cotton At 100% RH Unavailable
Crystalline region More then cotton Thermal properties Very heat resistance
Tenacity Very strong Softening range 280’c begins to
discolor
Dry 59 g/tex Melting point Does not melt
Wet 64 g/tex Decomposition
begins
310’c
4. Silk
Polymer Elongation 1% 2% 4% 10% 15%
Chemical
composition
Fibroin Elastic recovery 99% 92% 70% 51%
40%
Dimensions Short Handle Medium, warm
Approx. length 140 nm Hygroscopic
nature
Very absorbent
Approx. thickness 0.9 nm Moisture regain %
Degree of
polymerization
Not known At 65% RH 8.9-10.1%
Polymer system Very crystalline At 95% RH 21.5-23.0%
Amorphous region 35-20% At 100% RH 30.0%
Crystalline region 65-70% Thermal properties Very heat sensitive
Tenacity Strong Softening range 100’c begins to yellow
Dry 30-41 g/tex Melting point Does not melt
Wet 23-32 g/tex Decomposition
begins
170’c
Wet/ Dry 77-78% Ignition temp 420’c
5. Wool
Polymer Elongation 2% 5% 10% 15%
20%
Chemical
composition
Keratin Elastic recovery 99% 98% 90%
82%75%
Dimensions Short Handle Medium to soft,
warm
Approx. length 140 nm Hygroscopic
nature
Very absorbent
Approx. thickness 1 nm Moisture regain %
Degree of
polymerization
Not known At 65% RH 14.0-16.3%
Polymer system Extremely
amorphous
At 95% RH 25.6-27.9%
Amorphous region 70-75% At 100% RH 33.3%
Crystalline region 30-25% Thermal properties Heat sensitive
Tenacity Weak Softening range 100’c handle
harshness
Dry 9-18 g/tex Melting point Does not melt, 130’c
begins to yellow
6. Viscose
Polymer Elongation 2% 3% 10% 15%
20%
Chemical
composition
Regenerated
cellulose
Elastic recovery 82% 52% 40% 34%
30%
Dimensions Short Handle Medium to soft, limp
Approx. length 180 nm Hygroscopic nature Extremely absorbent
Approx. thickness 0.8 nm Moisture regain %
Degree of
polymerization
175 At 65% RH 12.0-14.0 %
Polymer system Very amorphous At 95% RH 25.0-30.0%
Amorphous region 65-60 % At 100% RH 45.0%
Crystalline region 35-40% Thermal properties Heat sensitive
Tenacity Fair Softening range 130’c begins to yellow
Dry 14-45 g/tex Melting point Does not melt
Wet 7-24 g/tex Decomposition
begins
230’c
Wet/ Dry 50-53 % Ignition temp 430’c
7. Acetate
Polymer Elongation 2% 5% 10% 15% 20%
Chemical
composition
Secondary
cellulose acetate
Elastic recovery 94% 73% 39% 27%
23%
Dimensions Short Handle Very soft, limp
Approx. length 160 nm Hygroscopic nature Slightly absorbent
Approx. thickness 2.3 nm Moisture regain %
Degree of
polymerization
130 At 65% RH 6.5-9.0%
Polymer system Very amorphous At 95% RH 13-16%
Amorphous region 60 % At 100% RH 18%
Crystalline region 40% Thermal properties Extremely heat
sensitive
Tenacity Very week Softening range 175-190’c
Dry 12-27 g/tex Melting point 260’c
Wet 8-24 g/tex Decomposition
begins
Unavailable
Wet/ Dry 60-70 % Ignition temp 520’c
8. Nylon
Polymer Elongation 2% 5% 10% 15%
20%
Chemical
composition
Polyhexamethylene
diaminoadipate
Elastic recovery 100% 98% 90%
82% 75%
Dimensions Short Handle Medium to hard,
waxy
Approx. length 90-140 nm Hygroscopic
nature
Not absorbent
Approx. thickness 0.3 nm Moisture regain %
Degree of
polymerization
50-80 At 65% RH 4-4.5%
Polymer system Very crystalline At 95% RH 6%
Amorphous region 35-15% At 100% RH 8%
Crystalline region 65-85% Thermal properties Heat sensitive
Tenacity Strong to very
strong
Softening range 220-230’c
Dry 36-65 g/tex Melting point 250-260’c
Wet 32-55 g/tex Decomposition 315’c
9. Polyester
Polymer Elongation 2% 4% 5% 8% 10%
Chemical
composition
Polyethylene glycol
terephthalate
Elastic recovery 97% 90% 87% 89%
77%
Dimensions Short Handle Medium to hard waxy
Approx. length 120-150 nm Hygroscopic nature Completely
hydrophobic
Approx.
thickness
0.6 nm Moisture regain %
Degree of
polymerization
115-140 At 65% RH 0.1-0.3%
Polymer
system
Extremely crystalline At 95% RH 0.4%
Amorphous
region
35-15% At 100% RH 0.4%
Crystalline
region
65-85% Thermal properties Heat sensitive
Tenacity Strong to very
strong
Softening range 220-240’c
Dry 29-50 g/tex Melting point 250-260’c
10. Acrylic
Polymer Elongation 2% 4% 5% 8% 10%
Chemical
composition
At least 85%
polyacrylonitrile
Elastic recovery 97% 84% 81% 75%
72%
Dimensions Very long Handle Soft, waxy
Approx. length 500 nm Hygroscopic
nature
Hydrophobic
Approx. thickness 0.3-0.53 nm Moisture regain %
Degree of
polymerization
2000 At 65% RH 1.2-2.0%
Polymer system Very crystalline At 95% RH 1.5-3.0%
Amorphous region 30-20% At 100% RH 4.0%
Crystalline region 70-80% Thermal properties Very heat sensitive
Tenacity Fair to strong Softening range 235’c
Dry 20-27 g/tex Melting point Does not melt
Wet 16-24 g/tex Decomposition
begins
280-330’c
Wet/ Dry 80-90% Ignition temp 560’c
11. ElastomericPolymer Elongation 5% 10% 20%
50%
Chemical
composition
85% segmented poly-
urethane, polyether type
Elastic recovery 100% 100%
100% 95%
Dimensions Long Handle Medium waxy
Approx. length Unavailable Hygroscopic nature Hydrophobic
Approx. thickness 0.7 nm Moisture regain %
Degree of polymer. Unavailable At 65% RH 0.4-1.3 %
Polymer system Extremely amorphous,
when not stretched, to
extremely crystalline,
when fully extended
At 95% RH Unavailable
Amorphous region ------------------ At 100% RH 3.0%
Crystalline region ------------------ Thermal properties Extremely heat
sensitive
Tenacity Very weak Softening range 110-120’c
Dry 5-7 g/tex Melting point 230’c
Wet 5-7 g/tex Decomposition
begins
Unavailable
