Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- Chapter 2 Fibers and fiber products
- Chapter 3 Natural polymeric fibers
- Chapter 4 Synthetic polymeric fibers
- Chapter 5 Metallic fibers
- Chapter 6 Ceramic fibers
- Chapter 7 Glass fibers
- Chapter 8 Carbon fibers
- Chapter 9 Experimental determination of fiber properties
- Chapter 10 Statistical treatment of fiber strength
- References
- Suggested further reading
- Appendix A Some important units and conversion factors
- Author index
- Subject index
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 October 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- Chapter 2 Fibers and fiber products
- Chapter 3 Natural polymeric fibers
- Chapter 4 Synthetic polymeric fibers
- Chapter 5 Metallic fibers
- Chapter 6 Ceramic fibers
- Chapter 7 Glass fibers
- Chapter 8 Carbon fibers
- Chapter 9 Experimental determination of fiber properties
- Chapter 10 Statistical treatment of fiber strength
- References
- Suggested further reading
- Appendix A Some important units and conversion factors
- Author index
- Subject index
Summary
The term fiber conjures up an image of flexible threads, beautiful garments and dresses, and perhaps even some lowly items such as ropes and cords for tying things, and burlap sacks used for transporting commodities, etc. Nature provides us with an immense catalog of examples where materials in a fibrous form are used to make highly complex and multifunctional parts. Protein, which is chemically a variety of complexes of amino acids, is frequently found in nature in a fibrous form. Collagen, for example, is a fibrous protein that forms part of both hard and soft connective tissues. A more well-known natural fiber that is essentially pure protein, is silk fiber. Silk is a very important natural, biological fiber produced by spider and silkworm. It is a solution spun fiber, with the solution, in this case, being produced by the silkworm or the spider. The silkworm silk has been commercialized for many years while scientists and engineers are beginning to realize the potential of spidersilk.
Indeed, materials in a fibrous form have been used by mankind for a long time. Fiber yarns have been used for making fabrics, ropes, and cords, and for many other uses since prehistoric times, long before scientists had any idea of the internal structure of these materials. Weaving of cloth has been an important part of most ancient societies. The term fabric is frequently employed as a metaphor for society.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Fibrous Materials , pp. 1 - 7Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1998
- 1
- Cited by