An example of a fibre is cotton, a plant-based seed hair fibre used extensively in textiles.
Fibres are materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread. They can be natural or synthetic. Natural fibres come from plants and animals, while synthetic fibres are man-made, often derived from petroleum.
Here's a breakdown of fibre types with further examples:
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Plant Fibres: These are derived from various parts of plants.
- Seed Hairs: Cotton is a prime example.
- Stem (Bast) Fibres: Flax (linen), hemp, and jute fall into this category.
- Leaf Fibres: Sisal and abaca are examples extracted from leaves.
- Husk Fibres: Coconut (coir) is a common husk fibre.
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Animal Fibres: These come from animal sources.
- Wool: Obtained from sheep.
- Hair: Cashmere (from goats) and mohair (from Angora goats) are examples.
- Secretions: Silk, produced by silkworms.
Therefore, while cotton is a specific example, other fibres such as flax, wool, and silk demonstrate the diversity of this important material category.
