Mineral & Specialty

Fibers

SPECIALTY FIBERS
Manmade fibers that
are generally the
result of considerable
research and have
certain characteristics
which limit their use
to narrow or specific
areas of application.

SPECIALTY FIBERS

Polymers

Vinyon
Saran
Novoloid (Kynol)
Polycarbonate fibres
Polybenzimidazole (PBI) fiber
Alginate fibers
Fluorocarbon fibers
Graft copolymer fiber (Chinon II)
Matrix fiber (Cordelan)

Mineral Fibers
Rock wool
Fiberglass
Asbestos

1. VINYON

VINYON is a generic term used for a fiber

in which fiber forming substance is any
long-chain synthetic polymer composed 85
% by weight of vinyl chloride units.

Three fiber variations are :

1.

2.

3.

Polyvinylchloride
(100% PVC)
Vinyl chloride
copolymers
Chemically modified
Polyvinyl chloride

METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

Polyvinyl chloride (85%-86.5%) and polyvinyl acetate

(15%-13.5%) are copolymerized.
Resultant vinyl resin copolymer fiber is dissolved in
acetone, filtered, deaerated and stored in heated tanks
as a viscous solution.
Later extruded through spinneret down a hollow tube in
presence of a current of warm air to evaporate the
acetone, producing filaments in tow form.
Tow is passed through lubricating bath and cut into
staple.

PROPERTIES

Relatively week
High extensibility (stretch)
Water repellent
High resistance to acids and alkalies
Does not take dyes well
Non-toxic, does not mildew or support bacterial growth,
not attacked by moth/ larvae/ beetles
Does not support combustion

USES

Bonding fiber for nonwovens

Widest application in heat-sealable papers, fulled and
needled felts and bonded fabrics
Used for molding, embossing, bulking
Not suitable for spinning into yarn, however, can be
blended into fabrics for industrial applications

2. SARAN

The generic term SARAN is used for a

manufactured fiber in which the fiber forming
substance is any long chain synthetic polymer
composed at least 80% by weight of vinylidine
chloride units.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

Vinylidene chloride is copolymerized with

small quantity of vinyl chloride to produce
powdered resin.
Resin is melted and extruded through a
spinneret into water-cooling bath.
While still being cooled, it is drawn out
400% to improve crystallinity and
molecular orientation, increasing strength
in a manner similar to nylon.

APPEARANCE AND PROPERTIES

Natural colour pale gold or straw

Excellent abrasion resistance
Stretchable
Rather stiff
Essentially non-absorbent
Good resistance to bleaches, alkalis,
acids
Resistant to mildew, bacteria and
insects.
Non-flammable

USES

Monofilament yarn: car seat covers, filter fabrics,

outdoor furniture tape, insert screening, grille fabrics
Multifilament yarn: filter cloth, upholstery, drapery and
rope

3. NOVOLOID (KYNOL)

A generic term for manufactured fiber

containing at least 55% by weight of crosslinked Novolac.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

A crosslinking agent is blended with Novolac resin at

temperatures below 40 degree C, rapidly melting the
blend.
Melted blend is fiberized before it can cure.
Resulting fibers are cured by exposing to acidic gas.

PROPERTIES

Principal characteristic: flame resistance

Natural color gold
Fair abrasion resistance and resilience
Excellent resistance to mildew, insects and ageing

USES

Flame retardant garments and

protective clothing
Home furnishings
Blended with other fibers to enhance
properties, while retaining much of
the flame retardant characteristics

4. POLYCARBONATE FIBERS

In a chemical sense, these are polyesters

derived from carbonic acid.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

An aromatic dihydroxyl compound is condensed

with suitable carbonic acid derivative such as
carbonyl chloride or esters of carbonic acid.

Fiber is extruded through a spinneret into a

monofilament.

PROPERTIES AND USES

Chemical composition can vary so significantly that

specific properties cannot be provided
Presently made only for very limited and specific
purposes like basting for tailoring mens suits

5. POLYBENZIMIDAZOLE FIBER
(PBI)

A manufactured fiber in which the fiber

forming substance is a long-chain
aromatic polymer having recurring
imidazole groups as an integral part of the
polymer chain

METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

PBI is prepared from tetra-aminobiphenyl and

diphenyl isophthalate spun via a dry spinning
process using dimethyl acetamide as the
solvent.

PROPERTIES

No melting point
Good strength (stretch about 30% of its length)
Abrasion resistant
More absorbent than other man made fibers
Resistance to inorganic acid and organic
solvents

USES

Thermal protective clothing

Application In aircraft, aerospace, industrial and
medical uses

6. ALGINATE FIBERS

Multifilament yarns from jellylike calcium

alginate which had practical value

METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

Fine powder of seaweed dissolved in solution of sodium

carbonate and caustic soda.
Coming solution bleached with sodium hypochlorite.
Alginic acid then neutralized with sodium carbonate to
form solution of sodium alginate.
Solution extruded through spinneret into bath of acid
Streams emerging coagulate into fibers which are
washed, oiled, dried and wound.

PROPERTIES

Dry strength
Strength is lost when wet
Nonflammable

USES

Used as scaffolding to support other yarns in the

manufacture of lightweight, sheer and lacy fabrics
Medical application for dressing
Flameproof characteristics has also fiber suitable for
limited applications.

FIBERGLASS

Fiberglass is made from

extremely fine fibers of glass.
It is used as a reinforcing
agent for many polymer
products; the resulting
composite material, properly
known as fiber-reinforced
polymer (FRP) or glassreinforced plastic (GRP), is
called "fiberglass" in popular
usage.

MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

Melting
Forming into Fibers
Continuous Filament Process
Staple Fiber Process

PROPERTIES

High ratio of surface area to weight

Susceptible to chemical attack
Traps air within
Properties are the same along the fiber and across the
fiber
Moisture is easily adsorbed

USES

Mats
Building insulation
Thermal insulation
Heat/Corrosion resistant fabrics
High strength fabrics
Boat frames

ASBESTOS

General name that

applies to several types
of fibrous silicate
minerals, existing in
nature in metamorphic or
altered basic and
ultrabasic igneous rocks.
Six minerals defined as
"asbestos" are chrysotile,
amosite, crocidolite,
tremolite, anthophyllite
and actinolite.

TYPES OF ASBESTOS

Asbestos can be subdivided into two major

classifications of minerals: Amphiboles and
Serpentines. All but one form, chrysotile, are
amphiboles. Chrysotile is a serpentine.

MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Mining
Separating
Quality Control

PROPERTIES

Nonflammable
Insoluble in water and organic solvents
Resistant to acids
High Strength

USES

Fireproofing
Low density insulation board and ceiling tiles
Thermal and chemical insulation
Mud and texture coats
Clutch plates

ROCK/STONE WOOL

Rock wool is an amorphous silicate

manufactured from rock

MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Stone wool is a furnace product of molten stone, at a

temperature of about 1600 C, through which is blown a
stream of air or steam. More high tech production
techniques are based on spinning molten rock (lava) on
high speed spinning wheels.