Editing Fiber (section)

===Synthetic fibers===
{{Main|Synthetic fiber}}

[[Synthetic fiber|Synthetic]] come entirely from synthetic materials such as [[petrochemical]]s, unlike those artificial fibers derived from such natural substances as cellulose or protein.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/578682/synthetic-fibre |date=2013 |title=synthetic fibre |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. }}</ref>

Fiber classification in reinforced plastics falls into two classes: (i) short fibers, also known as discontinuous fibers, with a general aspect ratio (defined as the ratio of fiber length to diameter) between 20 and 60, and (ii) long fibers, also known as continuous fibers, the general aspect ratio is between 200 and 500.<ref>Serope Kalpakjian, Steven R Schmid. "Manufacturing Engineering and Technology". International edition. 4th Ed. Prentice Hall, Inc. 2001. {{ISBN|0-13-017440-8}}.</ref>

====Metallic fibers====
{{Main|Metallic fiber}}
[[Metallic fiber]]s can be drawn from ductile metals such as copper, gold or silver and extruded or deposited from more brittle ones, such as nickel, aluminum or iron.

====Carbon fiber====
[[Carbon (fiber)|Carbon fibers]] are often based on oxidized and via [[pyrolysis]] carbonized polymers like [[Polyacrylonitrile|PAN]], but the end product is almost pure carbon.

====Silicon carbide fiber====
[[Silicon carbide]] fibers, where the basic polymers are not [[hydrocarbon]]s but polymers, where about 50% of the carbon atoms are replaced by silicon atoms, so-called poly-carbo-[[silane]]s. The pyrolysis yields an amorphous silicon carbide, including mostly other elements like oxygen, titanium, or aluminium, but with mechanical properties very similar to those of carbon fibers.

====Fiberglass====
{{See also|Glass#Fibreglass}}

[[Fiberglass]], made from specific glass, and [[optical fiber]], made from purified natural [[quartz]], are also artificial fibers that come from natural raw materials, [[silica fiber]], made from [[sodium silicate]] (water glass) and [[basalt fiber]] made from melted basalt.

====Mineral fibers====
Mineral fibers can be particularly strong because they are formed with a low number of surface defects; [[asbestos]] is a common one.<ref>{{cite book |author1=James Edward Gordon |author2=Philip Ball |title=The new science of strong materials, or, Why you don't fall through the floor |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jyCFQgAACAAJ |access-date=28 October 2011 |date=2006 |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |isbn=978-0-691-12548-0}}</ref>

====Polymer fibers====
* Polymer fibers are a subset of artificial fibers, which are based on synthetic chemicals (often from [[petrochemical]] sources) rather than arising from natural materials by a purely physical process. These fibers are made from:
** polyamide [[nylon]]
** PET or PBT [[polyester]]
** phenol-[[formaldehyde]] (PF)
** polyvinyl chloride fiber (PVC) [[vinyon]]
** polyolefins (PP and PE) [[olefin fiber]]
** [[Acrylic fiber|acrylic]] polyesters, pure [[polyester]] PAN fibers are used to make [[carbon fiber]] by roasting them in a low oxygen environment. Traditional acrylic fiber is used more often as a synthetic replacement for wool. Carbon fibers and PF fibers are noted as two resin-based fibers that are not [[thermoplastic]], most others can be melted.
** [[aramid|aromatic polyamids]] (aramids) such as [[Twaron]], [[Kevlar]] and [[Nomex]] thermally degrade at high temperatures and do not melt. These fibers have strong bonding between polymer chains
** [[polyethylene]] (PE), eventually with extremely long chains / [[Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene|HMPE]] (e.g. Dyneema or Spectra).
** [[Elastomer]]s can even be used, e.g. [[spandex]] although urethane fibers are starting to replace spandex technology.
** [[polyurethane]] fiber
** [[Elastolefin]]
* Coextruded fibers have two distinct polymers forming the fiber, usually as a core-sheath or side by side. Coated fibers exist such as nickel-coated to provide static elimination, silver-coated to provide anti-bacterial properties and aluminum-coated to provide RF deflection for [[Chaff (radar countermeasure)|radar chaff]]. Radar chaff is actually a spool of continuous glass tow that has been aluminum coated. An aircraft-mounted high speed cutter chops it up as it spews from a moving aircraft to confuse radar signals.

====Microfibers====
Invented in Japan in the early 1980s, microfibers are also known as microdenier fibers. Acrylic, nylon, polyester, lyocell and rayon can be produced as microfibers. In 1986, Hoechst A.G. of Germany produced microfiber in Europe. This fiber made it way into the United States in 1990 by DuPont.<ref name="Cohen">{{cite book |last1=Cohen |first1=Allen |title=J. J. Pizzuto's Fabric Science |date=11 November 2011 |publisher=Fairchild Books |isbn=978-1-60901-380-6 |page=51 |edition=10th}}</ref>

[[Microfiber]]s in [[textiles]] refer to sub-denier fiber (such as polyester drawn to 0.5 denier). [[Units of textile measurement#Denier|Denier]] and [[Units of textile measurement#Tex|Dtex]] are two measurements of fiber yield based on weight and length. If the fiber density is known, you also have a fiber diameter, otherwise it is simpler to measure diameters in micrometers. Microfibers in technical fibers refer to ultra-fine fibers (glass or meltblown [[thermoplastics]]) often used in filtration. Newer fiber designs include extruding fiber that splits into multiple finer fibers. Most synthetic fibers are round in cross-section, but special designs can be hollow, oval, star-shaped or [[trilobal]]. The latter design provides more optically reflective properties. Synthetic textile fibers are often crimped to provide bulk in a woven, non woven or knitted structure. Fiber surfaces can also be dull or bright. Dull surfaces reflect more light while bright tends to transmit light and make the fiber more transparent.

Very short and/or irregular fibers have been called fibrils. Natural [[cellulose]], such as [[cotton]] or bleached [[Kraft paper|kraft]], show smaller fibrils jutting out and away from the main fiber structure.<ref name=b1>Hans-J. Koslowski. "Man-Made Fibers Dictionary". Second edition. Deutscher Fachverlag. 2009 {{ISBN|3-86641-163-4}}</ref>