Handbook of textile fibre structure Volume 1: Fundamentals and manufactured polymer fibres

The chapter opens with a discussion of the definitions of fibre andthe essential nature of fibres. The modes of formation of natural, regenerated,synthetic polymer, high-modulus/high-tenacity, inorganic, specialist andsmart fibres are described. An account of the historical development of ideasof fibre structure starts with a consideration of the ways in which a partiallyordered polymer assembly can be described. Means of investigating fibrestructure are listed. The changes from earlier ideas due to acceptance of macromolecular hypothesis around 1930 and studies of the fundamentalsof polymer crystallisation in the 1950s are described. Finally, the relationsbetween fibre structure and performance in use are outlined and theidentification of fibres as a special class of material is emphasised.