Fiber forms

Man-made fibers are produced in the forms of:

1.     Continuous filament yarns

2.     Spun or staple yarns

3.     Tow

4.     Monofilaments

Continuous filament yarns: A yarn composed of one or more filaments that run the whole length of the yarn at the desired thickness. For many applications, Continuous filament yarns are less satisfactory then the staple yarns.

Spun or staple yarns: Spun-staple yarns are made by assembling and binding together staple fibers. Staple fiber yarns can be natural or man-made. To create a man-made staple yarn the continuous filament is chopped up into staple length before spinning. Spun or staple yarns are popular for sports shirts, suiting, sheets, blankets, upholstery materials, and other fabrics.

Tow: A tow is an untwisted bundle of continuous filaments, and it refers to man-made fibers, particularly carbon fibers. The tow is made into staple by cutting. In the textile industry, a tow is a coarse, broken fiber such as flux, hemp or jute.

Monofilaments: If yarns made from only one filament then it is called monofilaments. Monofilament is made by melting and mixing of polymers. Monofilaments used for fishing lines and nets.