Source of synthetic fibre
the main sources for formation of synthetic fibres are:
(1) Petroleum,
(2) Natural gas deposits and
(3) Coal.
Petroleum contains
gaseous, liquid and solid hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons, depending upon
their molecular structure fall into three main classes, the paraffin’s, the
naphthenes and the aromatic hydrocarbons Petroleum contains many different
liquid and solid hydrocarbons of all the ee abovementioned classes in solutions
as well as hydrocarbons of mixed structure. Also, petroleum field gases have
greater, amount of gaseous hydrocarbons
Natural hydrocarbon gases consist of simplest paraffin
called methane hydrocarbons, Natural gases occurring in sedimentary rocks also
contain hydrocarbons.
A large amount of aromatic compounds are found in coal-tar, a by product in the manufacture of coal gas or coke. Benzene and its homologous are present in the light oil fraction of the coal tar.
A large amount of aromatic compounds are found in coal-tar, a by product in the manufacture of coal gas or coke. Benzene and its homologous are present in the light oil fraction of the coal tar.
Crude
naphtha and phenol are present in the middle oil fraction of coal tar Petroleum
paraffin hydrocarbons, natural gas and coal tar yield different types of saturated
and unsaturated hydrocarbons other intermediate hydrocarbons.
These materials
serve as raw materials for the production of synthetic fibres. At present
synthetic fibres are more prominent than the natural fibres. The main
advantages of synthetic fibres are as follows:
(a) High resistance to chemicals,
(b) High resistance to micro-organisams,
(c) Low flammability
(d) High elasticity and so high resistance to
distortion and creasing,
(e) High resistance to abrasion.