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synthetic textile fibers

(Encyclopedia)synthetic textile fibers have revolutionized the textile industry. Such artificial fibers are usually long-chain polymers, produced industrially by the condensation of many small units. Orlon is the t...

fiber

(Encyclopedia)fiber, threadlike strand, usually pliable and capable of being spun into a yarn. Many different fibers are known to be usable; some 40 of these are of commercial importance, and others are of local or...

chemical industry

(Encyclopedia)chemical industry, the business of using chemical reactions to turn raw materials, such as coal, oil, and salt, into a variety of products. During the 19th and 20th cent. technological advances in the...

synthetic elements

(Encyclopedia)synthetic elements, in chemistry, radioactive elements that were not discovered occurring in nature but as artificially produced isotopes. They are technetium (at. no. 43), which was the first element...

synthetic fur

(Encyclopedia)synthetic fur: see fur.

synthetic rubber

(Encyclopedia)synthetic rubber: see rubber.

cordage

(Encyclopedia)cordage kôrˈdĭj [key], collective name for rope and other flexible lines. It is used for such purposes as wrapping, hauling, lifting, and power transmission. Early man used strips of hide, animal h...

rayon

(Encyclopedia)rayon, synthetic fibers made from cellulose or textiles woven from such fibers; more rayon is manufactured than any other synthetic fiber. The name was adopted (1924), in preference to “artificial s...

flannel

(Encyclopedia)flannel, large group of napped plain-weave or twill-weave fabrics made of cotton, wool, or synthetic fibers. Flannel fabrics vary in closeness or firmness of weave and in degree of napping. A French f...

textiles

(Encyclopedia)textiles, all fabrics made by weaving, felting, knitting, braiding, or netting, from the various textile fibers (see fiber). Yarn, fabrics, and tools for spinning and weaving have been found among...