Linen fabric: production and properties

The first mention of linen fabric and its use can be dated for a period of several millennia. Some historians define its age as 5000 years. Its earliest application is Ancient Egypt. It was a costly material, so only rich families, Pharaoh's family and courtiers could afford clothes and textiles. Mummies of the pharaohs were also wrapped in linen cloths.

In the Slavic nationalities, linen fabric became known somewhere in the 9th century. Thanks to the properties of the fibers of the plant, textiles and clothing were simultaneously thin and durable, allowing the use of the products for a long time. Unlike other countries, flax was not a luxury. Clothing could be seen in representatives of various social classes. The difference was in the thickness of the fibers, the finish and the color of the fabric.

Since the Empress Catherine II allowed the export of linen threads outside the state, most of the weaving factories in Europe worked on fibers grown in the Russian Empire.

Plant, growing conditions, distribution areas

Cultural flax, which is used for various industrial purposes, can be of various types. In general, the culture is grown to produce seeds, fibers or oil. It is the flax-dolgunets used for the production of fabrics. The stems from which the fibers are produced can be different, the quality of the obtained filaments depends on them.

Flax is whimsical in growing. It is best to grow the plant in regions with a moderate climate and non-chernozems. A very demanding culture to the composition of the soil, mineral fertilizers in it and the weather - precipitation during the ripening period can ruin the entire crop. In this case, shoots appear in early spring, at a temperature of + 4-5 degrees, and can withstand frosts to -4 degrees. From the time of the appearance of the first shoots to the harvest of flax, it takes from 68 to 84 days. In Russia, culture is grown in various areas, in areas that are thousands of hectares. But very few lands are given for cultivating the variety, which gives the best raw materials for the production of fine fabrics. Therefore, the products are quite expensive.

Production and processing of linen fibers

To obtain the most qualitative and fine fibers, there is a certain time for harvesting, since the thinner the raw material obtained, the better the linen cloth. The stems of the plant must be light yellow in color, the seed boxes are green. Flax is collected together with roots and soaked, so that the necessary fibers are separated without obstacles from other tissues. Then it is dried and sent to production.

Further processing is not very different from the one used in antiquity. Flax wrinkles, teasing and combing. Only in modern plants such operations produce cars.

How is fabric made from linen fibers

The production of linen fabrics is quite expensive for several reasons. First of all, it is the complexity of processing a plant. In addition, flax-dolgunets are of different varieties, and the quality of the fabric and the complexity of production directly depend on it. Linen fabric can be thin or thick, rough or smooth, depending on the length of the resulting plant fibers.

After the crop is harvested, the raw materials are sent to the flax processing plants. After treatment, a long and short fiber is obtained on the trephine machine, which, although considered waste, is used to produce such a product as coarse linen fabric.

The obtained threads are checked according to their technical characteristics with GOSTs and distributed for further processing. Long fibers are used for textile production in the textile industry. From stucco, the bases for finishing materials and floor coverings are excellent. Waste fibers, not corresponding to any of the standards, are used in construction in the form of pakli.

Types of fabrics

Linen fabric is divided into technical and household linen. However, the former are produced in greater quantities than the latter, since cheaper substitutes made of chemical fibers or nonwovens have been found. They can be by content pure linen or mixed. To do this, they add cotton, viscose, lavsan.

Depending on the purpose of linen cloth is divided into a towel, dining room, canvas, costume, dressing, canvas, bed linen and linen. For sewing clothes are used such as cambric, bortovka, matting, kolomenok, fine linen. Canvases for drawing are made from ash and canvas. Teak and damask are used for furniture upholstery. Overalls, shoes, tourist accessories are made of canvas.

Properties of linen fiber fabrics

Despite the variety of fabrics and materials from which they are made, linen remains in demand. This is due to its features and qualities. First of all, it is worth noting the high hygroscopicity of the fabric: it perfectly absorbs moisture. Thanks to the use of linen clothing, you can avoid a heat stroke, or, more simply, overheat. Fabric perfectly cools in the heat and heats up in the cold. In addition, it does not accumulate static electricity, which positively affects the overall well-being.

All the properties of linen cloth can be listed for a long time, which is its ability to oppress pathogens. It acts as an antiseptic, therefore it is not only environmentally friendly, but also very hygienic. In addition, linen fabric does not cause allergies, which allows its use for children's textiles, medicine and in those places where an increased level of sterility is required.

All things that use the fibers of this plant have a long service life, are easy to clean and well worn. Clothes made of flax do not turn yellow, and with time only bleached.

A fly in the ointment

The biggest disadvantage of linen fabric is that it is very difficult to iron after washing. However, the process can be simplified by exposing slightly damp things to ironing or using an iron with steaming. Keep clothes out of this material better on the hanger in the chiffonier, and not in the closet on the shelf. Then things will last longer.