Important

= natural fiber that comes from the cotton plant

• fluffy natural fiber that grows in a boll around the seeds of the cotton plant

• groth cycle of cotton —> 5-6 month

• 50% of the worlds textile fiber —> 2,5% of the worlds arable land

• single cell fibers

• fibers consists of cellulose, a natural polymer made of glucose units

• have a twisted, ribbon-like structure that gives them their characteristic stength and flexibility

  • Hallow-ribbon cross setion

  • unique twisted shape creates a unique handle, allwowing it to bend with freedom due to this shape structure

• can be readily processed into high count yarns

• properties: softness, breathability, durability

Advantages:

• soft

• comfortable

• breathable

• gentle on the skin

• non-clingy

• easily customized

Disadvantages:

• generally heavier

• slow to dry

• can be prone to shinkage & stains, damage & wrinkles

Advantages for cotton in sports wear:

• high absorbency —> make it comfortable to wear during physical activity and allows it to wick away moisture from the skin (rather recommended for low-impact activities, because the moisture hold onto the fabric and make it heavy .. see disadvantages)

• breathable —> allowing air to circulate around the body, which can help to regulate body temperature

• soft and comfortable, natural strech and recovery properties —> popular choice for t-shirts, sweatshirts and shorts

disadvantages for cotton in sports wear:

• tendency to retain moisture —> can cause it to become heavy and uncomfortable to wear during exercise

• prone to wrinkling (neigt zu fadenbildung) —> can make garments look unkempt or unprofessional

• fibers break down over timer —> with repeated use and washing, leading to shorter lifespan for cotton sports wear compared to some synthetic alternatives

—> in addition, cotton is not commonly used in sportswear —> however, in low-impact activities, such as yoga or pilates, where breathability and moisture-wicking are less important, cotton my be used

= synthetic fiber whichis made from a polymer called polyamid

• poyamid = a type of synthetic plastic

• ecological model studen —> minimal impact on the enviroment —> produced by wasted products that are unavoidable in oil production (not biodegradable, but can be recycled)

  • fiber made from a group of long-chain polyamide

• typically produced by melt spinning

• Properties:

  • postive: strong, durable, resistant to abrasion, lightweight, easy to wash and dry, resists shrinkage and wrinkle, waterproof, cost-effective

  • negative: can sprak due to static charge, low absrobency, melts if catches fire

Advantages for nylon in sports wear:

• Moisture-wicking —> low absorbency rate, which means tehy are excellent at wicking moisture away from the skin —> help to keep the wearer dry and comfortable during physical activity

• strength and durability —>increadibly strong and resistant to wear and tear —> withstand repeated washing and wear without losing shape or breacking down

• ligthtweight —> production for sport shirts, short or leggins

Disadvantages for nylon in sports wear:

• not breathable —> air and moister is not circulated well —> uncomfortable during physical activity

• odor retention —> canstart to smell if not washed properls —> may need to be washed more frequently to prevent odor building

• skin —> can be irritating to sensitive skin

= synthetic polyamid polymer

• made of two monomers each containing 6 carbon atoms —> give 6-6 nylon its name

  • monomers: hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid

• synthesized by polycondesation of these two monomers

—> tensile test —> testing of stress, Youngs modulus, strain

• appling a controlled and gradual pulling force on a fabric smaple until it breaks

• sample of the material is clamped at both ends and pulled in opposite directions until it breaks —> force required to break the sample is recorded

• Stress-strain diagram

tensile strength:

• Steel = 450-2000 MPa

• Dyneema = up to 4000 MPa

• Nylon = 82,7 MPa

• Wool = 1,7 MPa

• Silk = 500 MPa

• Spidersilk = 2 000MPa

  
  

= material parameter that characterize the resistance of the material to defirmation (=stiffness)

= martindale tester (—> automatic fabric abrasion & pilling tester )

• machine which stimulate the friction that occurs when fabrics rub against other fabrics or surfaces (rotating circula plates)

• fabric sample is rubbed against the plate for a set of numbers of cycles, and then amount of pillingt is evaluated based on a standardized rating scale:

  • determination of specimens breakage (Bestimmung des Probenbruchs)

  • determination of mass loss (Bestimmung des Massenverlusts)

  • assessment of appearance changes (Beurteilung von Erscheinungsveränderungeb)

—> lissajous curve

=> common method is to simulate the conditions of a natural enviroment, such as soil or water, and monitor the degradation of the material over time

• e.g. fabric sample can be placed in soil compost and monitored for the breackdown of the material ny microorganisms

• degradation process is measured by factors like the loss of weight, changes in pH, and the production of carbon dioxide

=> polyester and merio wool

• polyester is know for its moisture-wicking properties, durability and leightweight feel —> keep skin dry by pulling moisture away, help to regulate th ebody temperature

• merino wool is known for its softness, breathability and moisture-wicking properties —> keep the skin dry and comfortable, in addition merino wool has an odorc-resistance —> prevent unpleased smells from building up

=> combination of these two can offer benefits of both materials => polyester provides moister-wicking and durability, while merino wool can provide softness, breathability and odor resistance

advantages:

• moisture-wicking properties —> keep the skin dry and prevent discomfort

• softness and breathability —> provide added comfort

• prevent unpleased smells from bulidng up

• duarble and long-lasting fabric

disadavantages:

• polyester is a synthetic material —> not be as enviromentally friendly as natural materials

• merino wool can be more expensive compared to othe rmaterials

=> merino wool and nylon

• merino wool is known for its highly breathability and moister-wicking properties

• nylon provides duarbility and strech

=> combination of merino wool and nylon can offer the benefits of both materials

advantages:

• moisture management —> merino wool as well as nylon has good moisture wicking properties —> absorb and wick away sewat from the skin, keeping the wearer dry and comfortable

• temperatur regulation —> merion wool is a natural insulator (regulate the body tempertaur in both, warm and cold weather)

• durability —> nylon is strong and durable —> withstand abrasion and tearing

• odor resistance —> merino wool has antimicrobial properties —> prevent growth of odor-causing bacteria

disadvantages:

• cost —> merino wool can be expensive compared to other materials

• care —> merino wool requires special care when washing and drying it

Advantages:

1. Moisture-wicking: Polyester and nylon are both known for their moisture-wicking properties, which help to keep the wearer dry and comfortable during physical activity. Merino wool also has moisture-wicking properties and can help regulate body temperature.

2. Stretch and flexibility: The addition of spandex or elastane fibers provides a good degree of stretch and flexibility, allowing for ease of movement and comfort during physical activity.

3. Durability: Polyester and nylon are both very durable fibers, and the addition of merino wool can help to improve the fabric's overall strength and durability.

4. Sun protection: Both polyester and nylon offer good sun protection properties, which are important for a shirt intended for use in the desert.

Disadvantages:

1. Synthetic fibers: The blend includes synthetic fibers, which may not be as breathable or environmentally friendly as natural fibers.

2. Pilling: Polyester and nylon can both pill over time, which can make the shirt look worn and decrease its overall durability.

3. Odor retention: Synthetic fibers can sometimes retain odors, which may be a concern for climbers who are wearing the shirt for multiple days in a row.

4. Price: A blend of these fibers may be more expensive than a shirt made from only one or two types of fabric.

=> you want to choose fabrics that are lighthweight, breathable, moister wicking and have a good sun protection

1. Breathability: allowas air to circulate, helping to keep the wearer cool and dry

2. Moister-wicking: wick away sweat from your skin, which can help to prevent irritation and keep you feeling comfortable during a climb

3. Lightweight: shirt should be lighthweight and not bully, which can help to reduce heat retention and allow for ease of movment during a climb

4. Quick-drying: should dry quick after getting wet, wheter from sweat or rain, which can help to prevent discomfort

5. Strechy: shirt should have some strech to allow for freedom of movement, which is important in climbing

6. Comfortable fit: shirt should fit well and be comfortable to wear

7. resistance to abrasion: climbing can be a rough activity and the shirt may come into contact with rough surfaces like rocks, which can cause abrasion on the fabric —> good abrasion can help to prolong its lifespan

=> blend can offer the benefits of all materials

=> blend would provide good moisture-wicking, sun protection and strech properties, while also being lightweight abd breathabel:

• moister-wicking

• strech and flexibility

• durability

• sun protection

but also can lead to:

• not that much enviromentally friendly

• pilling

• odor

• high price

spandex = synthetic fiber, synthetic elastane fiber

Pros:

• strech

• recovery

• duarbility

• comfort

• moisture-wicking

• UV-resistante

Cons:

• heat sensitivity

• limited breathability

• synthetic material —> not be as enviromentally friendly as natural material

• price

polyester = synthetic fibers

pros:

• lightweight

• super durable

• dosent shrink

• dosnet wrinkle

• odor resistant

• super qucik drying

cons:

• less brethable

• can get very clingy

• synthetic feel

• can irritate skin

• some very high priced

merino wool = natural fiber, protein-based fibers

pros:

• softness

• breathbility

• antibavterial (odor resistant)

• eco-friendly

• durable

• lightweight

• moisture-wicking

cons:

• costs

• pron to shinkage

• limited availability

• fragility