Fibre
Fiber (American English) or fibre (International English) is elongated stringy natural, man-made or manufactured material. In the case of natural fibers, they often tie together the parts of natural creatures. Natural vegetable fibers, generally consist of cellulose, examples include cotton, linen, and hemp. Cellulose fibers are used in the manufacture of paper and cloth. Natural animal fibers include spider silk, sinew, hair, and wool. There are naturally occurring mineral fibers such as asbestos.
Man-made fibres are those that are made artificially, but from from natural raw materials (often cellulosic). Examples include fiberglass, rayon, acetate, cupro and the more recently developed Lyocell.
Synthetic fibers include nylon, acrylic, polyester and graphite fiber.
Synthetic fibers and man-made fibers are the result of an extensive search by scientists to increase and improve upon the supply of the naturally occurring animal and plant fiber.
See also: textile, wood fibre, fiber crop
References
- The Internet-Encyclopedia article, "Fiber" http://www.internet-encyclopedia.org/wiki.phtml?title=Fiber July 23, 2003
Fiber can also refer to:
