Did you have any idea that fabrics come with such complicated instructions? Fabric is defined as the manufactured assembly of long fibers. And that’s the shorter definition. When several different fabrics are combined, a flat sheet of material is produced. Those layers can be held together by interlocking the fibers together, or using more materials to bind them together.
The types of fabrics are grouped together based on the orientation of the fibers. And there are four main types of fabric printing that exist.
Unidirectional fabrics have fibers moving in the same direction. Despite this, some fabrics might have smaller fibers running in a different direction to help hold the primary fibers in position. This means that the material is stable enough to be worn.
There are several different methods when it comes to manufacturing the material into a full piece of fabric. Unidirectional fabrics can be weaved, bonded or stitched.
Woven fabrics. When it comes to woven fabrics, it’s a different story. This fabric is made by lacing the fibers in a weave, or regular style. Woven fabrics have three different weave styles; plain, twill and satin. With the Plain style, the material passes over and under each fiber.
The fabric has a more symmetrical look, and is very stable. But, this style can’t be used with more heavy fabrics. When making twill, the fabric is weaved over and under just like a plain weave, but uses a diagonal design. Denim is a type of twill fabric. And with satin, the weave style is changed, to make sure there’s less of an intersection between fibers. Satin weaves are more flat, and have a higher drape. When it comes to different types of fabric printing, this is why many satin curtains and dresses with a drape designed into the fabric.
Hybrid fabrics have more than one type of fibers in the material. Hybrid fabrics allow two fibers to be used for one layer, rather than two.
There are three different types of hybrid fabric, including aramid/carbon, aramid/glass and carbon/glass. Aramid/carbon mixed fabrics tend to be more durable, but more expensive. Aramid/glass is also a stronger material, combined with the compressive materials of glass. But, it’s also a more expensive fabric. Finally, carbon/glass is another sturdy option, but is more affordable when it comes to hybrid fabrics.
And multiaxial fabrics are combined with several different layers of longer fibers, which are held together by a secondary thread. Polyester is always stitched with this fabric, because it’s the perfect orientation when it comes to the fibers, and it’s an affordable option when it comes to types of fabric printing.
There are two different forms of multiaxial fabrics; weave and stitch and the simultaneous stitch. The weave and stitch is carried out by skewing the fabric machine by 45 degrees. By doing this, the process can be done more quickly. So, it’s a good time saver for anyone in a pinch. As for the simultaneous stitch, this is done with two different machines, based on the knitting process. Depending on your sewing machine, there could be an option on the frame that draws fiber for every axis. This is done until the required set is assembled, then stitched together.
While there are several different types of fabric printing, history has shown that there are two different sources when it comes to making fibers. First, you can dissolve cellulose in cell walls of plants. Then, you can reform them into threads, making fibers. Or, you could synthesize similar molecules when it comes to cellulose. With this source, the fibers are more flexible, but aren’t breathable and comfortable at all. So, many experts recommend mixing this fiber source with cotton, for a more comfortable experience.