6th Class Science Fibre to Fabric Animal Fiber

      Introduction

Clothes, which protect us from rain, cold etc. are made of fibres. Fibres are obtained from plants and animals. Fibre from plants is called plant fibre and fibre from animal is called animal fibre. Both plant and animal fibres are called natural fibre. First silk fibre was discovered accidently in China. Synthetic fibre is the composition of chemicals hence called manmade fibre. In this chapter we will study about the source of fibre and its use.

Note: China is the leading producer of silk products in the world.

        Animal Fibre

We need warm or woolen dresses during winter to protect ourselves from cold. Thread of wool used to make the sweater, is obtained from animal fibre. Another animal fibre is silk. Silk is used for making sarees and other wearable dresses which is obtained from cocoons of silk moth therefore, called animal fibre.

        Wool

Wool is an important and commonly used animal fibre which is mainly obtained from sheep. It is soft and wavy (curly). Wool is widely used for knitting sweaters. It traps air more than that of cotton fibre hence keep our body warm.

Look at the following pictures of wool yielding animals:

            Ox                                                          Yak  

          Sheep                                                       Lama  

           How wool is obtained from sheep

Wool from sheep is obtained by different process. The process by which thin skin of sheep along with its dense hair is removed is called shearing After obtaining the fleece of sheep, it is washed and dried because, dust particles are present on the body of the sheep. The process by which fleece from sheep is washed and dried is called scouring. Hairs on the fleece of sheep is not uniformly distributed. Some parts of fleece are dense, some are not Length of hairs, s also not uniform. In the process of sorting, fleece of sheep is separated m sections according to their quality, like separation of dense hair long and short hair, etc. Fleece of sheep cannot be obtained in desired colour hence desired colour of wool is obtained by dyeing the fleece. Combing method is used for spinning the yarns of wool. It removes dust particles which present in fleece. A comb which having metal teeth is used for combing. Long woolen fibre is twisted or spun into thick yarn is called wool and short woolen fibre spun into fine yarns. The process by which long and short woolen fibre is twisted into thick and fine yarn is called spinning.

Look at the following process to obtain wool from sheep:

         Which one of the following steps comes first in the production of woolen yarn from sheep?

(a) Scouring       

(b) Shearing

(c) ombing

(d) Spinning

(e) None of these

Answer: (b)

Explanation

Fleece of sheep is obtained by the process of shearing. Therefore, option (B) is correct and rest of the options is incorrect.

      Choose the correct one about the sheep.

(a) Carnivores

(b) Omnivores

(c) Herbivores

(d) All of these

(e) None of these

Answer: (c)

Explanation 

Sheep eats only plants product hence called herbivores. Therefore, option (c) is correct and rest of the options is incorrect..