Natural fibers are that are produced by plants, animals, and geological processes which can be spun into filament, thread or rope and further be woven, knitted, matted or bound. Cotton and linen are examples of plant fibers, while silk and wool come from animal sources. Asbestos is a natural mineral fiber.
Man-made fibers are created from natural materials or by chemical processes.
Man made fiber are two types. One is synthetic fiber and another is regenerated fiber.
1. Synthetic fiber manufactured from chemical process such as nylon, polyester etc.
2. Regenerated fiber is manufactured by dissolving a natural material, such as cellulose, and then restoring or regenerating the material through extrusion and precipitation. Such as viscose, rayon etc.
The manmade fibers or synthetic fibers are replacing the natural one. The reasons for this change can state below:
We know fiber quality depends upon its properties like length, fineness, strength, elasticity, crimp, color, maturity, action with water alkali, acids etc. in case of man made fiber, we can give the fibres our required properties as we want. But in case of natural fiber it is not possible because it get its characteristic properties from the nature. For examples, we can get polyester fiber both in staple and filament form but we can not get cotton fiber as filament form.
There are also other points which differentiate man made from natural fiber:
1. The strength of man made fiber is greater than natural fiber.
2. The production of natural fiber depends upon natural condition but the production of man made fiber does not depends on natural fiber.
3. Man made fiber processing is easy than natural fiber.
4. The properties of man made fiber i.e. strength, appearance, action of acids, elasticity etc. can be changed but not in case of natural fiber.
5. Man made fiber is cheaper than natural fiber.
6. Floods, droughts, natural calamity has no effect on man made fiber.