Animals fibres

Animals fibres

You have studied in previous classes that plant fibres mainly cotton and flax are major natural cellulose fibres. Cotton grows within a pod or bll from developing seeds and flax is obtained from  the start and riit of the plant. Let us now study about  silk and wool. These fibres are derived from the animals  so these are called animal fibres. 

Wool is the hair and fur of sheep and silk is the secretion of the silk caterpillar.  Protein fibres are hygroscopic they absorb moisture without feeling wet. In the winter when people go from dry indoor air into damp outdoor air wool absorbs moisture and generates heat protecting the Wearer from the cold.

                             Wool

We wear sweater in winter to protect ourselves from the cold. Wool is ideal for making such clothes. 

Wool can be obtained from hairy animals like sheep goat yek and camel. Llama and alpaca found in south America also yield wool. However sheep is the main source. The feence is cut off from the body of certain hairy animals to obtain wool. The process is called shearing.