ASTM D4466-94

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Designation: D 4466 – 94
Standard Terminology for
Multicomponent Textile Fibers
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4466; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope biconstituent fiber, n—deprecated term. Use the preferred
term bicomponent bigeneric fiber.
1.1 Man-made polymers can be combined during manufac-
ture, or natural polymers can be formed during growth, to
DISCUSSION—As used in the Federal Trade Commission’s “Rules and
produce multicomponent fibers having special properties such
Regulations Under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act,”
“biconstituent fiber” is “essentially a physical combination or mixture
as cross dyeability, differential shrinkage, or bulk. This stan-
of two or more chemically distinct constituents or components com-
dard contains terms which can be used to describe the physical
bined at or prior to the time of extrusion, which if separately extruded,
arrangement of components of such fibers. The schematic
would fall within different .” generic classes. In the preferred ASTM
diagram in Annex A1 provides a guide for interpreting the
terminology, a biconstituent fiber is a bicomponent bigeneric fiber. It is
terminology used in describing two- and three-component
not clear from the “Rules” whether a biconstituent fiber has a
fibers, but is not intended to be limiting. Some examples of
sheath-core, bilateral, or matrix configuration.
usage are given in Annex A2, and a bibliography of related
tricomponent fiber, n—a fiber consisting of three polymers
literature is given in Appendix X1.
which are chemically different, physically different, or any
1.2 For definitions of other textile terms, refer to Terminol-
combination of such differences.
ogy D 123.
Physical Arrangement of Components
2. Referenced Documents
lateral, adj—a descriptive term for a textile fiber composed of
2.1 ASTM Standards:
two or more polymers at least two of which have a
D 123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
continuous longitudinal external surface.
Generic Class
sheath-core, adj—a descriptive term for a multicomponent
3. Terminology textile fiber consisting of a continuous envelope which
encases a continuous, central, internal region. (See also
generic class, n—as used with textile fibers, a grouping having
component.)
similar chemical compositions or specific chemical charac-
DISCUSSION—Both the sheath and the core can consist of more than
teristics.
one component arranged laterally, concentrically, or in matrix.
DISCUSSION—In the United States, the generic names and definitions
of man-made fibers, such as nylon, polyester, and acrylic, are published matrix, adj—a descriptive term for a textile fiber in which one
by the Federal Trade Commission in “Rules and Regulations Under the
or more polymeric fibrous material(s) is dispersed in another.
Textile Fiber Products Identification Act.” Technically, fibers may be
bigeneric, trigeneric, etc. Order for Naming Multicomponent Fibers
1. Trademark.
Components
2. Physical arrangement of components: bilateral, matrix,
polymer, n—a macromolecular material formed by the chemi-
sheath-core.
cal combination of monomers having either the same or
3. Number of components: bicomponent, tricomponent, etc.
different chemical composition.
4. Number of generic classes: monogeneric, bigeneric,
component, n—as used with textile fiber polymers, a polymer
trigeneric, etc.
with distinguishable properties.
5. Subparts 1 through 4 to be separated by commas.
bicomponent fiber, n—a fiber consisting of two polymers
6. Generic class(es): polyester, nylon, spandex, etc.
which are chemically different or physically different, or
7. Makeup of generic classes:
both.
(a) Generic class(es) in parentheses.
(b) For matrix structures—Ge
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