ABSTRACT
Fibers can also be placed into one of four classes, which can further distinguish the type of ber further than just saying the ber is natural or manufactured. Fibers can be classied as protein, cellulose, mineral, or synthetic bers. Protein bers are those that are made up of polymers, or long repeating chains of connecting strands of amino acids. An example of this is hair, which is primarily made up of the protein known as keratin. Essentially, all hair bers, such as wool, are protein bers. Cellulose bers are those that contain polymers of carbohydrates, such as cotton or hemp. Mineral bers are composed of components of rocks, specically silica, which can be found in rocks such as quartz. Mineral wool and asbestos are two common examples of mineral bers. Synthetic bers are those that are produced using small organic molecules. A common example of a synthetic ber is polyester.
