Kunstfibre

Kunstfibre, from German, literally means synthetic fibre. In English usage it corresponds to synthetic or artificial fibres: filaments and staple fibers manufactured from polymers rather than spun from natural proteins or cellulose. Kunstfibre cover a broad range of materials used in textiles, from everyday fabrics to technical and industrial applications.

The development of kunstfibre began in the early 20th century with the invention of nylon, followed by polyester, acrylic and other polymers. These fibres offered properties such as high strength, durability and design versatility, enabling a shift away from natural fibres for many applications.

Most kunstfibre are produced by polymerization to form a melt or solution, then extruded through small nozzles to form filaments. Melt spinning is common for thermoplastics like nylon and polyester; dry or wet spinning is used for acrylics and viscose alternatives. Fibres can be formed as filaments or cut into staple fibres and blended.

Major families include polyamide (nylon), polyester, acrylic and modacrylic, olefin (polypropylene and polyethylene) and aramids. Properties are tailored by polymer chemistry and fibre finish: high strength, abrasion resistance, elasticity, moisture management or thermal insulation. Some kunstfibre are inherently hydrophobic, while others are hydrophilic or hygroscopic.

Applications span clothing, upholstery and carpets, industrial textiles, geotextiles, medical devices and filtration. Synthetic fibres are often used in blends to combine desirable traits such as softness, durability and colorfastness.

Environmental considerations include dependence on fossil fuels, energy use and microplastic release. Recycling approaches include mechanical shredding for fiber-to-fiber recycling and chemical recycling to reclaim polymers, with ongoing research to improve sustainability.