staplefiber

Staple fiber is a textile fiber of relatively short length that is used to produce spun yarns. It is distinguished from filament fibers, which are long continuous filaments. Staple fibers can be natural or man-made and are selected for spinability, texture, and performance in the final fabric.

Natural staple fibers include cotton and wool, which are commonly spun into yarns. Other natural fibers such as flax, jute, and hemp can also be used in staple form for spun textiles. Silk is typically produced as filaments, but it can be processed into staple fibers when re-spun into shorter fibers. Man-made staple fibers are created by cutting longer filaments into short lengths or by spinning polymers into staple-length fibers. Common examples include polyester staple fiber, nylon staple fiber, acrylic staple fiber, viscose (rayon) staple fiber, and lyocell staple fiber.

Processing involves opening, cleaning, and aligning the fibers. Natural staples are carded to separate and arrange fibers, drawn to form a uniform mass, and, for finer yarns, combed to remove short fibers. Man-made staples may be produced directly from cut filaments or spun into staple form, then carded and drawn or combed as needed before spinning into yarn.

Yarns made from staple fibers are used in a wide range of textiles, including apparel, home textiles, carpets, and nonwovens. The staple length influences spinability, yarn strength, fabric feel, and pilling tendency. Staple fibers are often blended with other fibers to tailor properties such as softness, warmth, or durability. Natural staples are biodegradable, while synthetic staples derive from petrochemicals and are engineered to meet specific performance goals.