What is the Difference Between Spun Yarn and Filament Yarn

The main difference between spun yarn and filament yarn is that spun yarn is made from fibres with short discrete lengths and involve materials like cotton and wool while filament yarn is made from long, continuous filaments and involve materials like silk.

Yarn is a continuous strand of twisted natural or synthetic fibres. The two main types of yarns are spun yarn and filament yarn. These two types of yarns are different in terms of quite different in terms of appearance, structure and performance.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Spun Yarn 
     – Definition, Features
2. What is Filament Yarn
     – Definition, Features
3. What is the Difference Between Spun Yarn and Filament Yarn
    – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Filament Yarn, Spun Yarn

What is Spun Yarn

Spun yarn or staple yarn are yarn we make fibres that have short discrete lengths. It is produced by placing fibres or filaments together to form a continuous assembly of overlapping fibres, generally bound together by a twist. This twist can be an S or Z twist. When the threads appear to go up, and to the left, we consider it an S-twist, and when the threads appear to go up, and to the right, we consider it a z-twist. Moreover, spun yarns can contain either a single type of fibre and various types of fibres together. We call this process of twisting the fibres together and creating spun fibres spinning.

Moreover, all-natural fibres except silk are spun fibres. That means materials like cotton, linen, wool contain spun yarn. Each of these materials has distinctive processes of creating the yarn. Moreover, pun yarns are more preferred for apparel. When compared to filament yarn, spun yarn is hairy, softer and less lustrous. They also tend to pill more than filament yarns (pills are the small accumulations of fibre that form on the surface of the fabric). 

What is Filament Yarn

Filament yarn consists of very long, continuous filaments which are either twisted together or just grouped together. There are two types of filament yarn as mono-filament yarn and multi-filament yarn. Mono-filament yarn consists of a single strand of filament while multi-filament yarn consists of two or more filament strands plied or twisted; in other words, multi-filament consists of yarns twisted together to form one yarn.

Furthermore, filament yarn can be natural, synthetic and non-synthetic. Filament yarns have excellent uniformity as well as excellent strength. They are smooth, lustrous, and cool. They do not lint or pill readily. 

Difference Between Spun Yarn and Filament Yarn

Definition

Spun yarn is a type of yarn made of a continuous assembly of overlapping fibres, usually bound together by a twist. Filament yarn, on the other hand, is a type that consists of very long, continuous filaments or fibres which are twisted together or grouped together.

Fibres

While the spun yarn is made from natural fibres like cotton, linen and wool and synthetic materials, filament yarn is made from natural silk fibres as well as synthetic fibres.

Appearance

Spun yarn is less lustrous and tends to have a dull, fuzzy look while filament yarn is smooth and lustrous.

Softness

Filament spun is softer and more pliable than spun yarns

Pill

Moreover, spun yarns tend to pill more than filament yarns.

Snagging

In addition to the above differences, spun yarn does not tend to snag as much as filament yarn.

Manufacturing Process

Spun yarn involves a complex manufacturing process, while filament yarn involves a simple manufacturing process.

Conclusion

Spun yarn is made from fibres with short discrete lengths and involves materials like cotton and wool while filament yarn is made from long, continuous filaments and involves materials like silk. Moreover, spun yarns are softer and less lustrous and tend to pill more than filament yarns. Thus, this is the main difference between spun yarn and filament yarn.

Reference:

1. “Spun Yarn.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, Available here.
2. “What Is Filament Yarn?” FILASENT, 7 Aug. 2017, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Cotton Yarn Handicraft Material Free Photo” (CC0) via (CC0) via Needpix
2. “Arselon filament yarn UV-Stabilized” By Odzir – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia