Fiber

Definition

In the context of organic chemistry, particularly within the chapter on synthetic polymers, a fiber is a long, chain-like molecule consisting of many repeating units (monomers) that exhibit high strength and flexibility. Fibers can be natural like cotton or synthetic like nylon, and are characterized by their ability to form filaments suitable for textiles.

Related terms

Polymerization:

The chemical process that combines small molecules (monomers) into a large chain-like structure (polymer), through reactions such as addition or condensation.

Monomer:

The simplest unit or building block that can join with other similar units to form larger compounds known as polymers.

Tensile Strength: The maximum stress that a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before breaking