Synthetic fabric

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/synthetic-fabric

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the key historical fiber?Nylon, developed by Wallace Carothers at DuPont, commercialized in 1939
2. What is the environmental concern?Shedding of microplastics during washing and reliance on fossil fuels
3. How do scientists make synthetic fabrics?Scientists start with small molecules called monomers and join them into long chains called polymers. The polymer is melted or dissolved, then pushed through a tiny plate to form fibers. When the fibers cool or the solvent disappears, they become solid threads.
4. Why are synthetic fabrics strong and durable?The long polymer chains are tightly aligned, giving the fibers high tensile strength and resistance to wear. This makes them great for things that need to last long, like parachutes, workwear, and sports gear.

Polymer: A large molecule composed of repeating structural units, typically connected in a chain.
Monomer: A molecule that can react with other like or unlike molecules to form a polymer.
Microplastics: Tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size, often shed from synthetic textiles.