Tow
Encyclopedia
In the composites
industry
, a tow is an untwisted bundle
of continuous filaments, and it refers to man-made fibres, particularly carbon fibres (also called graphite).
Tows are designated by the number of fibers they contain, e.g., a 12K tow contains about 12,000 fibres.
In the textile industry
, a tow (rhymes with cow, unless referring to cellulose acetate
which sounds like toe) is a coarse, broken fibre such as flax
, hemp
, or jute
. Flax tows are often used as upholstery
stuffing, and tows in general are frequently cut up to produce staple fibre.
Composite material
Composite materials, often shortened to composites or called composition materials, are engineered or naturally occurring materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties which remain separate and distinct at the macroscopic or...
industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
, a tow is an untwisted bundle
Bundle
Bundle or Bundling may refer to:In marketing:* Product bundling, a marketing strategy that involves offering several products for sale as one combined product...
of continuous filaments, and it refers to man-made fibres, particularly carbon fibres (also called graphite).
Tows are designated by the number of fibers they contain, e.g., a 12K tow contains about 12,000 fibres.
In the textile industry
Textile industry
The textile industry is primarily concerned with the production of yarn, and cloth and the subsequent design or manufacture of clothing and their distribution. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry....
, a tow (rhymes with cow, unless referring to cellulose acetate
Cellulose acetate
Cellulose acetate , first prepared in 1865, is the acetate ester of cellulose. Cellulose acetate is used as a film base in photography, as a component in some adhesives, and as a frame material for eyeglasses; it is also used as a synthetic fiber and in the manufacture of cigarette filters and...
which sounds like toe) is a coarse, broken fibre such as flax
Flax
Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
, hemp
Hemp
Hemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel with modest...
, or jute
Jute
Jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fibre that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. It is produced from plants in the genus Corchorus, which has been classified in the family Tiliaceae, or more recently in Malvaceae....
. Flax tows are often used as upholstery
Upholstery
Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. The word upholstery comes from the Middle English word upholder, which referred to a tradesman who held up his goods. The term is equally applicable to domestic,...
stuffing, and tows in general are frequently cut up to produce staple fibre.