Saturday, May 30, 2009

5 interesting Facts About Linen

By Sarah J Jones

The word linen has its source from a general phrase 'linium'. One of the world's oldest fabrics, linen is manufactured from the fibres of the flax plant, which is a totally natural resource. Linen as a fabric has a history that goes back numerous thousands of years. Fragments of straw, seeds, fibres, yarn, and cloth about 8000 B.C.E. ago have been found in Swiss lake dwellings. Plutarch explains concerning the cause behind the employment of the flax plant; having blue coloured flowers, in the making of the material by Egyptians, implied that "the universe itself is surrounded with the ethereal blue of the sky."

Linen is an outstanding filter and it defends against chemically reactive mediums. It significantly lessens the gamma radiations approximately to half, resulting in the defence of human beings against solar radiations. Linen is very hygroscopic, because it is capable to rapidly absorb and give up dampness. Prior to giving 'wet' feeling, linen cloth can soak up as much as 20% of its dry weight.

It is medically proven that linen reduces bacteriological properties. Because it is opposed to fungus and bacteria, it is found to be an effectual fence to some illnesses. It is also effectual in the healing of allergies, and helps in inflammatory conditions and in the handling of some neurological illnesses. According to medical studies, it helps to get rid of quite a few skin illnesses, from bedsores and normal rashes to chronic eczema.

Linen possesses high air permeability and heat conductivity properties. Linen stuff does not amass static electricity. It conducts warmth five times more than wool and nineteen times more than silk. In hot conditions, it is found to cut the skin temperature three degrees Celsius more than other fabrics. According to a few studies, it usefully cuts down the perspiration time of a person 1.5 times more than cotton clothes, and twice more than viscose clothes. Meanwhile, in cold weather, linen works contrariwise and retains warmness entirely.

In prehistoric Egypt, linen was exploited as currency. Because of the strength of linen, paper made of it is commonly exceptionally strong; because of this basis the United States and several other states use 25% linen in their money.

Linen is composed of flax, thus possesses the quality of being resistant to rot. Mummies of Egyptian Pharaohs preserved to the present day are wrapped in the finest linen shrouds, found in Pyramids dating back to more than 5,000 B.C. Moreover, Egyptian priests wore linen, which symbolised purity and truth.

An additional vital truth associated with linen is that one of the most prominent manuscripts, 'The Linen Book' by earliest Etruscans, was written on linen in the 7th century B.C. additionally, Liber Linteus is the only surviving manuscript formed out of linen.

Linen fabric is one of the favoured conservative supports for oil paintings. In Europe it is the single cloth support obtainable in art shops. Linen is favoured to cotton for its potency, which is 2 to 3 times more than cotton, toughness and archival uprightness. In very old times, it was also employed as canvas in work of art. - 23802

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