Overview - ISO 2076:2021 (Textiles - Man-made fibres - Generic names)
ISO 2076:2021 is the international standard that defines generic names for man-made fibres used in textiles and related products. It specifies how fibres are named based on their main polymer, distinguishing attributes, abbreviated terms and, where appropriate, example chemical formulae. The seventh edition (2021) updates the compilation of generic names and includes recommendations for creating new generic names (see Annex A). The scope covers fibres manufactured on an industrial scale by a manufacturing process (man-made/ manufactured fibres), distinct from naturally occurring fibrous materials.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Table structure and contents: Table 1 entries are organized into generic name, other denominations (regional/legal names), abbreviated terms, distinguishing attributes, and example chemical formulae.
- Distinguishing attributes: Classification is mainly chemical (main polymer, functional groups, linkages, repeating units) and may include performance thresholds or composition limits where relevant.
- Examples from Table 1: acetate (cellulose acetate with specific degree of acetylation), triacetate, acrylic (≥85% acrylonitrile units), aramid (aromatic amide/imide linkages), elastane (≥85% segmented polyurethane), chlorofibre (vinyl chloride/vinylidene chloride content).
- Rules for new names: Annex A provides recommended rules to create new generic fibre names (introduced in earlier edition and applied from the sixth edition onward). These rules are not retroactive to older generic names.
- Additional provisions: designation of bicomponent fibres (Clause 6), descriptions for fibres made of several components (Annex B), modified fibres (Annex C), and indexes of names/abbreviations (Annexes D and E).
- Regulatory linkage: Annex F maps generic names to regional/national labelling requirements.
Practical applications and typical users
ISO 2076 is used to enable consistent fibre identification, labelling, product specification and trade compliance. Typical users include:
- Textile and fibre manufacturers and R&D teams defining new fibre products and marketing materials
- Quality control and testing laboratories referencing fibre categories for analysis and reporting
- Regulatory bodies and compliance officers (labelling and consumer protection authorities) - e.g., for comparisons with Regulation (EU) No. 1007/2011 or national rules
- Procurement, sourcing and retail teams ensuring accurate fibre content declaration for supply chains and international trade
- Standards developers and accreditation bodies aligning test methods and classification systems
Related standards and references
- ISO 1833 series (fibre composition analysis)
- ISO/TR 11827 (technical report referenced)
- ISO 1043-1 (plastics abbreviations)
- Relevant regional regulations (e.g., Regulation (EU) No. 1007/2011)
ISO 2076:2021 provides a practical, standardized vocabulary for man-made fibre names, supporting clear labelling, compliance and global textile trade.
