Author: pawansingh

Plant

Kapok Fibers

Botanical information

The scientific name of kapok is Ceiba Pentandra, belonging to the Malvaceae family.
In different regions, kapok is also called “cotton silk,” “samauma,” “java cotton,” or “java kapok.”
The fibre which appears like cotton when in raw form and has a soft feel like silk should be the kapok fibre.
Kapok is a natural textile fibre obtained from the kapok tree’s seeds, which appear on the branches.
Indonesia and Thailand are some of the top kapok exporters around the world.

Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation

Regions with tropical or sub-tropical climates are the preferred places to grow the kapok tree.
These trees particularly grow at an altitude which is less than 1000 feet from the sea level.
The kapok tree requires porous volcanic soil, which has good drainage.
These are the tallest type of tropical trees, which can grow up to 230 feet (70m).
Due to its fast growth, it is used for reforestation.
The fruits of the tree which carry the kapok fibres are oblong egg-shaped pouches.
This raw material present inside the pods is light, fluffy, lustrous, and light yellow to light brown.
Under favourable conditions, a tree may produce 330-400 fruits per year, thus gaining 15-18 kg of fibre and 30kg of seeds per year.

Table 1. Physical & mechanical properties and chemical composition of areca nut fibres

Physical & Mechanical Characteristics

Fibre Length

8-32 mm

Fineness

0.4-0.7 d

Tenacity

1.4-1.74 g/d

Elongation at Break

1.8-4.2%.

Chemical composition

Cellulose

70.2-74.4%

Hemicellulose

17.9-22.4%

Lignin

3.7-5.7%

Ash

–

Features of the fibres

The kapok fibres depict a hydrophobic nature as it consists of a waxy surface and dries quickly if they get wet.
It has excellent buoyancy; 1 kg of kapok fibres can keep a 35 kg load afloat.
These fibres are environmentally friendly as they are anti-bacterial, non-toxic, non-allergic, odourless, and rot resistant.
They can also function as a good insulator for heat, sound, and air due to the air trapped inside the fibre structure.
It can be a viable alternative to cotton as it is abundantly available in nature, cost-effective, and renewable.
It is an organic and biodegradable seed fibre which is naturally buoyant.

Typical uses

Kapok fibres are mainly used as a filler in mattresses and as stuffings in pillows and toys.
Industries like paper, textile, aviation, and upholstery use these fibres on a large scale.
The fruit, leaves, oil, and young shoots of kapok are used as food and medicines.
Also, it is often considered a sacred or symbolic tree in Indigenous cultures; its various parts are used in traditional medicine.
These fibres are natural reinforcing and filling materials in polymer composites.

Kenaf Fibres

Post author By pawansingh
Post date January 30, 2024

Kenaf Fibres

Botanical information

Its botanical name is Hibiscus Cannabinus L. and is also known as Mesta, Ambari, Gambo, etc.
It belongs to the family Malvaceae and the species Hibiscus.
It is a bast fibre.
Kenaf, a dicotyledonous, herbaceous annual plant, has a high fibre yield.

Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation

The kenaf plant is known for its economic and horticultural importance and use.
It is adaptable to temperate and tropical climates and can flourish with abundant solar radiation and high rainfall.
It requires well-drained, neutral, sandy loams rich in humus.
It has moderate drought tolerance but is sensitive to frost. The optimum plant growth temperature should be above 10oC throughout the growing season to obtain maximum yield.

Table 1. Physical & mechanical properties and chemical composition of areca nut fibres

Physical & Mechanical properties

Length

2.32±0.21mm

Diameter

21.9±4.6 µm

Tensile strength

930 MPa

Elongation at break

1.7±0.2%

Moisture content

Chemical Composition

Cellulose

45-57%

Hemi-cellulose

8-13 %

Lignin

22 %

Pectin

0.6%

Wax

0.8%

Ash

2-5%

Features

Kenaf fibres are relatively short, but they can reach up to 5mm under favourable climatic conditions within 6-8 months.
The colour of the fibres ranges from light yellow to grey, and they exhibit moderate to high lustre.
Despite being coarser and less pliable than jute, kenaf fibres have a high breaking strength.
They also possess flame-retardant properties, excellent sound insulation, and antimicrobial properties due to lignin coating between fibre layers.
The average yield of kenaf fibres ranges from 0.846-3.758 tons per ha.

Uses

Kenaf is widely used in industrial applications such as paper and pulp, textiles, insulating mats.
Its applications include the creation of absorption material, animal bedding, bio composites, biomass, etc.
Kenaf Fibres are used as reinforcement material in thermoplastic compounds in Mediterranean countries.
It is used as a raw material for the substitution of wood in pulp production and paper industries.
In the past and still, it can produce high-quality cordages, ropes, sacs, canvases, carpets.

Lotus silk

Preamble

The Lotus is called a sacred flower, and it is believed to bring good luck and has healing powers that remove diseases from the body and reduce headaches.
Recently, entrepreneurs have found a way to use the lotus plant’s stems to obtain the fibres. This is popularly known as lotus silk.
Historically, it was mainly used to make monastic robes for Buddha images and Buddhist monks as an offering.

Botanical information

The scientific name of this gracious species is Nelumbo Nucifera, which belongs to the family of Nelumbonaceae and is cultivated in Asia, Australia, and Russia.
It is a perennial aquatic plant.
Interestingly, lotus plants are eudicots in view of the fact that they are dicots but also possess some characteristics of monocotyledonous plants, i.e., the plant has hairy roots, and the tap root does not grow.

Agroclimatic conditions for cultivation

These plants flourish in marshy lands and shallow freshwater lakes having loamy soil and fine sand in the proportion of 1:3.
While the lotus plant can grow in dark areas, it proliferates in warmer climates with full sunlight and a water temperature of 21oC (70oF).
This adaptability allows the plant to thrive in range of environmental conditions, making it suitable for cultivation in various regions.
Also, 35000-40000 rhizomes can be planted in one hectare of land.

Physical & Mechanical Properties

Staple Length

31 – 50 mm

Fineness

3.96 – 4.52 µm

Linear density

1.55 dtex

Elongation at break

2.75%

Breaking tenacity

3.44 cN/dtex

Moisture regain

12.3%

Initial Modulus

146.8 cN/dtex

Ratio of length to fineness

104

Crystallinity

48-50%

Features

The extraction of lotus fibre is done using virgin plant manually by traditional method; thus, it is environmentally friendly, pollution-free, and carbon neutral.
It also contains vegetable proteins and certain amino acids that replenish the skin making it kin to skin.
The fabric produced using these fibres is breathable and moisture-absorbent, which helps to keep the skin comfortable.
It is waterproof and sweatproof and adapts to almost all types of weather.
It is soft, silky, and light in weight.
Also, the fabric stands out as it is stain-resistant and pilling-resistant, with wrinkle-free features.

Typical Uses

Different luxurious and eco-friendly garments, such as coats, shawls, dresses, pants, etc., are made from these fibres.
These are also used to make summer wear, kids wear, and other fashion garments as they provide comfort, lustre, and soft feel.
It can also be used for medicinal purposes due to its various healing properties.

Nettle Fibres

Botanical information

The stinging nettles or nettle belong to the family of Urticaceae – a nettle family.
The two most common nettle species are Urtica Dioica L. and Urtica Urens.
The Latin verb urere, signifying ‘to burn,’ is the origin of the genus name Urtica, referencing the plant’s stinging hairs. The species name dioica, meaning ‘two houses,’ reflects the typical presence of either male or female flowers in the plant.
The term “Nettle” might have its roots in the Anglo-Saxon term “noedl,” meaning needle, while “Urtica” is derived from the Latin word for “to burn.”
It is a herbaceous nitrophilous (plant preferring nitrogen rich soil) perennial plant which belongs to the class of Magnoliopsida – dicotyledons.
In the early 20th century, Germans discovered that a combination of nettle and 10 % cotton produced high-quality fabric used for underclothes, stockings, and tarps. Also, the fishing nets were made with the nettle twines.
The traditional nettle fibre craft flourishes notably among the Bhotiya community in Uttarakhand, India.

Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation

Nettle plants generally undergo an annual growth cycle, initiating from July to August and becoming ready for collection between October and January.
This widely distributed wild plant can grow in tropical and temperate zones but only in areas with high annual rainfall.
Nettle grows in a broad range of habitats such as swamps, shrubberies, meadows, habitats near riverbanks, wastelands, floodplains, etc.
It usually prefers soil rich in nutrients and nitrogen content, moist in texture. It can grow in full sun-light but likes it best in semi- shades.
It is commonly found at altitudes ranging from 300 – 2800 meters above sea level.
This wild plant is widely spread in the regions of Northern Europe, Northern America and Asia and is less available in Southern Europe and Northern African regions[2].
A Himalayan nettle species, Girardinia Diversifolia is abundantly present in the Himalayan region(India) right from Uttarakhand to Sikkim. It is also found in other Asian countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, China, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and some parts of the African continent .
According to preliminary surveys conducted by the Uttarakhand Bamboo and Fiber Development Board and non-governmental organisations such as the Himmothan Society, it has been discovered that three blocks in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, encompass approximately 770 sq.km of naturally occurring Himalayan nettle, Girardinia diversifolia(2023).
This vigorously growing species has the potential to produce an annual yield of 24,704.26 tons of raw dried fibre.

Table 1. Physical & mechanical properties and chemical composition of areca nut fibres

Physical & Mechanical properties

Length

50mm-750mm

Diameter

19.9 µm

Moisture content

12.3%

Breaking extension

2.0-2.5%

Average stiffness

65-87 GPa

Tensile strength

740-1594 MPa

Chemical Composition

Details

European sp.

Indian sp.

Cellulose

67%

90%

Hemicellulose

–

Lignin

–

Moisture

11%

Ash

1.5%

Vernacular names for Himalayan Nettle[3]

Bichchhoo – Hindi,

Indian stinging nettle – English,

Bhangre sisnu and Allo sisnu – Nepali, and

Kuju – Lepcha community, Sikkim

Chart 2

Features

Nettle fibres offer sustainable, environmentally friendly, and biodegradable option for textile production.
Additionally, its manufacturing process requires less energy consumption.
It has minimum requirements for pesticides and fertilizers .
It proliferates in diverse climates and supports the local biodiversity.
Traditional fibre processing results in supple and pliable fibres ideal for fine textiles. Furthermore, the wastewater generated in this process releases natural pigment from the fibre which can serve as a natural source of colorants, effectively dyeing cotton, and wool in a range of hues, from beige to green, depending on the mordant applied
Nettle plant has the ability to improve soils overloaded with nitrates and phosphates, as it is a nitrophilous herbaceous plant .
It can be cultivated on land unsuitable for food production, including contaminated areas.
Stinging nettles are adorned with trichomes, which are hairs found on the leaves and stems. These trichomes consist of short, simple hairs on the leaves and longer, stinging rigid hairs .
It possesses twice the stiffness and strength of hemp, yet its elongation is comparable to hemp and superior to flax.
It is also resilient to pests and diseases.
It presents economic and ecological benefits by producing top quality fibres and food in one harvest.
Stinging nettle possesses antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-infectious, hypotensive, and antiulcer properties across all its plant parts, including leaves, stems, roots, and seeds. Additionally, it exhibits the capacity to prevent cardiovascular disease.

Extraction and processing of fibres

Cultivation of nettle plants – Two types of nettle varieties are grown specifically for producing fibres suitable for textile use, namely European nettle – Urtica dioica and Himalayan nettle – Girardinia Diversifolia, while the remaining varieties also contain fibres utilized for different purposes.

Harvest – Depending on the time of harvest and the type of nettle species, harvesting is done either manually or mechanically.

Retting – It is a process done to separate the fibre bundles from the lignin present in the stem. Traditionally, dew/field retting or water retting is performed.

Decortication –Generally, there are two ways to perform decortication, which is manually, i.e. removing the bast/bark from the inner core, and by machine decortication, e.g. by crushing, breaking unit, or hammer mill.

Separation of the fibre bundles – In this process, each fibre is extracted through simple methods, such as boiling them in water or introducing chemicals or enzymes to accelerate the separation. Mechanical processes like scutching, comb shaking, or step cleaning are also used.

Refining – This step determines the ultimate use of these fibres whether they will be used as relatively coarse fibre bundles (as seen in needle felts) or as fine fibre bundles or single fibres for spinning (utilized in processes like spinning wheels or cotton spinning machinery). The refining methods range from cooking, beating, or hackling to carding.

Typical uses

Nettle has been used for food, medicinal use, and fibres since medieval times.
Its young leaves are suitable for preparing curries, herb soups, and tangy soups. The root of the stinging nettle is utilized to alleviate urinary challenges associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia, while its leaves are employed to manage conditions like arthritis, rheumatism, and allergic rhinitis.
Archaeological findings state that, in Bronze age (3000-2000 BC) burial shrouds were found which were made up of nettle fabrics in Denmark.
During World War I, the captured German uniforms were found to be made up of 85% of nettle fibres.
Native Americans and Europeans utilized fibres obtained from Stinging Nettle to craft sailcloth, sacks, ropes, and fishing nets.
In the textile sector, nettle is used to make clothes, give anti-bacterial finishing to textiles, make bio-based composites, and make carbon nanosheets .
In agriculture, extract of all parts of plant is used as a bio stimulant/ growth promoter (substances used to improve plant growth). Further, the plant is used to make green manure, or as a plant-based fertilizer .
Stinging nettle enhances the reproductive performance of fish, presenting it as a cost-effective option for pisciculture.
It can be used as reinforcement materials in polymer composites for application in construction and automobile industries.
Nettle fibres have the potential to serve as an alternative to glass fibres, particularly in the production of composites for the automotive industry.
These potential fibres could also replace asbestos fibres, with nettle fibres offering advantages over flax fibres.
By combining nettle with cotton or bamboo in varying proportions, one can create fabrics suitable for a range of applications, including home textiles, fibre composites, and handmade goods.
Nettle fibre can be blended with various other fibres, including wool, cotton, flax, ramie, and viscose.

Use of nettle fibres in different villages and tribal regions in India

Various handcrafted goods are prepared by local artisans in Uttarakhand, India, through traditional methods, and these crafts are emerging as employment-generation activities for the local crowd.

Maheshwari Khati, a proficient artisan from Bhimtala in Chamoli District, Uttarakhand, oversees a weaving centre specialising in handloom products. She creates products from wool as well as nettle, and also makes carpets.

The Lepchas, the indigenous people of Sikkim, possess notable technical expertise regarding the nettle plant and have utilized it as a source of fibre for crafting clothing and accessories, the details of which are as follows:

They use a traditional method to extract and soften the fibres, starting with harvesting semi-matured stems.
The process involves peeling and drying the stems until they become brittle and can be worked with.
To enhance the softness of the fibres, they undergo treatment with local white soil and are subsequently dried again.
A degumming process is initiated by boiling the bark with soap or wood ash.
Following this, the fibres undergo treatment with a wooden paddle to eliminate any residual bark before being spun into yarn and transformed into fabric.
The nettle yarn is then utilized to craft various products such as bags, shawls, and stoles.

Based on above, it is remarked that Lepcha community’s creations can be enriched by blending nettle fibres with other fibres such as cotton, sunn hemp, angora, or yak hair which can result in a diverse range of textiles using nettle.

Training provided by Nepalese women to Lepcha community has revitalized the craft, bringing in new designs and eco-friendly extraction methods. This initiative has generated additional income for women who sell popular nettle bags and hats as souvenirs to tourists in Sikkim.

Promoting these diversified products as handicrafts from the Lepcha community can tap into the region’s thriving tourism industry, leading to socio-economic benefits for the local communities involved in producing these handicrafts.

Pineapple Leaf Fibres

Botanical Information

The generic name of the pineapple plant is Ananas comosus.
It is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family of Bromeliaceace.
Pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) is a waste product in the agricultural sector, abundantly cultivated in Malaysia and across Asia.
However, with the advancement of modern technology and an increasing demand for sustainable alternatives, pineapple leaves are now being utilized to produce fibres. These fibres find applications in various sectors such as textiles, construction, automobiles.
Pineapple is derived from the Spanish word “Pina”, which means cone shaped.
The native Tupi word for the fruit was anana, meaning “excellent fruit;” this is the source for words like ananas, common in many languages.
It is cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical regions as a commercial fruit crop.

Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation

The plant is sturdy and robust with the height of 1-2m, characterized by tapering fleshy leaves that can reach up to 90 cm in length and approximately 6 cm in width.
The optimal temperature range for pineapple cultivation is between 22oC to 32oC. Pineapple can be grown up to an elevation of 1100 meters above mean sea level if the region is free from frost.
While the ideal rainfall is between 100-150 cm, pineapples can thrive in high rainfall zones and dry areas with supplemental protective irrigation during dry spells.
For optimal growth, pineapple prefers soil with a depth of 45-60 cm, free from hard pan or stones. The preferred pH range for the soil is 5.0 pH – 6.0pH.
The important pineapple-growing countries of the world are the Hawaiian Islands, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Mexico, Taiwan, South Africa, Australia, Puerto Rico, and India.
In India, Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, and Bihar are the major pineapple producing states.
In the year 2017, the global pineapple cultivation covered an area of 1,098,705 hectares, potentially providing around 1,318 thousand tons of Pineapple Leaf Fiber (PALF). This estimation is based on a calculation of 40 tons per hour of usable fresh leaves and a 3% PALF yield .
According to 2013 analysis, Pineapple is India’s commercially significant fruit crop, occupying approximately 90,000 hectares of land. The annual production stands at 15.27 lakh tonnes, with a productivity rate of 15.3 tonnes per hectare. Thus, the estimated amount of PALF obtained should be 41,310 tons.

Extraction process

There are two steps to extract the fibres from the pineapple leaf.

Scrapping of leaves–

The decorticator machine is used for scrapping the pineapple leaf. It has three rollers namely,

Feed roller – through which the leaves are fed into the machine.

Leaf scrapping roller – it scratches and removes the pulpy part of the leaf along with the waxes.

Serrated roller – it crushes the leaves and makes several breaks as a passage for the retting microbes.

Retting –

Small bundles of pineapple leaves that have been scratched are placed in a water tank with a substrate-to-liquor ratio of 1:20 in which urea 0.5% or diammonium phosphate (DAP) is mixed for fast retting reactions to happen.

The fibres are regularly checked to ensure that fibres are loosened.

After retting, fibres are separated mechanically, by washing in fresh water and then dried in air by hanging.

Table 1. Physical & mechanical properties and chemical composition of areca nut fibres

Physical & Mechanical Properties

Length (mm)

10-90

Fineness (tex)

2.5-5.5

Tenacity (cN/tex)

30-40

Elongation (%)

2.4-3.4

Initial modulus (cN/tex)

570-700

Chemical Composition

Cellulose

55-68%

Hemicellulose

15-20%

Pectin

2-4%

Lignin

8-12%

Fat and Wax

4-7%

2-3%

Water soluble material

1-3%

Pineapple varieties

Smooth Cayenne

Giant Kew, Charlotte Rothschild

India

Hilo

Hawaii

Cayenne Lisse

Martinique, Ivory Coast

Sarawak, Samarahan, Nanas Durian, Nanas Paun

Malaysia

Perolera, Bumanguesa, Santa Maria

Venezuela, Colombia

St. Michael

Azores

Kona Sugarloaf

Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii, Central and South America

Baron Rothschild

Guinea

Criolla

Peru

Monte Lirio

Mexico, Costa Rica

Esmeralda

Mexico, Florida

Fu Mu, Cherimoya, Perfume, Sugarcane, Sugar honey, Golden diamond, Milk

Taiwan

Cayenne Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe

Queen cultivar

Mauritius (Queen Malacca)

Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka

Del Monte Gold (MD 2), Hawaiian Gold

Hawaii, Costa Rica, Ghana, Cuba, France

Nanas Moris, Sarikei

Malaysia

McGregor

South Africa, Queensland

James Queen

South Queen

Ripley Queen

Florida, Queensland

Kallara local

India

Natal Queen

South Africa, El Salvador

Natal Queen

Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela

Spanish

Hybrid 36

Malaysia

Josephine

Malaysia

Maspine

Malaysia

Cabezona, Cumanesa, Castilla

Venezuela, West Indies, Mexico, Puerto Rico, El Salvador

Valera, Morada

Colombia, Venezuela

Pineapple Panare

Venezuela

Abacaxi

Sugarloaf, Black Jamaica, Montufar

Central and South America, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Philippines

Chart 1: Varieties of pineapple

Features

Pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) is white in colour, smooth, and glossy as silk.
It is a medium-length fibre with high tensile strength.
It has a softer surface than other natural fibres and absorbs and maintains a good colour.
It has good abrasion resistance.
As a byproduct of pineapple fruit, it is economic. As a natural fibre, it is ecofriendly, and recyclable and it can act as a good substitute of cotton fibre .
Pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) is a crucial natural fibre with high specific strength, rigidity, and flexural and torsional rigidity comparable to jute fibres.
The primary limitation of Pineapple Leaf Fiber (PALF) is its hydrophilic nature that limits strong bonds with hydrophobic matrices, especially at elevated temperatures.

Typical uses

Fibers are extracted from fresh pineapple leaves to produce ropes, twines, composites, and clothing. The pineapple plant serves as a significant source of fibre in countries such as the Philippines, Taiwan, and India. PALF is generally used in making threads for textile fabrics from several decades.
The primary end uses of pineapple fibre include wedding dresses, casual wear, and formal dresses. Pineapple leaf fibre is also employed in the production of table linens, bags, mats, and various other clothing items. Additionally, products such as handbags, coasters, and various interior design items can be crafted from Pineapple Leaf Fiber.
Currently, Pineapple Leaf Fiber finds applications in various sectors such as textiles, sports items, baggage, automobiles, cabinets, and mats.
Surface-modified PALF is also introduced for manufacturing machinery parts, including belt cords, conveyor belt cords, transmission cloth, airbag tying cords, and certain cloths designed for industrial uses .
The physical and mechanical properties of pineapple fibre, including density, tensile strength, and elongation %, make it well-suited for applications in textiles, building and construction materials, automotive components, and furniture.
It can be used in various applications as acoustics for sound absorption, and thermal insulation.

Ramie Fibres

Botanical Information

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea L. Gaudich) is one of the valuable bast fibre yielding perennial monoecious plant, belonging to the family of Urticaceae.
It is superior to other natural fibres such as cotton, jute, flax, etc.
China initiated the idea of ramie fibre production as it abundantly grows over there.
It is commonly known as China Grass in the trade market and Grass Linen or China Linen in some areas.
In India, it is known by different regional names such as Rhea, Popah, KhunKoora, Kurkunda, etc.
This plant is one of the oldest fibre-producing plants known to man.

Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation

According to FAO (2013), in 2011, China cultivated ramie plants in 72934 hectares of area, producing 124000 tonnes of fibre. The average produce was about 1700kg/ha.
China is the major global producer of ramie fibre contributing to 96.3% of the production worldwide.
The leading producers of ramie on a global scale are China, South Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Brazil .
Lately, India has been cultivating ramie on a wide scale to meet national industrial demand.
The northeastern province of India has suitable soil parameters and climatic conditions to cultivate ramie plants.
Around 19 different species of ramie plant are collected from the regions of India so far.
Regions like the foothills of Himalaya and the Brahmaputra valley of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and the Western ghats have good sources for ramie cultivation.
It proliferates in sandy loam soil with a mild acidity level of pH 6 to pH 7.
Hot-humid weather conditions with a temperature of 25oC to 31oC.
It requires a well distributed rainfall of up to 1500-2000mm for obtaining a good and luxurious quality of ramie fibres .
Ramie has vigorous growth under favourable climatic conditions, reaching more than 2m within one month.

Physical & Mechanical Properties

Fibre length

Average

200 mm

Fibre diameter

Average

10 μm

Length of the ultimate cell

20-250mm

Length to breadth ratio of Ultimate cell

3500

Tenacity

40-65 g/tex

Extension at break

3-4%

Degree of crystallinity

>70%

Chemical Composition

Cellulose

67-99%

Hemicellulose

13-14%

Pectin

1.9-2.1%

Lignin

0.5-1.0%

Fat/wax

0.3%

English

Betelnut palm, Areca nut, Betel palm,

Table 1. Physical & mechanical properties and chemical composition of areca nut fibres

Features

The longest part of the ramie plant is the unicellular fibre, which is the strongest.
It bears highest strength and length, has good durability and absorbency along with excellent lustre.
The fibre is twice as strong as cotton and has an improved length-to-breadth ratio.
The ramie plant is susceptible to strong wind, waterlogging, and frost conditions.
It exhibits high fibre strength when it absorbs moisture.
It is resistant to most of the solvents and abrasions.

Uses

Ramie fibre has wide ranged application in textile, paper, apparel industry and household goods .
China uses this popular fibre for producing women’s dress materials, shirts, suits, and other handicraft products.
The coarser fibre is used to make cordages, ropes, twines, and nets .
The Korean traditional costume hanbok is made up of ramie fibres and is well known for its fineness.
Ramie fibre is blended with cotton to make woven and knitted fabrics.
It is used to make sacks, carpets, handicrafts, papers, various reinforced polymers, gas mantles, fishing nets, and marine packaging, .
In Japan, ramie is used to make canvas, mat-edge, suit-cloth, and various other products.
It is primarily used to blend with cotton and silk for strength and lustre properties. It is used to create draperies, curtains, upholsteries, towels, filter cloths, etc.
The waste fibre can then be used for manufacturing currency notes and cigarette papers.
The woody portion from the bast can be used to produce various bio-degradable products such as plywood, particle board, and fibre board.

Roselle Fibre

Botanical Information

The rosella plant usually is cultivated for fruits however, it’s bark also has fibres.
Hibiscus Sabdariffa is a non-conventional bast fibre producing plant along with fruits which are available in abundant quantity in the northeastern region of India.
The Roselle plant is a little annual shrub with a height of 1.6 – 3.2 m or more and has a deep taproot system .
It belongs to the Malvaceae family, like hibiscus, okra, durian, and other flowering plants.

Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation

It prefers a dry or warm, humid climate with an average rainfall of 150 to 200 cm annually.
During the growing period, it requires water of about 25 cm per month beneath the soil.
In addition, these plants can also survive in different climatic conditions and require little care during their growth period, resulting in abundant production.
It takes 90-120 days for the fibre to mature, followed by extraction and other processing.
This fibre mainly requires going under the retting and degumming process due to the hard gummy material and its cohesiveness to the fibres.
The average production of the plant is around 11 quintals/hectare.

Physical & Mechanical properties

Length

120mm

Diameter

13.1µm

Fineness

3.80 g/tex

Moisture regains

7.40%

Bundle Strength

21.5 g/tex

Elongation at break

8.6%

Chemical composition

Cellulose

52.40%

Hemicellulose

11.50%

Lignin

15.60%

Ash

0.80%

Pectin

14.80%

Moisture

Wax

0.50%

Features of fibre

The roselle fibres possess qualities like lustre and strength.
It also provides with high microbial resistance, and long-lasting durability making them valuable for manufacturing items that require these characteristics.
The colour range of the fibres, from creamy to silvery white, can also be an advantage for various aesthetic and functional applications.
These bio fibres has many advantages such as easy availability, biodegradability, cost-effective, can be processed easily and can be recycled.
It holds better energy recovery properties, is non-toxic and is eco-friendly.
Additionally, the trend of blending roselle fibres with other textile fibres like cotton, flax, and wool reflects the versatility of these fibres and the desire to create composite materials with enhanced properties .

Uses

The roselle fibres and yarns are mainly used to make rope, heavy-duty cables, and composite materials due to their sustainable nature and resistance to biodegradation for a long time.
Blending of roselle fibres with other textile fibres such as cotton, flax, and wool, is an emerging opportunity in making woven and knitted products.
These fibres are also used for weaving and knitting to create beautiful and durable textile articles.

Kapok Fibers

Botanical information

Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation

Physical & Mechanical Characteristics

Chemical composition

Features of the fibres

Typical uses

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Kenaf Fibres

Botanical information

Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation

Physical & Mechanical properties

Chemical Composition

Features

Uses

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Lotus silk

Preamble

Botanical information

Agroclimatic conditions for cultivation

Physical & Mechanical Properties

Features

Typical Uses

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Nettle Fibres

Botanical information

Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation

Physical & Mechanical properties

Chemical Composition

Vernacular names for Himalayan Nettle[3]

Features

Extraction and processing of fibres

Typical uses

Use of nettle fibres in different villages and tribal regions in India

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Pineapple Leaf Fibres

Botanical Information

Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation

Extraction process

Scrapping of leaves–

Retting –

Physical & Mechanical Properties

Chemical Composition

Pineapple varieties

Features

Typical uses

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Ramie Fibres

Botanical Information

Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation

Physical & Mechanical Properties

Chemical Composition

Features

Uses

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Roselle Fibre

Botanical Information

Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation

Physical & Mechanical properties

Chemical composition

Features of fibre

Uses

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