Non Conventional Fibres Association

Categories
Animal

Camel hair

Camel hair

Zoological information

  • Camels are desert animals belonging to the family of the Camelidae grey. 
  • There are two types of camels one of which has two humps is known as Bactrian Camel (Camelus Bactrianus) and the other has one hump called as Dromedary Camels (Camelus Dromedarius). 
  • The average life cycle of a camel is around 40-50 years.

Habitat and Fibre production

  • The Bactrian Camel mostly lives in the Gobi desert present in East Asia.
  • Whereas the Dromedary Camels occupies the arid regions of the Middle East, Northern India, and Africa.
  • The camel hair is collected not by shearing but sheds instead. 
  • Each camel can produce 2-3 kg hairs per year.
  • The camel hair is usually willowed to separate maximum dirt, dust, and other particles and then dehaired (separating unwanted/damaged hair) to obtain finer hair.
  • China, Mongolia, Iran, Tibet, Russia, Afghanistan, Australia, India, and New Zealand are the countries producing camel hair.
  • Most hair is collected through the Bactrian Camels as they produce softer and finer fibres. 

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

Physical & Mechanical Properties

Guard hair

Secondary hair

Length

375 mm

25-125 mm

Diameter

20-120 µm

19-24 µm

Linear density

20-120µ

19-24 µ

Tenacity

2-2.5 gm/den

Elongation

39-40%

Moisture regain

13%

Chemical Composition

Sand & Dust

15-20%

Fat

4-5%

Fibre

75-80%

Features

  • The camel hair provides excellent insulating properties, being warmer and comfortable in winter.
  • It gives warmth and comfort to the wearer.
  • It is more sensitive to chemicals than wool.
  • Its strength is similar to that of wool, and it is light in weight, resilient and durable.
  • It is naturally water-repelling. There are two types of hair collected from the camel: guard hair, which is stronger, coarser, and not flexible, and undercoat, which is finer, shorter, and softer.

Fig.1 SEM Image of Camel Hair

Uses

  • Camel hair creates products such as knitwear, jackets, scarves, sweaters, blankets, rugs, gloves, caps, robes, etc.
  • Camel hair is usually blended with fine wool to make overcoating tops, sportswear, sports hosiery, etc. 
  • A blend of nylon and virgin camel hairs is used to prepare hosiery and knitted products.
  • Worsted yarn is also made using these hair fibres for making press cloth used for extracting oil from seeds.
  • The long guard hair is sometimes blended with fine wool to make upholstery, waterproof coats, flippers, carpets, etc.
  • Blends of camel hair with polyester staple fibres/silk waste and fine wool are used to create a wider range of knitwear, blankets, and rugs.
Categories
Animal

Byssus Silk (Sea silk)

Byssus Silk (Sea silk)

Zoological information

  • The Pinna Nobilis, locally known as the noble pen shells, are mostly seen with the neighbouring clams as they live in colonies.
  • These endangered species are found deep under the sea or over the rocks on the shore near Sant’Antioco island in Sardinia, Italy, holding themselves to a rock. 
  • This helps them stay safe and avoid getting eaten by their predators. 
  • The noble pen shells have a unique quality that helps them adhere to the surface of the neighbouring shells. 
  • The organism within the shell set their foot onto a surface and spit out their saliva.
  • The fascinating part about this saliva is it is infused with special proteins and has a protective layer which turns it into a fibre-like structure.
  • Almost all the bivalves possess the ability to produce this fibre-like structure. Some of those species are mentioned as follows: Mytilus edulis, Mytilus trossulus, Mytilus galloprovincialis, Mytilus californianus, Pinna nobilis, Perna perna, Xenostrobus securis, Brachidontes solisianus

Byssus silk fibres

  • This structure, which appears as fibres, is fastened to the surface by an unusual waterproof glue that gets stiff when in contact with the seawater.
  • This glue has remarkable capability of adhering it to the surface as well as it possesses high strength and extensibility which enables them to withstand the repetitive force produced by waves when the clams are residing over the rocks over the sea.
  • At least 50-100 of these fibres are required by the pen shells for making a strong bond with the surface as a result these fibres collectively appear like the shells’ beard.
  • These fibres are skilfully collected without harming the noble pen shells by sea silk weavers like Chiara Vigo, Giuseppina Assuntina Pes, etc. 
  • With 100 dives, harvesters can collect a supply of 300gms of raw material from which only 30 gms proves to be usable material which turns into 21 meters of twisted thread.
  • After collecting, cleansing, and obtaining the usable matter, the obtained fibres are spun into yarn.

Typical uses

  • The fabric produced by sea silk is extremely fine and lightweight, with a golden hue and a shiny appearance. It has been highly valued for its beauty and softness.
  • Throughout history, civilisations such as the Phoenicians and the Romans have treasured sea silk for its luxurious qualities. 
  • However, due to the rarity of the noble pen shells and the labour-intensive production process, sea silk has always been considered a luxury material.

Table 1. List of Amino acid and its composition(mol%) present in bysuss silk

Amino Acid / Composition (mol %)

Aspartic acid

7.41

Threonine

3.99

Serine

6.63

Glutamic acid

4.24

Glycine

30.28

Alanine

11.37

Valine

4.15

Cystine

0.59

Methionine

0.89

Isoleucine

2.31

Leucine

2.85

Tyrosine

2.67

Phenylalanine

1.59

Lysine

3.94

Histidine

2.45

Arginine

3.71

Proline

5.65

Hydroxyproline

5.27

Categories
Animal

Alpaca Fibres

Alpaca Fibres

Zoological information, Habitat and Fibre production

  • Alpacas are domesticated animals and unlike Vicuña they are pretty friendly and peaceful. 
  • The Scientific name of alpaca is Vicuña pacos, and they belong to the family of camelids.
  • The average lifespan it holds is of 15-20 years.
  • They are native to the high Andes mountains, living at high altitudes and in temperate regions in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile.
  • Among these countries, Peru holds the majority of the world trade for producing alpaca hair. 
  • The amount of fibre obtained per animal is around 3-5 kg as it produces single coated fleece.
  • The annual production of alpaca hair fibres was of 4000-6500 tons during the year 2015.
  • In a year, alpaca can produce 4-5 times more hair than a cashmere or pashmina goat. 

Types of Alpaca fibres

  • Huacaya and Suri are the two breeds of Alpaca, and each produces different fibres, and the cross breeds of these two species are known as Huarizo and Misti. 
  • Approximately, there are 3 million alpacas worldwide with 94% living in South America. The worldwide population of the alpacas is made up of 93% huacaya alpaca & 7% suri alpaca.
  • The Huacaya breed produces a full coat that appears round, wooly, crimped, short, and dense. 
  • The Suri breed offers hair like long and straight dreadlocks, which is rare and carries excellent lustre. 
  • Therefore, they are sought after in many markets and are expensive. 
  • The huacaya fibres possess greater tensile strength and elongation at break property as compared to the suri fibres. 
  • Since the Huacaya fibres are naturally crimped, they are elastic, thus are preferred over suri fibres for knitting.

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

Physical & Mechanical properties [2,3]

Fibre Length

200-550 mm

Diameter

20-36 µm

Linear density

0.802 tex

Elongation at break

45%

Breaking strength

11.2 cN

Tenacity

14.23 cN/tex

Chemical composition [4]

Grease

1-3%

Dust/Vegetable matter

3-10%

Yield

87-94%

Suint

1%

Features of fibre

  • The alpaca hair is lighter in weight, provides better insulation, higher pilling resistance and is soft and durable.
  • It is naturally water repellent.
  • It is flame resistant and odour resistant.
  • It is finer than cashmere, warmer than goose down fibres, softer than cotton, smoother than silk, and more breathable than the other fibre-knitted fabrics.
  • The alpaca hair fleece comes in more than 22 natural colours and huacaya alone can provide with 8 different natural coloured hair fibres. 
  • It wicks moisture away and resists piling thus, making it suitable for wearing in all seasons.

Uses

  • It is preferably used to produce knitwear due to its outstanding natural properties.
  • Also, woven products include clothing accessories like shawls, stoles, rugs, etc.
  • It is blended with other fibres like wool, cotton, and silk to create a wider range of fabrics and other products. 
  • The garments such as sportswear, winterwear and other fashion garments are made out of alpaca hair are reigning over different American and European fashion markets.
Categories
Plant

Sunn hemp

Sunn hemp

Botanical Information

  • Sunn hemp, scientifically known as Crotalaria juncea, holds significance as a lignocellulosic crop and is India’s oldest native fibre-producing plant.
  • This natural fibre belongs to the legume family Fabaceae.
  • It is an herbaceous, shrubby annual dicot crop.
  • It is a warm season plant with relatively shorter growth cycle as compared to the other plants.

Habitat and fibre production

  • Sunn hemp is a tropical or sup-tropical plant grown below 1000 feet.
  • It can thrive in a broad range of soil types, but it performs particularly well on poor sandy soils compared to many other plants.
  • It flourishes in well-drained soils with a pH range of 5.0 pH to 7.5 pH.
  • It is a rapid, vigorous growing plant which can achieve a height of 4ft within 60 days under optimum conditions and grows further as time receeds.
  • The height of the plant ranges from 3-9ft .
  • If heavy rains occur shortly after planting, it does not grow well.
  • With a typical yearly yield averaging 409 kg/ha(2023), India leads as the world’s primary Sunn hemp fibre producer, contributing to 23% of the global production.
  • Sunn hemp is primarily grown as a biomass to add nutrition to the soil and harvesting seeds for further propagation in India and is highest producer of sunn hemp, with China and Bangladesh being the next leading cultivators.

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

Physical and Mechanical properties [1]

Length

38-42 cm

Diameter

20 μm

Moisture content

10.6%

Moisture regain

11.5%

Crystallinity index

91%

Chemical composition [1]

Cellulose

66.3%

Hemicellulose

18.6%

Lignin

14.9%

Pectin

4.6%

Ash

4.2%

Wax

0.9%

Features of fibre

  • Sunn hemp possesses robust, coarse, shiny, and rigid fibres that are as sturdy as hemp fibres and more durable than jute fibres.
  • The fibres are lighter in colour, ranging from whitish to grey to yellow.
  • It doesn’t serve as a habitat for diverse pathogens and pests.
  • It effectively fixes nitrogen in the company of Rhizobacteria .
  • They are resistant to mildew, microorganisms, and moisture .
  • When grown as a summer annual crop, it has the ability to produce a biomass of 2268 kg and 46 kg of nitrogen per acre.
  • While in winters, it is mainly used as a cover crop or green manure to improve the properties of the soil.

Uses

  • It generates substantial biomass, reaching approximately 2268 kilograms of dry biomass per acre in just 9-12 weeks, contributing to a global production of 130,000 metric tons per year.
  • It is a weed suppressor that reduces root-knot nematodes (microscopic roundworms that live in soil and on plant roots).
  • It helps increase the soil’s organic matter and prevent soil erosion.
  • Ropes are generally made through the superior quality of Sunn hemp fibres, whereas the inferior quality fibres are used in the making of cigarette and cheap cordages.
  • It is primarily employed as a source of green manure, animal fodder, and a non-wood fibre crop.
  • Fibre applications include fishing nets, sacking fabrics, canvas, tissue papers, rug yarns, etc.
Categories
Plant

Sisal Fibres

Sisal Fibres

Botanical Information

  • Agave sisalana is a species of flowering plant which is native to southern Mexico but is widely cultivated in different parts of the world.  
  • It belongs to Asparagaceae and the species Sisalana.
  • It is a xerophytic, monocarp, and semi-perennial leaf fibre-producing plant.

Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation

  • It is a tough plant that grows well throughout the year in hot climates and arid regions.
  • At an altitude of about 900-1500m above sea level, it grows well as it obtains favourable atmospheric conditions.
  • Annual rainfall of about 650mm during the planting season is necessary and tolerates drought conditions.
  • It requires moderately fertile sandy-loamy soils for growing the crop. Planting this plant can be bothersome as it requires much manpower during the planting and harvesting season.
  • As each plant requires space to thrive, a flat landscape is preferable.
  • Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of the sisal fibres throughout the globe.
  • A single sisal plant can produce about 200-250 leaves before flowering. Each leaf contains 1000-1200 fibre bundles.

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

Physical & Mechanical properties [2]

Length

150mm

Thickness

3mm

Density

151 den

Tensile strength

126-180 MPa

Elongation at break

1.54-3.85%

Chemical Composition [2]

Cellulose

67-78%

Hemicellulose

10-14 %

Lignin

9.9%

Moisture content

10%

Pectin

10%

Wax

2%

Ash content

0.6-1%

Name of the State / Area in hectare

Andhra Pradesh

1550 (22.7)

Bihar

280(4.1)

Madhya Pradesh

147(2.2)

Maharashtra

6500(9.5)

Orissa

3180(46.6)

Tamil Nadu

610(8.9)

West Bengal

350(5.1)

Production in quintal / Productivity in kg/ha

2325(23.5)

150

420(4.2)

150

270(2.7)

184

400(4)

62

5247(53)

165

980(9.9)

161

210(2.1)

60

Table 2: Availability of Sisal Fiber in Different States of India [2018]
Figures in parentheses indicate the percentage share of the total.

Features of fibre

  • The sword-shaped leaves are arranged in a rosette fashion from which the fibres are extracted. 
  • The length of each leaf is around 1-1.5m. 
  • The sisal fibres are smooth, straight, and yellow. 
  • They are coarse and inflexible. 
  • It possesses high strength and durability, has the affinity for certain dyes, can stretch and is resistant to saltwater in terms of quality.
  • These fibres are exceptionally durable with minimal maintenance and minimal wear and tear. 
  • Sisal is an anti-static fibre; hence, it does not attract or trap dust particles and is not water or moisture-absorbent. 
  • It can also be used for acoustics for its high sound and impact-absorbing properties.

Uses

  • This cellulosic fibre is used commonly for making ropes, cordages, and twines. 
  • It is used in the shipping industry for securing small crafts, lashing, and managing cargo.
  • Plant-based engineering products such as composites, automobile parts, etc. are experimenting with sisal and other non-conventional plant sources for a sustainable approach. 
  • Various products like spa storage baskets, rugs, slippers, carpets, disc buffers, coasters, etc. can be made from sisal fibres.
  • Sisal fabrics exhibit a softer feel.
  • Sisal fibres are blended with wool and acrylic fibres. 
  • These fibres can be used for non-woven matting, brushing as well as roving.
Categories
Plant

Arreca Nut fibres

Arreca Nut fibres

Botanical Information

  • Areca catechu is a palm species that belongs to the family Arecaceae and is commonly known as the betel nut.
  • It is an extremely high potential, perennial, monocotyledonous species having properties of an angiosperm.
  • It is native to the Philippines but is mainly grown in the tropical regions of the Pacific, Asia, and some parts of East Africa.
  • Countries like Taiwan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and other tropical countries are the main cultivators of the palm tree

Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation

  • To ensure a well deep root system, the soil for cultivation should be deep with high organic carbon content.
  • Laterite, red loamy, and alluvial soils are most suited for the cultivation of areca nut.
  • The pH range of soil should lie between acidic to neutral.
  • It requires evenly distributed rainfall with mean annual rainfall of 750-4500mm.
  • It proliferates in the tropical regions with temperatures around 150C – 390C.
  • The lifespan of the palm tree continues for 100 years, and fruiting for around 30-60 years.
  • Statistics shows that the annual world production of areca nuts is 1,073,000, and approximately 2.5 g of areca husk could be extracted from every areca betel nut.
  • In India, 90% of cultivation is contributed by Karnataka, Kerala, and Assam states.

Name in different regional languages

English: Betelnut palm, Areca nut, Betel palm

Spanish: Palma catechou

Betel-nut, Supari palm, Pinang palm.

Hindi: Supari

Filipino: Bunga

Sanskrit: Poogiphalam

French: Arec cachou, Arequier

Tamil: Kamugu

German: Areca palme, Betelnut palme

Telugu: Tamalapaku

Italian: Avellana d’India

Kannada: Adike

Thai: Maak mia

Marathi: Supari

Sinhala: Puwak

Malay: Adakka-maram, Kavugu

Trade name: Areca nut, Betel nut

Vietnamese: Cao

Chart 1 Name of areca nut plant in different regional languages

Features

  • It is an eco-friendly fibre as it is biodegradable, renewable and can be recycled.
  • It shows good tensile and elongation properties and is water absorbent.
  • The coarse betel nut fibres holds good specific mechanical strength and has excellent toughness. 
  • The raw betel nut fibre has the highest fibre length.
  • Fibres are rough, brittle, and stiffer due to the presence of lignin.
  • The strength and fineness of the fibre is similar to cotton .
  • It is lightweight, stringy and has high strength to width ratio.

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

Physical & Mechanical properties

Length Short

18-29mm

Medium

30-38mm

Long

39-46mm

Diameter

0.28-0.89 mm

Elongation at break

15±3%

Elongation

1.6%

Chemical composition

Alpha cellulose

53.20%

Hemi cellulose

30-64%

Lignin

7-24.8%

Ash

4.4 – 4.8%

Pectin and wax

A negligible percentage

Uses

  • It is used to make thick boards, pressed boards, fluffy cushions, and nonwoven fabrics.
  • It is also used to make paper by blending areca nut and bamboo/banana pseudo stem pulp.
  • It can be used to make composites with different materials to enhance the usage of this fibre.
  • The composites made up of areca nut fibre and epoxy can be used for marine applications, electrical, insulating components, lightweight components, automobile industry and chemical industry.
  • It is used as a building material in villages and throughout southeast Asia it is used for different construction purpose. 
Categories
Plant

Bamboo Fibres

Bamboo Fibres

Botanical information

  • Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) belongs to the true grass family of Poaceae.
  • It is characterized as woody perennial plants that can be evergreen or deciduous.
  • Bamboo predominantly thrives in Africa, America, and Asia but can also readily flourish in Europe.
  • The cylindrical stems, called culms, usually have hollow spaces between their rings, forming branching clusters from a sturdy rhizome (underground stem).

Habitat and fibre production

  • India owns the largest area and is the second-largest reserve of bamboo in the world.
  • It is a tropical plant which grows mainly in tropical and sub-tropical regions and is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world.
  • Most bamboo species can grow and thrive in a wide range of soil types, except for rocky soils, and they tend to prefer well-drained soils, specifically sandy loamy, to clay loamy soils.
  • The minimum annual rainfall required for bamboo is 775 mm and a rainfall of maximum of eight consecutive months with less than 40 mm.
  • The most suitable pH range for healthy growth of plants is 5.0pH-6.5pH, but some species can also grow in highly acidic soils(3.5pH).
  • Every bamboo plant can achieve a daily growth of up to 120cm, and this speedy development characterises it as a readily available, renewable resource in nature.
  • Currently, the bamboo production around the world is about 3,00,000 tons.

 

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

Physical and Mechanical properties

Length

1-5mm

Diameter

14-27 μm

Tensile strength

1.43-1.69GPa

Elongation

4.3-9.7%

Chemical composition

Cellulose

74%

Hemicellulose

13%

Lignin

10%

Minor Components

3%

Features of the fibre

  • It possesses biodegradable qualities, is cost-effective and eco-friendly, and exhibits natural antibacterial properties.
  • It gives a soft, smooth feel and is easy to wash.
  • It can take in diverse odours, dust, and other harmful substances, effectively purify the air, and regulate humidity.
  • These natural fibres closely resemble ramie but are more delicate and have shorter lengths.
  • Due to its hollow cross-section, it imparts breathability to bamboo fibre-based fabrics.
  • The fabrics are easy to dye and apply finishes due to the fibre’s hygroscopicity and are also cool and comfortable to wear.
  • Natural bamboo fibres possesses a significant moisture-absorbing capacity and prone to corrosion thus limiting the engineering applications.
  • These fibres possess thermo-regulating properties and show less shrinkage, better wrinkle resistance, and higher dye affinity and lustre.
  • It depicts better abrasion and pilling resistance in both wet and dry conditions.

Uses

  • In textile applications, bamboo fibres are primarily sourced from the tallest bamboo species, which is commonly referred to as “Moso” and scientifically known as Phyllostachys edulis.
  • Earlier, Chinese medicine used bamboo due to its antibacterial properties.
  • Presently, bamboo finds extensive use among local artisans for crafting handicrafts, furniture, and kitchen utensils, as a material in the food and paper industries, in the production of laminated wood, and in various composite applications.
  • Bamboo-based construction of houses and industrial buildings follows a path of sustainability.
Categories
Plant

Banana Fibre

Banana Fibre

Botanical information

  • Abaca(Musa Textillis)is a non-fruit orienting species originating from the Philippines and is highly favoured for its fibre cultivation[1].
  • It belongs to the Musaceae family, popularly known as Manila Hemp.
  • It is a perennial herb which holds the properties of angiosperms and monocots.
  • Musa balbisiana, Musa acuminata, and Ensete ventricosum are other species of banana plants used to gain large amounts of fibre. These varieties can also provide edible fruits.

Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation

  • The banana plant thrives in deep, loamy soil, exhibiting excellent fertility, moisture retention, and adequate drainage.
  • The plant’s ideal growing conditions are found in tropical regions.
  • Depending on the soil type, the plant requires a regular water supply, which is achieved with the drip irrigation system and 1500-2000 mm of rainfall. 
  • The maturity rate of the plant determines the harvesting of fibres. 
  • Typically, the outer fibres can be separated after the plant has matured for 18 to 24 months.
  • On a global scale, India is one of the largest producers of the banana fruit as well as fibre with an annual output of 24.8 million tonnes, followed by countries like China, Ecuador, Brazil, and the Philippines whereas Japan and the Philippines are the largest consumers of the banana fibre .

 

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

Physical & Mechanical Properties

Length

100-500 cm

Diameter

80-250 μm

Moisture content

60%

Tensile strength

529-914 MPa

Linear density

88-105 den

Elongation

10.35%

Chemical Composition

Cellulose

60-65%

Hemicellulose

6-19%

Lignin

5-10%

Pectin

3-5%

Extractives

3-6%

Ash

1-3%

Banana varieties grown in different parts of india

  • Nendran: Grown in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
  • Ney Poovan: Cultivated in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
  • Red Banana: Found in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
  • Robusta: Grown in Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
  • Karupuravalli: Grown in Assam, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
  • Virupakshi: Found in Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
  • Rasthali: Cultivated in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, and West Bengal.

Vernacular names of banana known in the states of india.

  • HindiKela
  • BengaliKollaa
  • GujaratiKela, Keda
  • MalayalamPazham, Vazha Pazham
  • MarathiKela, Kel
  • OriyaChampa Kadali, Kadali
  • KannadaBale Hannu
  • KonkaniKellin
  • PunjabiKella, Kela
  • TamilVazhaikkai, Vazha Pazham
  • TeluguArati Pandu

Chart 2. Names of banana in vernacular languages of India.

Features of fibres

  • Banana fibres are durable, light in weight, have smaller elongation and possess high strength qualities.
  • It has fire resistance quality and also has moisture absorption ability.
  • It is biodegradable and eco-friendly.
  • The sheerness and spinnability is superior to bamboo and ramie filament.

Typical uses

  • In Japan’s Edo duration, the kimonos and kaishimos were made out of banana fibres.
  • Also, the Yen currency note of Japan is made of these fibres.
  • In Africa, many people have used banana fibres to make carpets, mats, hair extensions, etc. 
  • Products like sanitary pads, baskets, paper, ropes, mats, and other textile and home furnishing materials are made from fibres. 
  • Fishing nets, varieties of cordages, and packaging sheets are also produced using these fibres.
  • It works as an organic absorbent; thus, it is used in oil refineries to soak the spilling oil.
  • The stem holds a large quantity of cellulose and starch and is used as cattle feed.
  • Since these fibres are seawater-resistant, they are used to make shipping cables.
  • In Costa Rica, the banana pseudo stem is going through an industrial process that manufactures notepads, cardboard, envelopes, packaging material, notebooks, etc.
Categories
Plant

Coir

Coir

Botanical information

  • The fibres obtained from the coconut husk are known as Coconut fibre or Coir fibres.
  • It is also called Golden fibre due to its appearance after cleaning the coconut husk.
  • The scientific name of this seed is Cocos Nucifera, which belongs to the Arecaceae.
  • India and Sri Lanka are the major producers and exporters of this fibre, followed by Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation

  • The natural habitat soil for coir is on the coastal belt of the tropical regions where sandy and red sandy loamy soils are predominant. Besides, it can grow well in all types of soils including sandy, laterite, swampy, alluvial, black, and saline soils.
  • The ideal soil conditions for better growth and yield irrespective of the type of soil it should possess proper drainage, good water holding capacity, unrestricted root development, aeration, and absence of rock or hard layer within 2 meters of the surface.
  • The coconut palm tree proliferates well up to an elevation of 600m above mean sea level. Although, near the equator, productive plantations of coconut can be achieved at 1000m above mean sea level.
  • A well-distributed rainfall of around 2000 mm/year is ideal for proper growth and maximum yield.
  • It requires a spacious area and adequate sunlight of about 2000 hrs/year is necessary for healthy growth.
  • For the growth and yield of coconut palm tree, the relative humidity should be more than 60% and the ideal mean temperature is 27±5OC.
  • All over the world, the total coir production is around 2,50,000 tonnes of which 60% is produced in Kerala, India. 
  • Out of the total production India tends to consume over 50% of the coir fibre produced annually .

Table 1. Proceedings Geosynthetics Asia 2000-GA2000 (May 2000), Vol 2, Pg. 207-212)

Physical & Mechanical Properties

Length(mm)

150-200

Density (g/cc)

1.40

Tenacity (g/tex)

10

Rigidity of Modulus (dyne/cm2)

1.89

Diameter in μm

100-500

Breaking Elongation

30%

Swelling in H2O(diameter)

5%

Moisture at 65%RH

10.5%

Chemical Properties

Lignin

45.84%

Cellulose

45.44%

Hemi-Cellulose

00.25%

Pectin’s and related compound

03.00%

Water soluble matter

05.25%

Ash

02.22%

Features of fibres

  • Coir fibres are naturally water-resistant and resistant to seawater.
  • It is unaffected by moisture and dampness.
  • They are elastic, possess good twisting capacity, and can retain their shape easily.
  • Coir is resistant to pests, fungi, and rot and provides insulation against temperature and sound.
  • It is tough, durable, and easy to clean.
  • It is entirely static-free.
  • It is a highly flammable fibre due to its cellulose content.
  • There are two main types of coir fibres: brown coir fibres and white coir fibres.
  • Brown fibres are extracted from mature coconuts and are thicker, stronger, and more abrasion resistant. On the other hand, white fibres are extracted from immature coconuts and are smoother and finer, but weaker.

Typical uses

  • These golden fibres are mostly used for flooring and outdoor mats, aquarium filters, garden manure, ropes, and cordages[1].
  • The white coir is used to spun into yarn and used in the manufacturing of ropes.
  • Whereas brown coir is used to make doormats, carpets, and mattresses.
  • Coir bricks are used for different construction purposes. 
  • It is also used as a reinforcement material in composites. 
  • Home décor, idols, sofas, toys, brushes, etc., use Coir fibres for the making.
Categories
Plant

Hemp Fibres

Hemp Fibres

Botanical information

  • Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa ssp. sativa) and marijuana both belong to the Cannabis sativa family. However, industrial hemp contains low levels of the psychoactive compound THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) around 0.3% or less, which is responsible for the “high” associated with marijuana use.
  • This low THC content allows hemp usage for various purposes without causing intoxication.
  • Industrial hemp is a perennial dioecious plant.

Agroclimatic conditions

  • Hemp plants can thrive in well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0pH and 7.0pH.
  • Hemp prefers a mild climate with a humid atmosphere and a rainfall of at least 25 to 30 inches/year.
  • It has a short cropping period and needs less pesticide and water to grow than cotton.
  • Applications support the efficient use of all plant parts, including the roots and seeds.
  • Bast fibres hold almost 20-30% of the stalk. The superior quality of fibres is obtained from the densely planted hemp fields.
  • Though hemp is native to India and Persia, almost all the temperate and tropical zones cultivate it.
  • Russia is the largest hemp fibre producer, accounting for 33% of annual worldwide production(2019).
  • Countries such as France, Italy, Germany, Yugoslavia, Chile, Japan, China, and Peru produce a considerable quantity of hemp fibres annually.

Physical & Mechanical Properties

Length

5-55mm

Diameter

22-25 μm

Fineness

0.25-0.52 tex

Linear density[2]

3.0-2.2 tex

Moisture content

8%

Breaking elongation

3-4%

Chemical Composition

Cellulose

70-74%

Hemicellulose

15-20%

Lignin

3.7-5.7%

Pectin

0.8%

Wax

1.2-6.2%

Ash

0.8%

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

Features

  • The hemp plant is ideal for organic farming as it does not require herbicides or chemical fertilizers. It nourishes the soil to retain nutrients and helps in retaining moisture.
  • It also acts as a weed suppressor in the land and leaves the soil in excellent condition for any succeeding crop.
  • It consists of a deep taproot system, allowing soil penetration, raising nutrients towards the surface and aerating the soil.
  • Additionally, it does not drain the soil out of nutrients as the fallen leaves from this plant function as a rich organic matter for the soil.
  • It is flammable and sensitive to UV, and microbial (fungus and bacteria) attack .

Uses

  • Industrial hemp is a versatile resource for making rope, textiles, clothing, shoes, food, and paper.
  • It is also used as acoustics for sound insulation or absorption .
  • Also, it is used to create hemp-based bioplastics, insulation material, biofuel, composites, etc.
  • The blends of hemp with other textile materials, such as cotton, nettle, etc., are introduced in the market, which is proving itself to be equally beneficial as other products.
  • The users of hemp-based products include industries such as composites, textiles, automotive, fireboard, heat-insulating materials, and construction with fibre-reinforced concrete.
  • It is also used in applications related to the reinforcements of these fibres in brake pad applications in the automotive industry.
  • Research is underway for hemp fibre applications in sporting goods and musical instruments.