Properties of Natural Fibers from the Abaxial Side of Fireweed (Gerbera delavayi) Leaf Blade for Manual Spinning

Autor: Xiaodan Xu, Wei Zheng, Jianguang Xu, Longqing Chen
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2017
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Natural Fibers, Vol 14, Iss 1, Pp 78-85 (2017)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1544-0478
1544-046X
15440478
74438859
DOI: 10.1080/15440478.2016.1146644
Popis: Natural plant fibers obtained from the abaxial side of fireweed (Gerbera delavayi) leaf blade were systematically studied. Fireweed fibers were manually dismantled from hot-bath-treated, refrigerated, or untreated leaves and evaluated for different properties. In terms of the collection method, treatment with hot bath exhibited the highest efficiency. As for chemical composition, that of raw (untreated) fireweed fibers was similar to that of cotton, except for wax content that was four times higher in fireweed fibers that in cotton fibers. Fireweed fiber generally exhibited low values of length (6.5 mm), fineness (0.5 dtex), tenacity (0.7 cN/dtex), density (0.9 g/cm3), and crystallinity (14.6%) but similar elongation at break and moisture regain to those of cotton. Furthermore, fireweed fibers showed a smooth surface, soft texture, and water impermeability. After hot-bath treatment, fibers showed 20% lower wax component but higher thermal stability than raw fibers. The small size hindered the fibers from achieving the desirable standard of spinning and weaving by modern machine, but these unique cellulose fibers can be used for manual textile application without any chemical treatment.
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