Introduction Structure of Fiber Production, Processing & Cultivation of Fiber Harvesting Retting Washing Drying Properties End Uses

2. Outline:
Introduction
Structure of Fiber
Production, Processing & Cultivation of Fiber
Harvesting
Retting
Washing
Drying
Properties
End Uses

3. Introduction:
Kenaf is a natural fiber which is a plant in the Malvaceae family.
Botanical name is Hibiscus cannabinu.
It is grown mainly for bast fiber in China (44%), India (39%), Indonesia,
Malaysia, Bangladesh, USA, South Africa, Thailand and parts of Africa.
Fiber: Two kinds, the long fibers are mainly in the thin bark (cortical layer),
whereas the short fibers are in the ligneous core, namely pith (short fiber).

4. Structure of Fiber:
 The stalk of the Kenaf plant
consists of two distinct types of
fibers :
 The outer fiber is called bast and
comprises roughly 40% of the stalk
dry weight.
 Refine bast fiber measure 2.6mm
and are similar to the best
softwood fiber used to make
paper
 White inner fiber is called core
and comprises 60% of the dry
weight.

5. Composition
 Cellulose percentage is from 44 to 55%. hemi cellulose 21%,pectine is 2%.
 Lignin: lignin percentage is from 15 to 19%.

6. Production, Processing and
Cultivation of Fiber:
 It is sown from may to October. Growing quickly rising to a height
of 5-6 m in a 6 to 8 months.
 Temperature need from 20 to 27 degree centigrade

7. Harvesting
 Kenaf crop are both hand and machine harvested.
 Fiber are usually separated from the stalk mechanically although retting
is still done by hand in some areas.
 Plant are harvested for their stalk from which the fiber is extracted.

8. Retting of Kenaf fiber
 The process by which the fiber got loosened and separated from the woody
stalk.
 Jute and Kenaf fiber have almost same retting process.

9. Water Retting
 Plant stem are immersed in water river ,ponds and tank.
 It need 7 to 14 days.

10. Washing and Drying
 Fiber are separating with water.

11. Properties of Kenaf fiber
 Fiber length: Kenaf fiber length is from 2.6 to 4mm.
 Fiber diameter: diameter of Kenaf fiber is from 17 to 21.9 micron.
 Density: 1.4 g/cm3.
 Elongation: 1.6 %

12. Uses
 Roping: it is use in making ropes.
 Paper: it is use in paper production.
 Use in coarse cloths.
 It is used in automotive product.
 Engineered wood, Insulation, Clothing-grade cloth
 Soil-less potting mixes
 Animal bedding, Packing material