Banana/Abaca fiber
Among
the various fibers derived from natural sources, the fibers derived from abaca
fiber offer a great possibility of being used as a renewable bio-resource for
various industrial or extra-industrial applications due to their high
mechanical strength, durability, flexibility, and long fiber length. The fiber is obtained from the petiole of the abaca tree.
The plant grows well in shady and moist areas and requires well-drained loamy soil
for cultivation. Since abaca cultivation is mainly confined to the Philippines
and other adjoining regions, it has also been introduced in other regions such
as Malaysia, Indonesia, etc. The top producer of abaca fiber in the province of
Catanduanes. Collecting and extracting fiber from Abaca is a laborious process
involving many operations such as tuxying, stripping, drying, and final
processing. The lifting and drying of the fibers are done manually or
mechanically.
After
extraction, different grades of fiber are obtained which are then used for
different sets of industrial activities. Abaca fiber is chemically composed of
cellulose, pectin, lignin and glycerides, ketones, fatty acids, and other
compounds. Recognized as the most powerful natural fiber in the world, it can
be placed in various modern sophisticated technologies such as the automobile
industry and as a raw material for other important industries such as the paper
and pulp industry, textile industry, and home furnishing industry.
History of Abaca fiber
When
Magellan made land in the Philippines in 1521, Europeans first came in contact
with abacus fiber because the locals were cultivating it and it was already
being used extensively for textiles. In Spanish colonial times, it was
perfectly referred to as the medriñaque cloth. By 1897, the Philippines was
exporting about 100,000 tons of abacus, and it was one of the three largest
cash crops, including tobacco and sugar. Indeed, from the 1850s to the end of
the 19th century, sugar or abacus became one of the largest export crops of the
Philippines.
Apart
from the Philippines, the first abaca was cultivated in 1925 in Sumatra under
the Dutch, who saw its cultivation for cordage in the Philippines from the
nineteenth century and began planting trees in Central America in 1929,
sponsored by the United States Department. It was also replaced in India and
Guam. The abaca fiber commercial planting began in 1930 in British North
Borneo. Today, the abacus is mainly produced in the Philippines and Ecuador.
Properties of Abaca fiber
i. The
ii. Its scientific name is Musa textilis
iii.
It is the strongest natural fiber, three times stronger than sisal fiber
iv.
The appearance of banana fiber is similar to that of bamboo fiber and ramie
fiber, but it is better for both fineness and spinnability.
v.
It is an extremely strong fiber and lightweight.
vi.
It has less stretchability.
vii. The elongation of abaca fiber is 1.1 %
viii.
Moisture regains 5.81 %
ix.
Young’s modulus is 41GPa
x.
It is biodegradable and has no negative impact on the environment and can
therefore be classified as environmentally friendly fiber.
xi.
Its average fineness is 2400Nm.
xii.
Due to its high lignin content, fiber has high acid content and a high risk of
acidic decay. It is not hydrolyzed by the acidic substance.
xiii.
It is soluble in hot alkalis, easily oxidized, and easily synthesized with
phenols.
xiv.
Abaca fiber shows great ability to dye without any loss of luster.
Chemical composition of Abaca fiber
Cellulose
- 76.6%
Hemicellulose
- 14.6%
Lignin
- 8.4%
Pectin
- 0.3%
Wax
and fat - 0.1%
Cultivation of Abaca fiber
The plant usually grows in well-drained loamy soils using sunny hairs at the
beginning of the rainy season. Also, new trees can be started with seeds. After
the initial growth of 12-25 months, the crop is collected every three to eight
months by removing the leaves and stalks after flowering, but before the fruits
come. The plant will lose productivity in 15 to 40 years. Volcanic slopes
provide a desirable growing environment. Harvesting usually involves several
operations involving the leaf sheaths:
i.
Tuxying
ii.
Stripping
iii.
Drying.
When
the process is complete, the fiber bundles become pale and lustrous with a
length of 6-12 feet. In Costa Rica, more modern crop and drying techniques are
being developed to accommodate the very high yields obtained there.
Environmental aspects
The
use of abaca fiber will have numerous environmental benefits. Intercropping
Abaca with coconut palm and other tree species on the hillside will improve
biodiversity conditions, prevent erosion, as well as reduce sedimentation
problems in coastal areas that are important breeding grounds for marine fish,
improve soil water holding capacity, and prevent floods and landslides. The
experiments will focus on mixed crops of coconut and oil palm, fruit, and rubber
trees as well as hardwoods as shading is required for abaca trees. In those
fields, the production of natural fibers does not compete with food production
at all. Likewise, natural fibers can be thermally recyclable.
Uses of abaca fiber
i.
Abaca fiber is valued for its exceptional strength, flexibility, buoyancy, and
resistance to saltwater damage so it is suitable for marine cordage.
ii.
It is mainly employed for ship ropes, hawkers and wires, fishing lines,
lifting and power-transmission ropes, well-drilling cables, and fishing nets.
iii.
Sometimes abaca is used to make carpets, table mats, and paper.
iv.
The fibers inside the tree can be used without spinning to create lightweight,
strong fabrics, which are mainly used locally for clothing, hats, and shoes.
v.
It is used by the paper industry for special uses such as teabags and mimeograph
mats.
vi.
It was originally used for ropes, but this application is now slightly
significant.
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