Fabric science

Assignment -1
BATCH: BFT -1 SEMESTER
Title-study of kenaf

KENAF
INTRODUCTION
Kenaf is a soft bastfibre from the kenaf plant .It was originated in Africa where there is a plant
Hibiscus Cannabinus which has long been used a source of fibre for making coarse fabrics .The
fibre is known as kenaf; Guinea Hemp; Mesta.
Kenaf has been grown in India for thousands of years but is was unknown in Western Europe
until about two hundred years ago .It has been used since then as a sacking fibre, but did not
arouse any great interest until World War 2.The shortage of jute during and after the war
stimulated production of kenaf in the other countries.
Most of the world’s kenaf is grown is India, Bangladesh, Thailand.

ANATOMY OF THE KENAF

Kenaf seeds are produced in 1.9 to 2.5 cm long and 1.3 to 1.9 cm in diameter. The stem is
straight and poorly branched when cultivated for fibre and reach upto 6m in height in
favorable conditions;usually themost desired height is 3-4 m. A cross-section of kenaf stem
reveals three main parts:an epidermis;a thin layer of bast and wood filling ; and the inner part
of the stem .The two latter tissues are considered the source of two different kinds of fibre ,
the bast and the core.
Kenaf plants produce large, light yellow or creamy coloured flowers that are bell shaped and
widely open.

CLASSIFICATION OF KENAF

Natural fibres Vegetable/ plant(cellulosic) Bast/stemkenaf

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

1. COLOUR: Kenaf is a pale-Coloured fibre.

2. It has a lusture.

3. LENGTH: Kenaf is short reaching only 6mm(1/4 inch) in length.

4. THICKNESS: The lumen varies greatly in thickness at different points in the cell,
sometimes disappearing altogether.

5. LONGITUDINAL SECTION: Cylindrical in shape and the surface is striated and irregular.

6. CROSS-SECTION: The cell of thekenaffibre is polygonal.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
1. DENSITY: 0 -1.55 g/cm3

2. TENSILE STRENGTH:500-600 GPa

3. ELONGATION AT BREAK: 2.5-3.5%

4. Kenaf has a high moisture regain .It is not wet as quickly as cotton.

KENAF IN USE
 New methods for processing the kenaf stalks to obtain longer fibres leading to the
production of nonwoven andwoven textiles.

A nonwoven mat of kenaffibres containing grass seeds are marketed as a lawn

starter.Apparel , wall coverings and tent fabrics have been constructed of kenaf and
kenaf blends.
Most of the kenaf produced at present is used for making ropes and twines,and for
coarse fabrics such as canvas and sacking.Some of the better quality fibre is made into
carpet materials.
Other uses of kenaffibre include soil-less potting mixes, animal bedding, oil absorbents,
packing material, grass and flower mats.

MARKET SCENARIO
It is grown mainly in Thailand, India,china, Vietnam and cuba. Production of kenaf is fairly
constant throughout recent years .The biomass production ranges from 12-18 t/ha and the
fibre content is 18-22% of the dry stalk weight.
The global natural fibres composites (manufactured from kenaf) market size was valued at
USD 4.46 billion in 2016.It is likely to register a CAGR of 11.8% from 2016 to 2024.
The approximate cost of kinaf fibre in India is 150 per kg.

REFERENCES
1. Handbook of textiles fibres volume-1 .Natural fibres J. Gordon Cook

2. Understanding Textiles Fifth Edition Phyllis G. Tortora and Billie J. Collier

3. Woodhead publishing in textiles- Biodegradable and Sustainable fibres by R.S. Blakburn

4. Understanding Textiles Seventh Edition Phyllis G. Tortora and Billie J. Kadolph

5. Researchgate.net