The Haikou Experimental Station of the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences recently released banana dried hemp and banana fiber/ramie blended fabrics, which has attracted social attention. Banana fiber was introduced in our country many years ago and caused a commotion in the market at that time. However, at that time, it was not fully accepted by the market due to factors such as immature technology and high price.
What kind of products are the banana dried hemp and banana fiber/ramie blended fabrics released this time? A reporter from China Textile News interviewed Sheng Zhanwu, the project leader. He said that banana fiber dried hemp is a blended product of banana fiber and hemp fiber, which has the characteristics of hemp fiber being antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-ultraviolet, and anti-static. The banana crude fiber involved in this product is extracted from banana stems using a flax hanging machine, and the degumming process uses biological enzyme preparations, which is different from the general degumming process. Banana dried linen is blended with ramie, and the resulting blend is an all-natural plant fiber fabric that can be used for home textiles, decoration, travel souvenirs, etc. Sheng Zhanwu said that the reason for developing this product was mainly from the perspective of waste utilization.
Resources to be developed
The Haikou Experimental Station of the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences is at the forefront of research on bananas in my country. About 10 million tons of banana waste with extractable fiber is discarded every year in our country, of which extractable banana stem fiber accounts for 1% to 2%. From a global perspective, the annual banana production is about 106.5 million tons, and the amount of available fiber is considerable.
According to Sheng Zhanwu, banana fiber is a resource that needs to be developed and utilized. Banana fiber can be divided into banana stem fiber and banana leaf fiber. Banana stem fiber is contained in the bast of the banana tree and is a bast fiber; banana leaf fiber is contained in the leaves of the banana tree and is a leaf fiber. Data show that there are about 130 countries that cultivate bananas in the world, with Central America producing the most, followed by Asia. my country’s banana cultivation is mainly distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Yunnan and Hainan, with a small amount of cultivation in Guizhou, Sichuan and Chongqing. Banana resources are not only abundant, but also relatively concentrated geographically, which is conducive to the implementation of industrialization.
Information shows that some foreign companies have developed banana viscose fiber. However, the current utilization of banana fiber in my country still remains at the level of natural fiber. Sheng Zhanwu said that the banana fiber they developed has not been pulped and is also a natural fiber like ramie.
The main chemical component of banana bast is cellulose, followed by hemicellulose, lignin, pectin substances, water-soluble substances, lipid waxes, etc. Although the cellulose content in banana bast is lower than flax and jute, its content is also about 60%. Compared with flax and jute, banana has a higher content of hemicellulose and lignin, which account for more than 30% of the chemical composition of banana fiber. Therefore, its preparation is relatively difficult, and it will also cause the luster and luster of banana fiber. Its softness, elasticity and spinnability are worse than those of linen and jute. However, studies have shown that the crystallinity and orientation of banana stem fibers are lower than those of flax and jute, which means that the arrangement of macromolecules in the fibers is not as neat and regular as those of flax and jute. Therefore, compared with flax and jute, banana fiber has the characteristics of low strength, large deformation, low birefringence, easy to absorb and release moisture, and easy to dye.
Future development should learn from hemp fiber
Industry experts said that the development of banana fiber may not follow the path of bamboo fiber, but should refer to the development direction and experience of hemp fiber.
Linen fabric is known as one of the functional green textile products with the greatest potential for development in this century. In recent years, it has also conformed to the trend of natural and environmental protection due to its “returning to nature, comfort and health” characteristics. In addition, its improved technology has improved comfort Improvement, currently favored by the market. Hemp fiber has advantages that other fibers cannot match, such as good moisture absorption, moisture dispersion and breathability. It is also cool and crisp, does not stick to the body when sweating, is light in texture, insect-proof and mildew-proof, has less static electricity, is not easy to pollute the fabric, and is suitable for human skin excretion and Secretion and other characteristics. However, due to its poor elasticity, poor wrinkle resistance and abrasion resistance, and its irritating and itchy feeling, the development of hemp fiber varieties has been limited. With the development of various pre-processing and post-processing technologies, some of its inherent defects have been greatly improved.
Banana fiber has excellent hygroscopic properties similar to ramie. Its moisture regain rate can reach 14% to 15% at 23°C and 65% relative humidity. In addition, in addition to the advantages of general hemp fiber, banana stem fiber also has the characteristics of high strength, small elongation, fast moisture absorption and release, thick and hard fiber, high initial modulus, poor elasticity, and good hygienic performance. With the upgrading of technology, banana fiber may be able to expand its application range like hemp fiber.
Of course, for new products, the first thing to solve is the price issue. Sheng Zhanwu said that the project is still in the pilot stage and it will take some time to connect the downstream, but once the industrial chain is connected, the cost will be further reduced.
Currently, the Haikou Experimental Station of the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences is still considering the downstream promotion direction of this product it released. Sheng Zhanwu said that considering the characteristics of the material itself, andIt will not develop in the direction of high branches. The current main consideration is to combine Hainan’s status as a tourist city and promote it to areas such as handicrafts.
Industry experts said that banana fiber has expanded the scope of natural fibers and currently plays a relatively large role in environmental protection and increasing agricultural income. Judging from the development experience of hemp fiber, banana fiber may become popular as an environmentally friendly fiber.
Extended reading: https://www.china-fire-retardant.com/post/9410 .html
Extended reading: https://www.yingjietex. com/product/Polyester-Dobby-OXFORD-Fabric-6.html
Extended reading:https://www.china-fire-retardant.com/post/9577.html
Extended reading: https://www.yingjietex.com/product/jacquard-Oxford-fabric.html
Extended reading:https://www.yingjietex.com/product/800D-Polyester-DOBBY-OXFORD-Fabric.htm
