Describe different types of plant or bast fiber

Introduction

The fiber which we get from different types of plants is called plant or bast fiber. Bast fiber is sometimes called phloem fiber or skin fiber. It is collected from the phloem the inner bark, or bast surrounding the stem of certain dicotyledonous plants. It supports the phloem's conductive cells and provides strength to the stem. Some of the most economically important best fiber is found in agriculturally grown shrubs, such as flax, hemp, or ramie, but a plant or best fiber from wild plants, stinging nettles, and trees such as lime or linden, wisteria, and mulberry have been used in the past. Bast fibers are classified as soft fibers and are flexible. Fibers from monocotyledonous plants, called leaf fibers, are classified as hard fibers and are stiff.

Plant fiber: There are different types of plant fiber or bast fiber we found. Examples: Cotton, flax, jute, hemp, sisal, etc.

Different types of plant fiber or bast fibers are-

A. Cotton fiber: Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in the boll or protective field, around the seeds of the cotton plant of the genus Gossypium of the Mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. Under natural conditions, cotton balls will scatter the seeds.

The plant is a shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including the United States, Africa, Egypt, and India. The big diversity of wild cotton species is found in Mexico, followed by Australia and Africa. Cotton was raised independently in the old and new worlds.

Current estimates for world production are about 25 million tons or 110 million bales annually, accounting for 2.5% of the world's arable land. India is the world's largest producer of cotton. The United States has been the largest exporter for many years. In the United States, cotton is usually measured in bales, which measure approximately 0.48 cubic meters and weigh 226.8 kilograms.

B. Jute fiber: Jute is a long, soft, shiny bast fiber that can be spun into thick, strong threads. It is originally produced from a plant of the genus Corchorus, which was once classified with the Tiliaceae family. The primary source of fiber is the Corchorus olitorius, but it is thought to be inferior to the Corchorus capsularis. Jute is the name of a plant or fiber that is used to make burlap, hessian, or burner fabrics.

Jute is one of the most affordable natural fibers, and second only to cotton in quantity and variety used. Jute fibers are mainly composed of plant materials cellulose and lignin. It falls into the category of bast fibers with kenaf, industrial hemp, flax (linen), ramie, etc. The industrial term for jute fiber is raw jute. The fibers are white-brown and 1-4 m long. Jute is also called golden fiber for its color and high cash quality.

Jute plants require simple alluvial soil and standing water. The climate suitable for growing jute (warm and wet) is presented during the rainy season by the monsoon climate. Temperature 20˚C to 40˚C and relative humidity 70% to 80% optimal for successful cultivation. Jute requires 5-6 cm weekly rainfall at the time of sowing and more. Soft water is required for jute production.

C. Hemp fiber: Hemp is a variety of Cannabis sativa plant species that are grown specifically for the industrial use of its products. It is one of the fastest-growing plants and it was one of the first plants to be spun into usable fibers 50,000 years ago. It can be modified in a variety of commercial items, including paper, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paints, insulation, biofuels, food, and animal feed.

Although both cannabis and industrial flax as drugs originate from the cannabis Sativa species and contain the psychoactive ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), they have different strains with different phytochemical compositions and uses. Hemp has a lower concentration of THC and a higher concentration of cannabidiol (CBD), which reduces or eliminates its psychological effects. The legality of industrial hemp varies greatly between countries. Some governments control the concentration of THC and only allow hemp that is bred with a particularly low THC content.

D. Sisal fiber: Sisal is a species of Agave Sisalana in South Mexico with the botanical name but is widely cultivated and made naturally in many other countries. It is found in a hard fiber used in making various products. The term sisal can refer to the common name or fiber of a plant, depending on the context. It is sometimes referred to as "sisal hemp" because hemp has been a major source of fiber for centuries and other fiber sources were named after it.

The sisal fiber is traditionally used for ropes and yarns and has many more uses including paper, cloth, footwear, hats, bags, carpets, geotextiles, and dartboards. It is used as a fiber reinforcement for composite fiberglass, rubber, and cement products.

E. Linen or Flax fiber: Linen is a bast fiber. Flax fibers vary in length from about 25 to 150 mm and average 12–16 micrometers in diameter. There are two types: short fiber for thick fabrics and long line fiber for long fabrics. Flax fibers are usually characterized by their "nodes" that add flexibility and texture to the fabric.

The cross-section of the linen fiber is made up of irregular polygonal shapes that contribute to the coarse texture of the fabric. Linen fabric feels cool to the touch, a phenomenon that indicates its higher conductivity. This makes the smooth, finished fabric lint-free and softens as it washes. Linen can degrade in a few weeks when buried in the soil. Linen is more biodegradable than cotton.

  

Uses of plant or bast fibers

Plant or bast fibers are processed for use in carpet, yarn, rope, geotextile, traditional carpets, hessian or burlap, paper, sacks, etc. Bast fibers are also used in the non-woven, molding, and composite technology industries for the manufacturing of non-woven mats and carpets, composite boards as furniture materials, automobile door panels and headliners, etc. Where no other source of tanbark has been found, it has also been used for tanning leather.