Kapok fibers are naturally buoyant and resilient fibers that come from the kapok tree native to tropical America. The document discusses the structure and properties of kapok fibers, including that they are smooth, moisture resistant, and return to their original length when tension is removed. It then describes the traditional harvesting and processing methods to extract the fibers from kapok pods, and details tests run to identify properties like fiber length, burning characteristics, color, and surface texture. Finally, it lists traditional and potential new end uses of kapok fibers, such as in life jackets, pillows, clothing insulation, and blended textile yarns.

1. Kapok
Structure &Fibre Properties
Miss Eryna Binti Nasir

2. GROUP MEMBER:
NOR FARAH ASYIKIN
BINTI MOHD TALIB
NOR NADIAH BINTI
SARBU

3. OBJECTIVES
To identify the potential natural fibers
(Kapok).
To study the suitable method on processing
the Kapok fibers.
To do fiber identification test to determine
the Kapok fiber properties.
To identify the end-use of the Kapok fiber.

4. INTRODUCTION
Kapok tree does not grow wild in Malaysia and it comes
from the tropical America's.
Kapok fibres on their own are not suitable for spinning into
yarn. (as they are too smooth, slippery and brittle)
Kapok fiber's essential attributes are many: buoyant,
resilient, moisture resistant, vermin resistant and smooth,
kapok possess powerful performance in a lightweight
package.
When kapok fibers are put under tension they completely
return to their original length when the tension is removed.
The conventional end uses of kapok include mattress/pillow

5. Microscopic view of cross-section of Kapok

6. Kapok sheds its leaves in the dry season, revealing hundreds
of 15 cm long leathery pods and small flowers that are
pollinated by bats. When mature, the pods burst open revealing
a whitish fibre surrounding round brown seeds which are
dispersed by the wind. The seeds can be oils
Kapok trees bring a lot of significant to human, as their
wood are lightweight and porous which are very suitable for
making carvings, coffins and canoes.
The silky fibres are suitable for making stuffing and life
jacket. Oil in the seeds can be made as soap and other parts
of the tree are used as medicines to treat fever, asthma,
kidney disease and dysentery.

8. METHOD OF
PROCESSING
KAPOK

9. Kapok harvesting process requires a lot of manpower,
as each step is done mostly by hand. The process
starts with:
Harversting
The ripe unopened
pods are normally
harvested by
knocking them off
the tree, but they
can also be cut
from the tree or
harvested when
they fall to the
ground.

10. Sorting dry cottonwood logs
Sorting kapok
weather it is
wet or dry. If
wet kapok will be
dry under the
sun rays until it
really dried.

11. Then it was dried in the middle of the
scorching heat to dry skin.
The best time for
processing the
kapok is early in
the morning when
the weather and
the air were still
moist and not dry.
If done in the
afternoon, kapok
fibers become
flying.

12. removing Kapok hulls
the fruits are
hulled and seed
and fibres were
removed from
the pods by
hand. This
process is done
by using hand

13. DRYING
Kapok fibre is
dried under the
sun for 3 to 5
hours for
complete drying.

14. Seed removing
The seeds lie loose
in the floss and,
with the help of
some beating they
fall to the bottom
of the container
where they are
easily separated. In
this process, kapok
pith removed.

15. Packing
The seed-cotton
was inserted into
the container
barrel. Then a
device called a
bow inserted in
the container
bins and scrub
process is done.

16. Fiber
Identification
Your text here

17. NO. TITLE EXPLANATION
1.
Fiber length  About 2.5 cm long
 All natural fibers are staple fiber
2.
Burn test Plant based fibers that are suitable for dyeing with fiber reactive dyes will
• Ignites and burns quickly, may flare, leaves a glowing ember after flame is extinguished.
• Smoke is white or light colored and
• Smells like burnt paper or leaves.
• Ash is light gray or white and very soft.
 Highly inflammable.
 Burns with light grey smoke when in flame.
 Then burn with ember after flame is extinguished.
 Ignites and burn quickly.
 Leave whitish ash residues.
3. Surface contour • Smooth surface contour when touch.
4.
Color • White or pale yellow in color
5.
Care • Natural biodegradable fibres

18. Burn test Result

19. End use
▪ Life Jackets
▪ pillow

20. • Clothing.
The natural wax coating of
the fibre only allows a
low level of moisture
absorption – an advantage
that promises excellent
wearing properties for
clothing textiles.

21. Conclusion
The conventional end uses of kapok include mattress/pillow stuffing,
upholstery and thermal insulation. The market for kapok in these traditional
uses has declined considerably over the past 30 years, due to the
developments in synthetic materials, such as foamed plastics, which have
almost replaced kapok in most of its traditional end uses. Attempts to use
kapok fibre for producing textile yarn were not successful due to the
slippery nature of the fibres and its brittleness. The fibre yarn resulting
from blending kapok with cotton is potentially suitable for producing woven
textile fabrics. In addition to its potential use as clothing material, the
fabric is being considered for suitability as reinforcement to thermosetting
polymeric materials such as polyester and phenolic resins

22. Thank You
ANY QUESTION