Kenaf is a natural fiber from the malvaceae family, primarily cultivated in regions like China and India for its bast and core fibers. The plant grows quickly and requires specific temperatures for optimal growth, with the fibers processed through harvesting, retting, washing, and drying. Kenaf fibers have various applications, including in ropes, paper production, and automotive products.

2. Outline:
Introduction
Structure of Fiber
Production, Processing & Cultivation of Fiber
Harvesting
Retting
Washing
Drying
Properties
End Uses

3. Introduction:
Kenaf is a natural fiber which is a plant in the Malvaceae family.
Botanical name is Hibiscus cannabinu.
It is grown mainly for bast fiber in China (44%), India (39%), Indonesia,
Malaysia, Bangladesh, USA, South Africa, Thailand and parts of Africa.
Fiber: Two kinds, the long fibers are mainly in the thin bark (cortical layer),
whereas the short fibers are in the ligneous core, namely pith (short fiber).

4. Structure of Fiber:
 The stalk of the Kenaf plant
consists of two distinct types of
fibers :
 The outer fiber is called bast and
comprises roughly 40% of the stalk
dry weight.
 Refine bast fiber measure 2.6mm
and are similar to the best
softwood fiber used to make
paper
 White inner fiber is called core
and comprises 60% of the dry
weight.

5. Composition
 Cellulose percentage is from 44 to 55%. hemi cellulose 21%,pectine is 2%.
 Lignin: lignin percentage is from 15 to 19%.

6. Production, Processing and
Cultivation of Fiber:
 It is sown from may to October. Growing quickly rising to a height
of 5-6 m in a 6 to 8 months.
 Temperature need from 20 to 27 degree centigrade

7. Harvesting
 Kenaf crop are both hand and machine harvested.
 Fiber are usually separated from the stalk mechanically although retting
is still done by hand in some areas.
 Plant are harvested for their stalk from which the fiber is extracted.

8. Retting of Kenaf fiber
 The process by which the fiber got loosened and separated from the woody
stalk.
 Jute and Kenaf fiber have almost same retting process.

9. Water Retting
 Plant stem are immersed in water river ,ponds and tank.
 It need 7 to 14 days.

10. Washing and Drying
 Fiber are separating with water.

11. Properties of Kenaf fiber
 Fiber length: Kenaf fiber length is from 2.6 to 4mm.
 Fiber diameter: diameter of Kenaf fiber is from 17 to 21.9 micron.
 Density: 1.4 g/cm3.
 Elongation: 1.6 %

12. Uses
 Roping: it is use in making ropes.
 Paper: it is use in paper production.
 Use in coarse cloths.
 It is used in automotive product.
 Engineered wood, Insulation, Clothing-grade cloth
 Soil-less potting mixes
 Animal bedding, Packing material