This document discusses kenaf fiber, which is obtained from the kenaf plant. Kenaf grows in countries like China, India, and the United States. It is harvested 105-120 days after being planted between May and October at temperatures of 20-27 degrees Celsius. Raw kenaf fiber is separated using mechanical or chemical methods to extract cellulose. The fiber is then spun into yarn and can be mercerized to increase strength and luster. Kenaf fiber has various uses including rope, cloth, paper, packaging, composites, and seed oil for cosmetics and biofuels.

1. KENAF FIBER
Muhammad Hamza
2016-Ag-7399
5th Semester
B.Sc. Textile Technology

2. INTRODUCTION
 Kenaf fiber is a natural fiber obtain from kenaf plant .
 Family : Malvaceae
 Botanical name : Hibiscus Cannabinus
 Growing countries are China(44%),India (39%),Indonesia,Malaysia,Bangladesh and
USA etc.
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE FAISALABAD – UAF

3. CULTIVATION
 It is sown from May to October.
 Temperature needed from 20-27 degree centigrade.
 Height of plant is 5-6 m .
 Life cycle of kenaf plant is 105-120 days.
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE FAISALABAD – UAF

4. HARVESTING
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5. KENAF FIBER
 Raw kenaf fiber obtained from outer bark.
 Kenaf fiber contains approximately 65.7%
 cellulose, 21.6% lignin and pectin, and other composition. Lignin must be extracted
to separate the fibers
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE FAISALABAD – UAF

6. SEPARATION OF KENAF FIBER
 There are two methods to separate the kenaf fibers.
 Mechanical method
 Chemical method
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE FAISALABAD – UAF

7. MECHANICAL METHOD
 Rando Cleaner is used to separate the kenaf fiber mechanically
 It consist of six-cylinder incline cleaner with 1.27cm space between grid bars and the
degree of incline may be different, for example, 30° or 45.
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE FAISALABAD – UAF

8. CHEMICAL METHOD
 Sulphuric acid is most commonly used in chemical retting to produce bast fibers.
 n this technique, the plant stems are immersed in the chemical over a specific time
period (typically 1 -8 hours) using a ratio of 1 kg of plant to 10 L of water. ...
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE FAISALABAD – UAF

9. SPINNING OF KENAF FIBERS
 The procedure for yarns spinning includes several steps.
 The most common processes are opening, carding, drawing and spinning.
 opening: in this process fibers are opened and heavy trash ( such as leaves, seed )is
removed.
 Carding : Carding machines are the most important equipment to form fibrous web.
The output of card is sliver. In carding 99.5% trash is removed.
 drawing and spinning : in this process the sliver is reduced to yarn by drafting and
twisting the fibers .
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE FAISALABAD – UAF

10. MERCERIZATION
 Mercerization is the treatment of fabrics or yarns, with an alkali (sodium hydroxide
or liquid ammonia) to increase luster.
 The alkali causes the fiber walls to swell and thus increasing in strength,
luster, and absorbency. Mercerization also enhances dyeability of cellulosic fibers.
 This process may be applied at the yarn or fabric stage.
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE FAISALABAD – UAF

11. USES OF KENAF FIBERS
 There are many uses of kenaf fibers.
 The main uses of kenaf fibers are rope, coarse cloth and paper formation.
 packing material; and material that absorbs oil and liquids.
 plastic composites
 Ford and BMW are making the material for the automobile bodies in part from kenaf.
 Kenaf seed oil : The kenaf seed oil is also used for cosmetics,, edible vegetable oil
industrial lubricants and for biofuel production.
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE FAISALABAD – UAF

12. REFERENCES
 [1] Cook, J.G. 1960. Handbook of Textile Fibers, Merrow Publishing, Watford, UK, p.20.

 [2] United States Department of Agriculture, Economic and Research Service, Washington, DC. 1993. Industrial uses of agricultural
materials, situation and outlook report. [3] Calamari, T. A., Tao, W., and Goynes, W. R. 1997. A Preliminary Study of Kenaf Fiber
Bundles and Their Composite Cells. Tappi Journal, 80 (8), 149-154.
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 [4] Moreau, J. P., Bel-Berger, P., Tao, W. 1995. Mechanical Processing of Kenaf for Nonwovens. Tappi Journal, 78 (2), 96-105.
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 [5] Ramaswamy, G.N., Boyd, C.R., Bel-Burger, P. and Kimmel, L.1995. Kenaf/Cotton Blend for Textiles. Family and Consumer
Sciences Research Journal, 24 (2), 180190.
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 [6] Ramaswamy, G. N., Ruff, C. G., and Boyd, C. R. 1995. Kenaf/Cotton blends for textiles
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE FAISALABAD – UAF

13. UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE FAISALABAD – UAF