FLAX FIBRE
◆Flax fibre is obtained from the outer cover of the stem of an annual plant, Linum Usitatissimum that grows in many temperate and subtropical regions of the world.
◆In its inner bark, there grows long, thick walled cells of which flax fibre-strands are composed.
◆There are more than 100 specics of flax plant.
◆It graws in a region from sea level to 4000 feet and in almost only climate or any soil suitable for cultivation.
◆At present amount of flax in world trade is gradually lessening due to several reasons.
◆Firstly despite some mechanisation on the forms, production costs are high
in terms of manpower.
◆Secondly, flax seriously depletes on soil.
◆A field can be sown with flax only about once in seven years. Finally the cost of manufaeturing make linen an expensive fabric.
#Introduction
◆Flax or linen was probably the first plant stem (bast) fibre used by man for making textiles, particularly in the West.◆Flax fibre is obtained from the outer cover of the stem of an annual plant, Linum Usitatissimum that grows in many temperate and subtropical regions of the world.
◆In its inner bark, there grows long, thick walled cells of which flax fibre-strands are composed.
◆There are more than 100 specics of flax plant.
◆It graws in a region from sea level to 4000 feet and in almost only climate or any soil suitable for cultivation.
◆At present amount of flax in world trade is gradually lessening due to several reasons.
◆Firstly despite some mechanisation on the forms, production costs are high
in terms of manpower.
◆Secondly, flax seriously depletes on soil.
◆A field can be sown with flax only about once in seven years. Finally the cost of manufaeturing make linen an expensive fabric.
#Stages in fibre production
(a) Cultivation:-◆It requires deep, rich, well ploged soil and a cool, damp climate.
◆The ground has to be fairly level and even fertile.
◆Flax is best grown in rotation with grass, wheat and potatoes with use of potassium sulphate.
◆The ground is ploughed in winter and seeding is done in mid-April with hand preferably in rows.
◆The seed comes up after 8-15 days to spark germination.
◆For fibre production, seeds are sewn thick and plants are allowed to grown slowly.
◆The cultivated plant grows to a height of 3-4 feet and a diameter of 0.1 inch with tapering leaves and small blue or white flowers.
◆The plant with the blue flower yields with finer fibre.
◆The white flowered plant produce a coarse but strong fibre.
◆Harvesting is done when flowers drop the petals.
(b) Harvesting
◆When the flower portion of stems turn yellow, leaves begin to fall and top most seeds turn brown,which indicates that plant is about to mature and at this stage harvesting is done.
◆Plants are usually pulledand not cut and then dried.
◆However, a machine can be used to efficiently pull the flax.
◆The dried straw is opened and placed on the moving table of de-seeding machine. It combs the capsules to one side and weeds to the other whereas the straw is held gripped in middle.
◆These are tied as bundles, called beets in preparation for extraction of fibre and placed on conveyor to be taken to the retting tanks.
◆When the flower portion of stems turn yellow, leaves begin to fall and top most seeds turn brown,which indicates that plant is about to mature and at this stage harvesting is done.
◆Plants are usually pulledand not cut and then dried.
◆However, a machine can be used to efficiently pull the flax.
◆The dried straw is opened and placed on the moving table of de-seeding machine. It combs the capsules to one side and weeds to the other whereas the straw is held gripped in middle.
◆These are tied as bundles, called beets in preparation for extraction of fibre and placed on conveyor to be taken to the retting tanks.
(c) Retting:-
◆It is the first stage for obtaining fibres from flax plant which consists in softening of flax in water by fermentation.
◆Bacterias are developed in the process which degrade the partitions of softer cell of bark and thus facilitating the separation of fibre bundles (8-20 inch long) from bark and woody core of stalk.
◆This process is stopped after certain time to avoid degradation of fibre. Both biological and chemical retting are employed.
◆Retting is done by three methods-
(i) dew retting;
(ii) water retting; and
(ii) chemical retting.
◆It is the first stage for obtaining fibres from flax plant which consists in softening of flax in water by fermentation.
◆Bacterias are developed in the process which degrade the partitions of softer cell of bark and thus facilitating the separation of fibre bundles (8-20 inch long) from bark and woody core of stalk.
◆This process is stopped after certain time to avoid degradation of fibre. Both biological and chemical retting are employed.
◆Retting is done by three methods-
(i) dew retting;
(ii) water retting; and
(ii) chemical retting.
(i)Dew retting:-
◆It is old and simplest method.
◆The straw is spread over ground and exposed to allow dew and rain aided by heat of sun to germinate the growth of bacteria.
◆It is turned down when top side has been retted. It is long (3-4 weeks) and tedious method.
◆It is old and simplest method.
◆The straw is spread over ground and exposed to allow dew and rain aided by heat of sun to germinate the growth of bacteria.
◆It is turned down when top side has been retted. It is long (3-4 weeks) and tedious method.
(ii) Water retting:
◆It is also called tank retting in which straw is placed in a tank and covered with water .Each tank contain approximately 10 tonnes of stalk and built of concrete having large water tight doors in
the sides.
◆Water enter the tank through pipes, pH and temperature checked and water is aerated to façilitate the growth of germ culture for retting.
◆When fermentation has reached the appropriate stage the fibres cán be separated quite easily.
◆If fermentation is allowed to proceed beyond this point the fibres themselves may become damaged, and to avoid this,the progress of the retting must be observed carefully at intervals.
◆It requires less time than dew retting, from 10 to 15 days.
◆It is also called tank retting in which straw is placed in a tank and covered with water .Each tank contain approximately 10 tonnes of stalk and built of concrete having large water tight doors in
the sides.
◆Water enter the tank through pipes, pH and temperature checked and water is aerated to façilitate the growth of germ culture for retting.
◆When fermentation has reached the appropriate stage the fibres cán be separated quite easily.
◆If fermentation is allowed to proceed beyond this point the fibres themselves may become damaged, and to avoid this,the progress of the retting must be observed carefully at intervals.
◆It requires less time than dew retting, from 10 to 15 days.
(üii) Chemical retting:-
◆Soda ash and caustic soda in warm water or boiling in a dilute sulphuric acid solutions are methods used in this process.
◆It can result in shortening of retting process however the strength and colour of flax fibres are largely affected.
Line fibre is an aggregate of small fibre cells of pure cellulose cemented together by gummy material, It has cross marking at intervals called nodes, which give them their characteristic microscopic
appearance. The cross-sectional view is typical polygonal with rounded edges and a slit like lumen.
◆Soda ash and caustic soda in warm water or boiling in a dilute sulphuric acid solutions are methods used in this process.
◆It can result in shortening of retting process however the strength and colour of flax fibres are largely affected.
#Properties of flax
(A) Physical Properties:-
(i)Microscopic appearance:-Line fibre is an aggregate of small fibre cells of pure cellulose cemented together by gummy material, It has cross marking at intervals called nodes, which give them their characteristic microscopic
appearance. The cross-sectional view is typical polygonal with rounded edges and a slit like lumen.
(ii)Length and diameter:-
Length varies from 6-40 inches and cells have an average diameter of 11-20 microns.
It has fibre density of 1.50 gm/cm3.
Length varies from 6-40 inches and cells have an average diameter of 11-20 microns.
It has fibre density of 1.50 gm/cm3.
(iii) Moisture regain: -10-12 %
(iv) Colour:-
It has a colour from yellowish to grey and has greater lustre than cotton.
It has a colour from yellowish to grey and has greater lustre than cotton.
(v) Strength:-
It is a stronger fibre than cotton because of its very crystalline polymer systems as it form more hydrogen bonds than cotton polymers.Its tenacity is 4.8-6.0 gm/denier.
It is a stronger fibre than cotton because of its very crystalline polymer systems as it form more hydrogen bonds than cotton polymers.Its tenacity is 4.8-6.0 gm/denier.
(vi) Elasticity:-It is not elastic in nature.
(vii) Specific gravity:-1.54 same as that of cotton.
(vii) Composition:-
Cellulose:-70%
gums, pectins:-10% and
Natural impurities:-10%
Cellulose:-70%
gums, pectins:-10% and
Natural impurities:-10%
#Chemical properties
◆Flax is virtually pure cellulose.
◆In chemical reactivity or resistance, flax is partly like jute and partly
similar to cotton. But due to significant presence of alkali soluble hemicelluloses, flax cannot be mercerised like cotton.
similar to cotton. But due to significant presence of alkali soluble hemicelluloses, flax cannot be mercerised like cotton.
◆Normal laundering will result in alkaline hydrolysis of waxes and gums bonding cells forming the fibre together.
◆This results in cell ends projecting above the surface of the linen textile material called 'cottonising' of linen. Severe cottonising result in weakening of linen, hence avoided.
#Uses of flax
◆Flax or linen can be a good substitute of cotton.
◆Flax cotton blends hold high prospect for use in areas where only cotton is being used for long.
◆Linen fabrics are used as table cloths, napkins, towels, sail cloth, fishing lines, tent fabric, sewing thread, pillow covers, sheets and decorative coverings.
◆Waste flax fibre can be pulped and made into high-grade high-strength bank-note, cigarette and writing papers. The ability flax to absorb and desorb water rapidly makes particularly suitable in the towel trade.
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