An Explorative study of Bast Fibers for the Application in Medical Textiles

Abstract

Ecological concerns by the textile consumers have resulted in a resumed interest newlinein renewable resources-based products. The efforts were taken to develop eco-friendly newlineand biodegradable fibres to control polluting environment. All natural fibers have low newlinedensity, less abrasive to processing equipments, biodegradable and economically viable. newlineAmong the agricultural wastes- castor, neem and turmeric stems are more promising as newlinefibers can be extracted from it, which forms is inexpensive raw material and abundantly newlineavailable from a high potential perennial crop. Research indicated that these plants newlinepossesses several therapeutic properties and have inherent antimicrobial characteristics. newlineThe present study was undertaken to extract fibers from the three medicinal plants newlineand study the subjective and objective performance characteristics of the blended newlinenon-woven fabrics. The selected plants stems were pool retted after a thorough pilot study newlineas it is environmental friendly process. The retted fibers were treated with enzymes. newlineThe treated fibers were blended with cotton in a miniature carding machine and prepared newlineinto needle punched non-woven fabrics. The non-woven fabrics were treated with their newlinerespective medicinal oils and the performance characteristics of both the treated and newlineuntreated blended non-woven fabrics were assessed. The test fabrics were evaluated newlinesubjectively and then objective performance was evaluated in terms of parameters like newlinecomfort, handle and mechanical properties by following the standard procedures laid newlinedown by ASTM and BIS. The data obtained was compiled, tabulated and statistically newlineanalyzed using frequencies and percentages. newlineStatistical tools such as ANOVA and correlation was selected for assessment of newlinesignificant differences between the non-woven blended samples. It was found that the newlineneedle punched nonwoven fabrics showed good air permeability, medium water newlinerepellence and a good thermal insulation. There was a significant differences and newlineassociation among the samples as well as between the trea