dc.description.abstract |
Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is an aquatic plant and grows abundantly in Sri Lanka. Stalks and
roots of this plant contain fine silky fibres. To utilize this fibre as a textile raw material,
properties of locally available fibres have to be analyzed to ascertain whether the properties
of these fibres meet the end use requirement of textile material. Analyzing the properties of
lotus fibre is a prime requirement to determine the feasibility of utilizing of Lotus fibres as a
textile raw material.
In order to study the physical and chemical properties of lotus fibres, the fibres were
extracted by manual method and subjected to relevant testing in order to confirm their
suitability in textile applications. Fibre identification methods such as microscopical
analysis, chemical resistance properties and fibre density were tested and found the results
were similar to other cellulosic fibres.
In addition to that, major physical properties such as fibre length, tensile strength, fibre
diameter, water absorbent property and moisture regain were tested and found that the test
results are superior to cotton fibres such as moisture regain 12.3% and fibre fineness 4.39
um.
Fibres were pretreated by scouring and bleaching processes and the properties of water
absorbance, dyeability and colour fastness were compared with cotton fibres and found to be
similar. It was identified that the properties of lotus fibre is suitable to use as a textile raw
material and the textile materials produced from lotus fibre will satisfy the end user
requirements. |
en_US |