Throughout history, natural fibres of many kinds have been vital to mankind’s survival. Plastics and synthetic fibres developed over the twentieth century have resulted in the development of several types of synthetic fibre-reinforced polymer composites, which are now widely utilised in everyday life and have a variety of applications. Given that synthetic materials are typically made from non-renewable resources, the use of plant fibres in composites (also known as biobased composites) is rising in popularity as a sustainable alternative. Because of their environmentally beneficial and sustainable characteristics, but also because of their performance and cost, they are becoming increasingly popular.

Plant Fibres 

Plant fibres are obtained from a variety of plants, including cotton, jute, flax, and hemp. Field crops are used to create a wide variety of plant fibres.

Cotton

The most widely farmed crop in the world is cotton, which is a soft fibre obtained from cotton plants that grow in the form of a boll. Cotton is primarily grown in locations with dark soil and high temperatures.

• Cotton is mostly farmed in Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and other states in India.
•  It is one of the most widely used fibres in the world.
• When cotton plants begin to flower, they produce flowers that are yellowish-white in colour but become red after a few days.
• After a few days, the flowers convert into small cotton balls.

Obtaining Absorbent Cotton and Preparing It

Following flowering, the plant produces fruits known as capsules, which are small, round fruits. The fruits range in size from 3 to 5 cells. Every capsule carries a large number of seeds. Bolls are the hairs that coat the seeds and help them to germinate. After that, the balls are collected, dried, and then sent to the ginning press. A variety of devices are used to separate the hairs. Linters are short-haired cotton fibres that are utilised in the production of absorbent cotton fabrics. Long hairs are used for the preparation of the material, whereas short hairs are used for finishing. Following the addition of a soda ash solution, it is placed under pressure for around 10-15 hours. After it has been thoroughly washed with water, it is treated with a suitable bleaching chemical. Then it is dried and carded into flat sheets, which are then folded. After that, it is wrapped in plastic wrap. In the following step, Gamma radiation is used to disinfect the item.

Jute

The second type of fibre is jute, which can only be derived from the stems of jute plants. It is primarily harvested during the wet season.

• Jute is primarily grown in alluvial soil, which may be found in the delta regions of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers in India. • Jute is primarily grown in the states of Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam in India.

• Jute is also referred to as the “golden fibre” in some circles. It has a smooth texture and is made of a soft, lustrous, and lengthy fibre.
• This plant grows to around 3 metres in height and bears yellow blooms in a few months after it has been planted.

• Jute plants are only harvested during the flowering stage, and it is at this stage that high-quality fibre is obtained.

• The plants’ dry leaves are submerged in water for a few days before being harvested.
• During this period, the liquid skin spreads out to separate the fibres, and this is referred to as the retting process in the industry.

Differentiation between natural fibres and synthetic fibre

Fibres are utilised as a raw material in the production of textiles, clothing, and other types of application-specific equipment. Depending on where the fibre is derived from, it can be divided into two categories. Natural fibres are those that are derived from plants, animals, or minerals, whereas synthetic fibres are those that are derived from chemical processes carried out with the assistance of machinery. Cotton, jute, silk, and other natural fibres are examples of this type of material. Polyester, Nylon, rayon, and other synthetic fibres are examples of this.

Conclusion

The plant’s stem contains only a little number of fibres that can be harvested. The building block of vegetable fibres is cellulose, which serves as a structural material in the plant world. This is the reason why plant fibres are primarily composed of cellulose and may or may not contain lignin in their composition. Cotton, hemp, jute, flax, ramie, sisal, and bagasse are just a few examples of natural fibres. Textile fibres are obtained from plant sources such as cotton, which is collected from the cotton plant’s seeds, and jute, which is obtained from the jute plant’s stem, as well as from the outer covering of coconut fruit, which is used to make coir (coconut husk).