KapokStructure & Fibre PropertiesMiss Eryna Binti Nasir

GROUP MEMBER:

NOR FARAH ASYIKIN BINTI MOHD TALIB

NOR NADIAH BINTI SARBU

OBJECTIVES

To identify the potential natural fibers (Kapok).

To study the suitable method on processing the Kapok fibers.

To do fiber identification test to determine the Kapok fiber properties.

To identify the end-use of the Kapok fiber.

INTRODUCTIONKapok tree does not grow wild in Malaysia and it comes

from the tropical America's.

Kapok fibres on their own are not suitable for spinning intoyarn. (as they are too smooth, slippery and brittle)

Kapok fiber's essential attributes are many: buoyant,resilient, moisture resistant, vermin resistant and smooth,kapok possess powerful performance in a lightweightpackage.

When kapok fibers are put under tension they completelyreturn to their original length when the tension is removed.

The conventional end uses of kapok include mattress/pillowstuffing, upholstery and thermal insulation.

Microscopic view of cross-section of Kapok

Kapok sheds its leaves in the dry season, revealing hundreds

of 15 cm long leathery pods and small flowers that are

pollinated by bats. When mature, the pods burst open revealing

a whitish fibre surrounding round brown seeds which are

dispersed by the wind. The seeds can be oils

Kapok trees bring a lot of significant to human, as their

wood are lightweight and porous which are very suitable for

making carvings, coffins and canoes.

The silky fibres are suitable for making stuffing and life

jacket. Oil in the seeds can be made as soap and other parts

of the tree are used as medicines to treat fever, asthma,

kidney disease and dysentery.

METHOD OF PROCESSING

KAPOK

Kapok harvesting process requires a lot of manpower, as each step is done mostly by hand. The process starts with:

Harversting

The ripe unopened pods are normally harvested by knocking them off the tree, but they can also be cut from the tree or harvested when they fall to the ground.

Sorting dry cottonwood logs

Sorting kapok weather it is wet or dry. If wet kapok will be dry under the sun rays until it really dried.

Then it was dried in the middle of the scorching heat to dry skin.

The best time for processing the kapok is early in the morning when the weather and the air were still moist and not dry. If done in the afternoon, kapok fibers become flying.

removing Kapok hulls

the fruits are hulled and seed and fibres were removed from the pods by hand. This process is done by using hand

DRYING

Kapok fibre is dried under the sun for 3 to 5 hours for complete drying.

Seed removing

The seeds lie loose in the floss and, with the help of some beating they fall to the bottom of the container where they are easily separated. In this process, kapok pith removed.

Packing

The seed-cotton was inserted into the container barrel. Then a device called a bow inserted in the container bins and scrub process is done.

FiberIdentification

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NO. TITLE EXPLANATION

1.Fiber length About 2.5 cm long

All natural fibers are staple fiber

2.Burn test Plant based fibers that are suitable for dyeing with fiber reactive dyes will

• Ignites and burns quickly, may flare, leaves a glowing ember after flame is extinguished.

• Smoke is white or light colored and

• Smells like burnt paper or leaves.

• Ash is light gray or white and very soft.

Highly inflammable.

Burns with light grey smoke when in flame.

Then burn with ember after flame is extinguished.

Ignites and burn quickly.

Leave whitish ash residues.

3. Surface contour • Smooth surface contour when touch.

4.Color • White or pale yellow in color

5.Care • Natural biodegradable fibres

Burn test Result

End use

▪ Life Jackets

▪ pillow

• Clothing.

The natural wax coating of the fibre only allows alow level of moisture

absorption – an advantage that promises excellent wearing properties for clothing textiles.

Conclusion

The conventional end uses of kapok include mattress/pillow stuffing,upholstery and thermal insulation. The market for kapok in these traditionaluses has declined considerably over the past 30 years, due to thedevelopments in synthetic materials, such as foamed plastics, which havealmost replaced kapok in most of its traditional end uses. Attempts to usekapok fibre for producing textile yarn were not successful due to theslippery nature of the fibres and its brittleness. The fibre yarn resultingfrom blending kapok with cotton is potentially suitable for producing woventextile fabrics. In addition to its potential use as clothing material, thefabric is being considered for suitability as reinforcement to thermosettingpolymeric materials such as polyester and phenolic resins

Thank You

ANY QUESTION