Plant Fibers
Natural cellulose fibers originated from plants and trees such as
cotton, flax, hemp, jute, ramie, kapok, coir, bamboo etc. are termed as
Plant fibers.
Many useful fibers have been obtained from various parts of plants including leaves, stems (bast fibers), fruits and seeds.
Since all plant fibers are made up of mainly cellulose, they are
categorized as “natural cellulosic fibers”, which may consist of one
plant cell or an aggregate of cells cemented together by non-cellulose
materials.
Bast fibers are produced and used to manufacture a wide range of
traditional and novel products including ropes, nets, carpets, mats,
brushes, mattresses, paper, and board materials.
Plant fibers are classified into two groups:
· soft fibers
&
· hard fibers.
Soft Fibers: The process of preparing soft fibers for weaving is
laborious. The plant is selected and harvested, partially dried, and
then pounded with a stone mallet and scraped to clean the fibers. The
material is then washed and dried in the sun. Later, the artists comb
the fibers with their fingers.
The fibers are now ready to be spun or twisted into thread or cord on
the artist’s leg. Some fibers, including palm, grass, wheat chaff, and
to rote, are prepared by drying and pounding, after which they are cut
to size and braided. Soft fibers are used to make ropes, string, nets,
bags, and hammocks.
Hard Fibers: Hard fibers are subjected to successive phases of
cutting, drying, cleaning, and soaking before they can be woven. These
strong, naturally flexible fibers are used to make furniture, birdcages,
toys, baskets, and mats.
Major commercially used plant fibers
|
Seed Fibers
|
Leaf Fibers
|
Bast Fibers
|
|
Cotton
Coir
Kapok
|
Sisal
Kenaf
Pineapple
Abaca
|
Flax
Hemp
Ramie
Bamboo
Banana |
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