Literature Review
Natural Fiber
Natural fibers are extracted from annual crops like plants, wood, chicken feathers and human hair.
Natural fiber extraction possesses low-cost processing techniques than synthetic fibers. Natural fibers are
lingo cellulosic material and their surfaces covered by hydroxyl and carboxyl end groups. They have
better bonding with the resin matrix than glass and carbon fibers. Because natural fiber have micro pores
on their surfaces. Natural fiber reinforced composites possess good engineering properties like high
strength, fracture toughness, dimensional stability and biodegradability etc. (“Characterisation of Banana
Fiber - A Review,” 2015)
Natural Fiber present important advantages such as low density, appropriate stiffness and mechanical
properties and high disposability and renewability. Moreover, they are recyclable and biodegradable.
There has been lot of research on use of natural fibers in reinforcements. Banana fiber, a ligno-cellulosic
fiber, obtained from the pseudo-stem of banana plant (Musa sepientum), is a bast fiber with relatively
good mechanical properties. (Mukhopadhyay et al., n.d.)
Banana fibre is obtained from the inner bark of the banana stem. When the fruits are picked up from the
banana tree, the stem ( trunk) is cut close to ground level. Before a few years ago, these trunks were a
very big problem for farmers. They normally burnt these banana trees
These trunks are sent to a fibre extraction unit. The banana fibres are obtained from brown or the
creamish portion of the inner bark of the trunk. The outer bark ( green portion of the stem is peeled up
manually. Now banana fibres are extracted. (Textile Adviser: BANANA FIBRE, EXTRACTION OF
BANANA FIBRES, n.d.)
Banana fibre is eco friendly like jute fibre
BANANA FIBER EXTRACTION
Banana fibers were collected from waste part of banana tree after cultivation of banana in agriculture. The
stem of banana trees were collected and soaked in water for 3 to 4days. Now banana stem was passed
between rotating rollers 3 to 4 times. The wet fibers were dried in atmospheric temperature. The diameter
ranges of extracted Banana fiber lies between 240-260 µm. The diameter of banana fibers should not be
same throughout its length.
Chemical Treatments on Banana Fibers
Processing techniques that are used to increase strength of banana fibers, remove impurities on fiberand
improve wettability called chemical treatments because natural fibers are affected by environment
concerns like repeated seasons and pollution. There are number of chemical treatments are available to
increase the strength and remove impurities of the natural fibers. Among these treatment alkali treatment
provides better results. In this treatment fiber were rinsed in NaoH solution for 1hr and soaked in HCL
solution for another 1hr.The pH value of solution describes acid levels of raw and alkali treated fibers.
(“Characterisation of Banana Fiber - A Review,” 2015)
Banana Fibre Characteristics
Banana fibre has its unique physical and chemical traits, as well as a variety of additional characteristics
that distinguish it as a high-quality fibre.
1. Banana fibre has a similar appearance to bamboo and ramie fibres, but its fineness and spinability are
superior to both.
2. Cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin make up the chemical makeup of banana fibre.
3. It's a really strong fibre.
4. The elongation is shorter.
5. Depending on the extraction and spinning procedure, it has a lustrous appearance.
6. It's not too heavy.
7. It has excellent moisture absorption properties. It absorbs and releases moisture at a rapid rate.
8. It is biodegradable and has no detrimental impact on the environment, making it environmentally
friendly.
9. It has a fineness of 2400 Nm on average.
10. It can be spun using practically any method, including ring spinning, open-end spinning, bast fibre
spinning, and semi-worsted spinning, to name a few. (Mutha et al., 2022)
BANANA FIBRE USES
Banana leaves are used as bio-plates for serving food, and the fruit and spadix are edible.
The innermost part of the stem, which is also edible, is utilised for medical purposes.
These fibres are more sustainable and are entirely biodegradable and do not need chemicals or pesticides
to nurture them, according to article study.
According to article research, a billion tonnes of banana plant stems are discarded every year. • According
to the Philippine Textile Research Institute, banana plantations alone may produce over 3,00,000 tonnes
of fibre in the Philippines. . (Mutha et al., 2022)
Raw Materials
Bananas, also known as plantains, are tropical plants that thrive in hot climates. The tropical jungles of
Asia are considered to have been their initial home. Musa Paradisiaca, Musa Sapientum, Musa
Cavendishii, and Musa Chinensis are the botanical names for these plants. Banana trees come in a variety
of fibres. In fact, practically every section of this plant produces fibres of varying strength, colour,
attractiveness, and staple length, making it suitable for a variety of applications. The outermost leaf
sheaths have coarse and strong fibres, the innermost ones have fine and silky fibres, and the intermediate
ones have intermediate quality fibres. A white fine fibre runs through the core from the roots to the point
where it emerges from the false stem's covering. When correctly processed, the fruit stems contain rough
fibres, while the midribs of the leaves yield a fibre of extraordinary strength and durability. Banana fibre
is a medium-quality fibre that works well in combination with other fibres to create beautiful goods like
as handicrafts, money, and so on. Banana fibre is mostly employed in the handicraft industry, where it is
braided, crocheted, and handwoven into a variety of products such as purses, accessories, mats, and
pillow coverings. Banana fibre is also utilised in the manufacturing of furniture, such as sofa sets, as well
as in the creation of plywood surfaces and the textile sector. In Banana, two kinds of fibres are used
1. Banana bark fibre (the layers of the banana stem)
2. Banana pith fibre (the fibre extracted from the bark). (Mutha et al., 2022)
References
Characterisation of Banana Fiber - A Review. (2015). Journal of Environmental
Nanotechnology, 4(2), 23–26. https://doi.org/10.13074/jent.2015.06.152154
Mukhopadhyay, S., Fangueiro, R., Arpaç, Y., & Şentürk, Ü. (n.d.). Banana Fibers-Variability
and Fracture Behaviour. http://www.jeffjournal.org
Textile Adviser: BANANA FIBRE, EXTRACTION OF BANANA FIBRES. (n.d.). Retrieved
December 20, 2022, from https://www.textileadvisor.com/2019/09/banana-fibre-extraction-of-
banana-fibres.html
Mutha, Y., Mishra, R., Patil, A., Chaudhary, H., Pawar, R., & Bhagat, R. (2022). Banana Fiber
Extraction Machine. International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology.
www.irjet.net
