• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.27 no.9_10
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• pp.1144-1152
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• 2003

Kenaf has been cultivated in Jeju Island. After being harvested at 105 DAP(day after planting) and separated from kenaf stalks , decorticated kenaf basts were treated with different concentration/temperature/time combinations in order to do chemical rotting. The following fiber properties were compared; rotting effects, colors, crystallinity, molecular structures, dyeabilities, and non-cellulose contents such as pectins, lignins, & hemicellulose. The best results of chemical rotting were obtained from the specimens treated with low concentration/ low temperature/short time. Their colors were bright yellow. The lumens of specimens diminished with the affect of NaOH. The structures of chemically rotted kenaf fibers were cellulose 1. The degree of crystallinity of chemically retted kenaf fibers were very high. Non-cellulose content, especially hemicellulose, was low in the specimens treated with the high NaOH concentration. Dyeabilities of kenaf fibers were higher among the specimens without the non-cellulose content than those with the non-cellulose content.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.862-871
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• 2003

Kenaf has been estimated as an economic and environmentally compatible crop. This study purposed to enlarge the use of kenaf as textile materials and to develope high value-added textile fibers. Kenaf has been cultivated successfully and grown fast in Jeju. The height of kenaf stalks was about 220cm at 105 DAP and 400cm at 150 DAP, After harvesting at 105 DAP and seperating the basts from harvested kenaf stalks, decorticated kenaf basts were rotted in water at 15~$25^{\circ}C$ for biological rotting and were treated with 1%, 4% and 7% NaOH at 9$0^{\circ}C$ for chemical retting. The properties of extracted fibers were compared: such as fiber diameter. Transversal and longitudinal views, colors, crystallinities, strengths and elongations etc. The diameter of kenaf bast fibers was 15~25 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. Biologically rotted kenaf bast fibers had well developed lumens which were diminished after chemical retting. The degree of crystallinities of biologically rotted kenaf bast fiber was about 92~96% showed higher than those of chemically rotting. The biologically rotted fibers were bright and had creamy color. Yelloweness increased at chemically rotted fibers. Fiber bundle strengths were from maximum 98076.9 (gf/g) to minimum 63749.5 (gf/g). Fiber bundle strengths of biologically rotted kenaf fibers appeared greater than those of chemically rotted fibers. Alkali treatments of chemical rotting could make strength lower and elongation higher. Rotting method might be one of the most importance factors affecting to final fiber properties.