• Carbon letters
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.131-137
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• 2011

Kenaf fibers, cellulose-based natural fibers, were used as precursor for preparing kenafbased carbon fibers. The effects of carbonization temperature ($700^{\circ}C$ to $1100^{\circ}C$) and chemical pre-treatment (NaOH and $NH_4Cl$) at various concentrations on the thermal change, chemical composition and fiber morphology of kenaf-based carbon fibers were investigated. Remarkable weight loss and longitudinal shrinkage were found to occur during the thermal conversion from kenaf precursor to kenaf-based carbon fiber, depending on the carbonization temperature. It was noted that the alkali pre-treatment of kenaf with NaOH played a role in reducing the weight loss and the longitudinal shrinkage and also in increasing the carbon content of kenaf-based carbon fibers. The number and size of the cells and the fiber diameter were reduced with increasing carbonization temperature. Morphological observations implied that the micrometer-sized cells were combined or fused and then re-organized with the neighboring cells during the carbonization process. By the pre-treatment of kenaf with 10 and 15 wt% NaOH solutions and the subsequent carbonization process, the inner cells completely disappeared through the transverse direction of the kenaf fiber, resulting in the fiber densification. It was noticeable that the alkali pre-treatment of the kenaf fibers prior to carbonization contributed to the forming of kenaf-based carbon fibers.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.111-120
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• 2016

BACKGROUND: Arsenic (As)-contaminated groundwater used for long-term irrigation has emerged as a serious problem by adding As to soils. Phytoremediation potential of fiber crops viz., kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.), mesta (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.), and jute (Corchorus capsularis L.) was studied to clean up As-contaminated soil.METHODS AND RESULTS: Varieties of three fiber crops were selected in this study. Seeds of kenaf, mesta, and jute varieties were germinated in As-contaminated soil. Uptake of As by shoot was significantly higher than that by root in the contaminated soil. In As-contaminated soil, kenaf and mesta varieties accumulated more As, than did jute varieties. In the plant parts above ground, mainly the shoots, the highest As absorption was recorded in kenaf cv. HC-3, followed by kenaf cv. HC-95. Kenaf varieties produced more biomass. In terms of higher plant biomass production, and As absorption, kenaf varieties showed considerable potential to remediate As-contaminated soil.CONCLUSION: The overall As absorption and phytoremediation potentiality of plant varieties were in the order of kenaf cv. HC-3 > kenaf cv. HC-95 > mesta cv. Samu-93 > jute cv. CVE-3 > jute cv. BJC-7370. All varieties of kenaf, mesta, and jute could be considered for an appropriate green plant-based remediation technology in As-contaminated soil.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• 제30권7호
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• pp.1025-1033
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• 2006

Kenaf bast can be obtained by decortication of Kenaf stem. Kenaf fibers are much more rough than cotton fiber because they include impurities as pectin, lignin and hemicellulose besides cellulose. The purpose of this research is to investigate the distribution of kenaf fiber length and diameter during the processes of removing impurities. To remove pectin, kenaf bast was retted chemically. A half of the retted kenaf fiber bundle were scoured and bleached. The other half one were treated with $NaClO_2$ solution to remove lignin, and were treated with sodium hydroxide solution to remove hemicellulose. Four kinds of specimens that were obtained for investigating physical characteristics. Length and diameter of 100 fibers on each specimen was measured. The tensile strength of 100 fiber bundles were measured. And also the color values of them were measured with spectrocolorimeter. The length of retted kenaf fiber was 16.97cm. Then it decreased to 11.43cm after bleaching. Kenaf fiber bundles could be finer by chemical processes that remove non-cellulosic materials. The thickness of retted fiber was $132{\mu}m$. And after undergoing the chemical processes to remove non-cellulosic materials, the thickness of kenaf fiber became finer as $73{\mu}m$. Tensile strength of the retted kenaf fiber bundles was 11.37Mpa. The retted kenaf fiber lost their strength as 22.6% by bleaching and as 18.3% by treatment for removing lignin. The retted kenaf fiber showed low whiteness as 56.48 of L*value. After bleaching, the kenaf fibers have creamy white color and their whiteness got 90.02 of L*value. After the treatment for removing hemicellulose, the kenaf fibers also have creamy white color and their whiteness got L* value of 79.02.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.13-20
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• 2005

Interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of environmentally friendly natural fiber reinforced polymer composites plays a very important role in controlling the overall mechanical performance. The IFSS of various Ramie and Kenaf fibers/epoxy composites was evaluated using the combination of micromechanical test and nondestructive acoustic emission (AE) to find out optimal conditions for desirable final performance. Dynamic contact angle was measured for Ramie and Kenaf fibers and correlated the wettability properties with interfacial adhesion. Mechanical properties of Ramie and Kenaf fibers were investigated using single-fiber tensile test and analyzed statistically by both uni-and bimodal Weibull distributions. An influence of clamping effect on a real elongation for both Ramie and Kenaf fibers were evaluated as well. Two different microfailure modes, axial debonding and fibril fracture coming from fiber bundles and single fiber composites (SFC) were observed under tension and compression.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.448-458
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• 2010

Kenaf has a rigid and rough touch that inhibits the use of it as a textile material; therefore, this study developed a novel textile material using kenaf. Kenaf and cotton were blended in the ratio of 3:7 and manufactured as 20' spun yarn that was compared to 20's spun yarn made of 100% cotton. Both kenaf/cotton-blended and 100% cotton spun yarn were constructed as plain woven and knitted fabrics. Four kinds of fabrics were prepared as follows. Plain kenaf/cotton-woven fabrics, plain cotton-woven fabrics, kenaf/cotton jersey, and cotton jersey. A cellulase washing process was carried out to reduce the character of kenaf/cotton-blended fabrics, rigid, and rough touch. All fabrics were pretreated with NaOH. NaOH at the concentrations of 0, 0.25, 1.25, and 2.25mol/L, and cellulase at concentrations of 0, 1, 3 and 5g/L were used since the pretreatment of NaOH has a higher efficiency of weight loss than $Na_2CO_3,\;K2CO_3$ and Triton X-100. The ratio of weight loss, tensile strength, stiffness, drape property, and surface appearance were measured in order to evaluate the efficiency of the washing treatment on fabrics. Kenaf/cotton-blended fabrics exhibited more rigid and rough features than cotton fabrics. A cotton jersey showed significant differences in the degree of stiffness and drape properties. When all fabrics were treated with 1.25mol/L of NaOH and 3g/L of cellulase, kenaf/cotton-blended fabrics showed a higher retention ratio of tensile strength than cotton fabrics after washing despite the increased weight l08s of kenaf-blended fabrics compared to cotton fabrics. The ratio of weight loss for all fabrics was well correlated with flexibility. The washing treatment process made woven fabrics more flexible than knitted fabrics, because the stiffness of woven fabrics made the rubbing actions stronger. Kenaf/cotton-blended fabrics showed a significantly higher ratio of weight loss and more reduction in stiffness than cotton fabrics after the washing treatment. This might be due to the lack of cohesiveness and easy elimination from fabrics. The drape property of kenaf-blended fabrics was superior to cotton fabrics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• 제29권7호
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• pp.938-947
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• 2005

Kenaf basts were double retted by using water and enzyme. The best conditions were enzyme concentration $0.125\%$ and 1 day treatment at $50^{\circ}C$, 4 days treatment at $20^{\circ}C$. It was showed that the double rotting could be more economical and eco-friendly than just water rotting or enzyme rotting. Kenaf fibers have been cottonized by removing lignin and hemicellulose partially. In order to cottonize kenaf fiber, lignin of kenaf fibers were removed by sodium chlorite and then hemicellulose of kenaf fibers were removed by sodium hydroxide. The cottonizing phenomenon of kenaf fibers were was confirmed in transversal and longitudinal photograph of SEM. The tensile strength and crystallinity of cottonized fiber were investigated. The tensile strength and crystallinity were lower as the lignin and hemicellulose of kenaf fibers were less.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• 제60권3호
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• pp.44-55
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• 2010

This study was intended to develop some lounge wear ensembles of emotional design by using an eco-friendly material, Kenaf fabrics in line with the contemporary trend of valuing health and environment. With market survey on commercially available indoor clothing ensembles in the market, the designs of lounge wear ensembles being on sale via on/off-line routes were analyzed. Provided by Korea High Tech Textile Research Institute, Kenaf fabrics were employed to make 4 pieces of lounge wear for women (cardigan, T-shirt, slacks, vest) and 4 ones for toddlers. In addition, some housewives in their thirties or forties who lived in Seoul were asked to respond to a series of questionnaires concerning the prototypes made directly in order to evaluate consumer satisfaction with them. Although the consumer awareness of Kenaf fabrics is very low as far, this attempt to present the designs of lounge wear made of Kenaf to young housewives who have a lot of concern for and purchase experiences of eco-friendly materials is meaningful in the light of the possibility to popularize Kenaf which is not familiar as a textile material yet.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• 제29권11호
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• pp.1454-1464
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• 2005

The study was based on a three-stage, non-repetitive factorial experiment in which chemical-rotted kenaf fibers were treated separately with hydrogen peroxide concentrations of $0.5\%,\;1\%\;and\;2\%$, with pH solutions of 7, 9 and 11, and treatment times of 30, 60 and 90 minutes. Under optimal conditions, the study was conducted to determine the strength and elongation of kenaf fibers by the addition of chelators, penetrants and surfactants. The hydrogen peroxide concentration, solution pH and treatment time directly affected the strength of kenaf fibers. The hydrogen peroxide concentration, solution pH affected the elongation of kenaf fibers. It was found, however, that the interaction between pH and treatment time, concentration and treatment time, concentration and treatment time and pH affected the strength of kenaf fibers. Also, It was found that the interaction between pH and concentration, concentration and treatment time, concentration and treatment time and pH affected the elongation of kenaf fibers. Under the hydrogen peroxide conditions of $2\%$ concentration, pH 11 and a treatment time of 60 minutes, there were no effects on the strength and elongation of kenaf fibers with the addition of chelator SP, CA.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.68-74
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• 2003

Kenaf(Hibiscus cannabinus L.) cultivar, Tainung 2, had been grown for 152 days at the experimental farm of Jinju National University, Gajoa-dong, Jinju-si, Kyongnam, Korea. The planting, growth rate, fertilization and structural characteristics as well as the cultivation and growth characteristics of kenaf, and the product usage were investigated. The narrowest diameter at kenaf bottom was 10 mm, the widest 42 mm and the average about 28 mm, and the shortest height 150 cm, the tallest 480 cm and the average about 350 cm. The weight of a core fraction was 68.1％ and a bast fraction 31.9％. The weight ratio of core material to bast fiber was 2.31. The weight ratio of dry stem was 73.5％ and that of leaves 26.5％. The weight of dry plant produced in 1 $m^2$ was 1,467 g, and about 1,052 g of stem could be used for the commercial purpose, The application of fertilizers resulted in the increase of the growth rate of the diameter at plant bottom and the height. Bast fiber, phloem ray and cortex parenchyma cell were observed in bast, and vessel, wood fiber and ray in core.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.125-128
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• 2012

Kenaf (Hibiscuc cannabinus L.) is a renewable resource for industry and kenaf lignin is syringyl-guaiacyl lignin. The electron beam irradiated on kenaf core various doses range from 200 to 1,000 kGy to improve delignification. The yield of lignin, which is 2.53 g from 10 g of electron beam irradiated kenaf core. A comparison extracted lignin between from native kenaf core and electron beam irradiated kenaf core was then studied through chemical structure and bonding property by a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Thermal stability of the extracted-purified lignin was performed via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). These results were explained that electron beam irradiation increased performance of extracting efficiency.