Today's KNOWLEDGE Share: KENAF

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

KENAF:

Kenaf, or Hibiscus Cannabinus, belongs to the Malvacean family and producers are based around the globe, although India and China are the major producers. Often compared with jute and hemp, kenaf applications could be classified as it follows:

• traditional uses, low value: rope, twine, clothing, animal bedding and feed

• Innovative Applications, medium value: Paper, engineered wood, environmental mat, oil and liquid absorbent material

• Kenaf Oil: edible oil, can also be used in cosmetics, lubricants and production of biofuel

• Composite materials, high value: kenaf fibres can be used as filler or reinforcement, with either epoxy or thermoplastics

Apart from these applications kenaf also shares its condition as a hardy plant with jute or hemp.

Kenaf puts more carbon into the soil than trees. It will also produce more wood fibers per acre than trees by a factor of 4-5 times more than fast growing trees over a 15-20 year period. Farmers utilizing their fields for growing kenaf can have an impact on the harvesting of trees. Kenaf is a cost saving resource and a pollution reduction in the process of making paper products. The reduction of bleach in the process of whitening the fibers and this reduction means less bleach going into our natural waterways.

Kenaf fibers may be modified either physically or chemically and used for either thermoset or thermoplastic polymer systems. Fields of use for kenaf fiber-reinforced composites include construction, automotive, corrosion resistance, electrical, marine, and transportation.

Kenaf has an ability to absorb huge quantities of CO2, the global warming gas, comparatively 3 times more than a tree. It can convert more CO2 than a tropical rain forest during its growth. Further, it can also improve the soil structure while fixing soil nutrients. It is biodegradable, as no chemicals or pesticides are used during its cultivation.

Fibers spun from kenaf are extremely long, making it a good choice for weaving fabrics. The plant’s stalk contains less than 30% lignin, making its fiber extraction easier when compared with other natural fibers. Kenaf fibres find useful applications in making knit and woven textiles. These fibres blend very well with cotton and find commercial and healthy applications in making outerwear owing to its natural absorbency, and fire-retardant abilities.

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