General practices to enhance bast fiber composite properties for state of art applications – a review

Composite materials are revolutionizing to realize the demanding needs of aeronautical, automobile, construction, chemical, and biomedical applications. The natural fiber composite is chosen as one of the best choices among composites due to its sustainable goods like eco-friendly nature, better properties and Greenhouse gas (GHG) balance. Furthermore, the bast fiber composites are identified as promising industrial composites based on the availability, strength-to-weight ratio, manufacturing ease, and economics for commercialization. However, product quality and production volume significantly influence commercial adoption of the bast fiber composites. Especially the product quality primarily suffer due to climatic conditions, damage while harvesting, extraction method, retting issues, and extraction location. Consequently, this review aims to provide an overview of the bast fibers & their composites, properties enhancement techniques, overall mechanical behaviours and thermal stability with suitable applications.

Scientific Analysis and Conservation Treatment on the Buddhist Scriptures of Paper Relics Excavated from Sum Tolgoi, Mongolia

This study analyzed the composition and structure of materials with Buddhist paper scriptures excavated from architectural sites in ‘Sum Tolgoi’ of the 17th century and carried out conservation treatment base on the result of the analysis. The scriptures were covered in dust and foreign sub stances, and were so crumpled that it was impossib le to identify the form. The damage, loss, and discoloration have been identified. Buddhist scriptures written in Tibetan used indigo and ink sticks on paper as a result of UV-Vis analysis, and ink sticks as black character materials from scriptures written ancient Mongolian. SEM-EDS and Micro-XRF analyses revealed that the outlines were drawn with red lines using a mix of Minium (Pb3O4) and Cinnabar (HgS), or Cinnabar (HgS) alone, and the contents of the scriptures were written with silver paint. Silver chloride (AgCl) and Calcium (Ca) were identified in the silver paint component of the characters, while Calcium and Orpiment (As2S3) were identified in the yellow lines. Concerning the paper ground, Buddhist scriptures written in ancient Mongolian were characterized by herbal plant fiber and bast fiber, and those written in Tibetan, by bast fiber. Radiocarbon dating indicates that the paper for the scriptures was produced b etween the 15th and 17th centuries. Conservation treatment of the scriptures was carried out based on the experiment on the production of pre-coated paper and how to coat that to prevent the second damage due to the deformation and fragility of the excavated paper. The scriptures were preserved and mounted, and a neutral box was made to identify the contents of the scriptures recorded on both sides after the treatment. This conservation treatment is the result of a study that applied new conservation treatment materials and methods according to the principle of conservation treatment reversibility.

Identification of proteins associated with bast fiber growth of ramie by differential proteomic analysis

Background Ramie is an important fiber-producing crop in China, and its fibers are widely used as textile materials. Fibers contain specialized secondary cellular walls that are mainly composed of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. Understanding the mechanism underlying the secondary wall biosynthesis of fibers will benefit the improvement of fiber yield and quality in ramie. Results Here, we performed a proteomic analysis of the bark from the top and middle parts of the stem, where fiber growth is at different stages. We identified 6971 non-redundant proteins from bast bark. Proteomic comparison revealed 983 proteins with differential expression between the two bark types. Of these 983 proteins, 46 were identified as the homolog of known secondary wall biosynthetic proteins of Arabidopsis, indicating that they were potentially associated with fiber growth. Then, we proposed a molecular model for the secondary wall biosynthesis of ramie fiber. Furthermore, interaction analysis of 46 candidate proteins revealed two interacting networks that consisted of eight cellulose biosynthetic enzymes and seven lignin biosynthetic proteins, respectively. Conclusion This study sheds light on the proteomic basis underlying bast fiber growth in ramie, and the identification of many candidates associated with fiber growth provides important basis for understanding the fiber growth in this crop.

Dyeing of Agro-Waste Castor Fibres with Eclipta Prostrata Dye

Fiber extracted from castor plant is a bast fiber like hemp, jute, flax and kenaf. Based on the chemical constitutes; physical and chemical properties of these eco-friendly fibers extracted from agro waste are used in making different materials like union fabrics and reinforcement materials. In the present study, castor fiber was dyed with Eclipta prostrata plant extract and evaluated for colorfastness and color strength properties. The colorfastness properties of castor fiber dyed with pre, simultaneous and post-mordanting methods using four mordants aluminum potassium sulfate (commonly called alum) (KAI(SO4)2 .12H2O),stannous Chloride (SnCl2), copper sulfate (CuSO4) and ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) were tested. The colorfastness to light, wash, crock and perspiration was found to be good for CuSO4 and FeSO4 dyed fibers. Color strength properties for the samples were also assessed and found to be good.

Effect of freezing seeds of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) on germination, growth and development of plants

A comparative study of the effect of different storage regimes of seeds (at + 5 ° С, -20 ° С and under deep freezing conditions at -196 ° С) of a valuable bast fiber culture - kenaf - Hibiscus cannabinus L. on their viability and the development of plants from them in field conditions. Freezing increases the laboratory and field germination of kenaf seeds, and also increases the energy of their germination. It did not cause the appearance of non-viable, ugly seedlings and plants, as well as their death. Plants went through a full development cycle and set full-fledged seeds. Biometric parameters of plants obtained from thawed seeds and control ones are very close. Cryopreservation is a promising way of storing seeds of the studied species, since it ensures longer periods of preservation of their viability. Keywords: KENAF, SEED BANKS, LONG-TERM SEED STORAGE REGIMES, CRYOCONSERVATION