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Title: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN RETTING AND MEASUREMENT OF FIBER QUALITY IN NATURAL FIBERS: PROS AND CONS

Author
item DODD, R - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
item Akin, Danny

Submitted to: Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and the Biocomposites
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/25/2005
Publication Date: 5/15/2005
Citation: Dodd, R.B., Akin, D.E. 2005. Recent developments in retting and measurement of fiber quality in natural fibers: pros and cons. In: Mohanty, A.K., Misra, M., Drzal, L. T., editors. Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and the Biocomposites.Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. p. 141-157.

Interpretive Summary: Currently, considerable interest exists for the use of natural fibers like flax for a variety of industrial applications. The US, while using a high amount of such fibers, does not have a flax fiber industry. Researchers in USDA collaborated with university scientists in a research project concerning: improved retting, processing, and standards development. This paper is a review of research to date for an audience desiring information on natural fibers. The outcome will be sharing of information and development of associations for furthering research and application of flax fibers.

Technical Abstract: Variations of properties of natural fibers are a barrier to large-scale applications because of its impact on the processing efficiency and quality of the final product. Retting of the fibers is a process that causes much of this variation. Enzyme retting replaces dew retting in the field by applying an enzyme formulation at the central processing facilities. Research into the formulation and application process indicates that commercial enzymes and chelators are available that give satisfactory results. A committee D13.17 Flax and Linen was formed in ASTM International. Subcommittees were formed for each quality parameter with the goal of writing an ASTM standard. When in place these standards will allow the trading of fibers with known parameters that can be verified with standardized procedures.