My Investigation on Natural Okra Fiber

MY OF THE PRESENT INVESTIGATION

Okra bast fibre is a lignocellulosic fibre which contains higher percentage of α-cellulose. So it is indeed a very fascinating field of research with unlimited future possibilities for improving the desired properties of the fibre. They are generally biodegradable but do not possess the necessary and sufficent properties desirable for engineering or commodity plastics. Besides, like other vegetable fibres okra bast fibre possess few weak points i.e., rub resistance, colour fastness, wash and wear properties and very much prone to creasing, possibly because of high degree of orientation of cellulose in the fibre. This defect of creasing of cellulosic fiber may be remedied remarkably by the crease-resisting process in which resins are synthesized within the cellulosic materials in different proportions. In order to improve the textile properties of okra bast fibre it is an urgent need to improve several properties such as whiteness, softness, washing, dyeing behaviour, colour fastness, light resistance, thermal resistance, etc. So an attempt has been made to improve those characteristics of okra fiber through chemical modification and dyeing.
In the view of the above considerations, the following efforts have been exerted in the present investigation:
> To synthesize acrylonitrile resin onto okra bast fibre are focused on fiber-surface treatment methods and the resultant effects on the physical and mechanical properties of the fibre. The modification of okra bast fibre with acrylonitrile was carried out at varying initiator concentration, catalyst concentration, modification time, modification temperature.
> FTIR was employed to assess the relation between structure and properties after modification.
> SEM was used to observe the microstructure and the surface morphology of treated and untreated okra bast fibre.
> The bleached and modified okra bast fibres have been dyed with Direct Red 28 and Direct Green 27 in presence of sodium sulphate as an electrolyte. Electrolyte is used for obtaining better hue and level dyeing.
> The colour strength and CIE lab values of dyed samples are measured in Macbeth CE-3100 spectrophotometer.
> The colour fastness undyed and dyed (bleached and modified) okra bast fibre have been studied on the exposure to sunlight, wishing, acid spotting, alkali spotting and heat.
> The effect of various influences such as heat and light on tensile strength of bleached and modified okra bast fibre and their dyed fibre has been studied.