Sameen Ruqia Imadi, Isra Mahmood, and Alvina Gul Kazi

Contents

2.1 Introduction 28

2.2 Bamboo Fiber Preparation…………………………………………………………………………………….. 29

2.3 Bamboo Fiber Processing…………………………………………………………………………………….. 30

2.3.1 Processing by Rolling…………………………………………………………………………….. 31

2.3.2 Mechanical Comb Fiber Technology……………………………………………………………. 31

2.3.3 Degumming Defibrase System Technology by Explosion…………………………………… 31

2.3.4 Chemical Mechanical Processing Technology…………………………………………………. 32

2.3.5 Processing Technology by Cracking…………………………………………………………….. 32

2.4 Properties of Bamboo Fiber 32

2.4.1 Durability…………………………………………………………………………………………… 32

2.4.2 Elasticity…………………………………………………………………………………………… 33

2.4.3 Elongation…………………………………………………………………………………………. 33

2.4.4 Flexural Strength…………………………………………………………………………………… 33

2.4.5 Hardness…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 34

2.4.6 Impact Strength…………………………………………………………………………………….. 34

2.4.7 Linear Density……………………………………………………………………………………… 35

2.4.8 Moisture Absorption………………………………………………………………………………. 35

2.4.9 Specific Gravity……………………………………………………………………………………. 35

2.4.10 Specific Strength…………………………………………………………………………………… 36

2.4.11 Tensile Load………………………………………………………………………………………… 36

2.4.12 Tensile Modulus…………………………………………………………………………………… 36

2.4.13 Tensile Strength…………………………………………………………………………………… 37

2.4.14 Thermal Resistance………………………………………………………………………………… 38

2.4.15 Weight……………………………………………………………………………………………… 38

2.4.16 Biodegradability……………………………………………………………………………………. 38

S. R. Imadi • I. Mahmood • A. G. Kazi (*)

Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan e-mail: alvina_gul@asab. nust. edu. pk

K. R. Hakeem et al. (eds.), Biomass and Bioenergy: Processing and Properties, 27

DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-07641-6_2, © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014

2.5 Applications of Bamboo Fibers………………………………………………………………………………. 39

2.5.1 Biofuel Production…………………………………………………………………………………… 39

2.5.2 Construction Material………………………………………………………………………………. 39

2.5.3 Food and Feedstock…………………………………………………………………………………. 40

2.5.4 Musical Instruments…………………………………………………………………………………. 40

2.5.5 Paper Industry……………………………………………………………………………………….. 40

2.5.6 Pharmaceutical Industry…………………………………………………………………………….. 41

2.5.7 Textile Industry………………………………………………………………………………………. 41

2.5.8 Cosmetic Industry…………………………………………………………………………………… 42

2.5.9 Sports Industry………………………………………………………………………………………. 42

2.6 Conclusion and Future Prospects…………………………………………………………………………….. 42

References ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 42

Abstract Bamboo fiber is a cellulosic fiber that is regenerated from bamboo plant. It is a great prospective green fiber with outstanding biodegradable textile material, having strength comparable to conventional glass fibers. Bamboo used for fiber preparation is usually 3-4 years old. Fiber is produced through alkaline hydrolysis and multi-phase bleaching of bamboo stems and leaves followed by chemical treat­ment of starchy pulp generated during the process. Bamboo fiber has various micro­gaps, which make it softer than cotton and increase its moisture absorption. They are elastic, environment-friendly, and biodegradable. The fiber is bacteriostatic, anti­fungal, antibacterial, hypoallergenic, hydroscopic, natural deodorizer, and resistant against ultraviolet light. Furthermore, it is highly durable, stable and tough and has substantial tensile strength. Due to its versatile properties, bamboo fibers are used mainly in textile industry for making attires, towels, and bathrobes. Due to its anti­bacterial nature, it is used for making bandages, masks, nurse wears, and sanitary napkins. UV-proof, antibiotic and bacteriostatic curtains, television covers, and wallpapers and many other things are also prepared from bamboo fibers to lessen the effects of bacteria and harm of ultra violet radiations on human skin. Bamboo fibers are also used for decoration purpose.

Keywords Bamboo • Bamboo fibers • Tensile properties • Mechanical properties • Processing

2.1 Introduction

Bamboo is a common term applied to approximately 1,250 species of large woody grasses, ranging from 10 cm to 40 m in height (Scurlock et al. 2000). Bamboo is considered to be the second largest resource of forestry in the whole world because of its rapid growth potential. Bamboo forests are distributed extensively in tropical and sub-tropical climates in frigid zones. The area covered by bamboo forestry is estimated to be around 20 million hectares. China is considered to be rich in bam­boo resources and there are about 40 families and 400 species of bamboo found only in China. This rich resource of bamboo in China covers an area of about 7 million hectare; 35 % of the area covered by bamboo forests in the whole world (Yao and Zhang 2011). Bamboo is called a cash crop because the time required for its cultivation is less, can be grown in deprived regions and has a variety of uses. Furthermore, the plant is harvested after 3-4 years (Erdumlu and Ozipek 2008). Bamboo is observed to produce an adult tree in only 1 year.

Bamboo is supposed to be one of the best functionally gradient composite mate­rials available. It is observed that in a piece of bamboo, 1 mm2 area near outer periphery contains approximately eight fibers and inner periphery contains two fibers (Ray et al. 2005). Bamboo fiber is a new kind of natural material, which has high potential in textile field due to some of its specific properties (Liu and Hu

2008) . Bamboo fibers are also known as breathable fabric as they resemble puffball of light and cotton in untwisted form (Yao and Zhang 2011). These fibers are cel — lulosic in nature and are obtained from natural, reproducible resource of bamboo plants. Bamboo fibers are made from pulp of the plant, which is extracted from the plant’s stems and leaves.

Total culm of bamboo comprises of 60 % parenchyma, 40 % fibers, and 10 % conducting tissues (vessels and sieve tubes). Bamboo culm constitutes 60-70 % of fiber content by weight (Liese 1992). Bamboo fibers consist of cellulose, hemi- cellulose, and lignin in the ratio 2:1:1 (Tung et al. 2004; Fukushima et al. 2003). Bamboo monofilament has four layers where crystallized cellulose micro-fibrils (MF) are aligned longitudinally with reverence to the axis of the fiber. MFCs are bonded together with lignin and hemi-cellulose (Fukushima et al. 2003). Lignin is hydrophobic and plays an important role in formation of fibers in the form of matrix whilst MFCs play a role in reinforcement. The overall structure appears to have a hydrophilic surface with hydrophobic lignin core (Jain et al. 1992).

Bamboo fibers have good properties of moisture adsorption, moisture desorp­tion, and air permeability (Yao and Zhang 2011). Being natural they are available in abundance, have high strength, are biodegradable and renewable (Deshpande et al. 2000). The current scenario of research and investigation on bamboo fibers is lim­ited because of limited extraction of fibers from bamboo plant (Jain et al. 1992; Jindal 1988).