Preparation and Characterization of Textile-Grade Long Cellulose Fibers and Their Yarns from Windmill Palm

Abstract

Windmill palm fiber (WPF) is an abundant source of cellulose fiber that can be used in textile manufacturing. In this study, acid-alkali palm fiber and acid-alkali-enzyme palm fiber were prepared to create blended yarns. The morphology, chemical composition, physical structural parameters, and tensile properties of the WPF samples and yarns were studied. The results indicated that both the acid-alkali and acid-alkali-enzyme treatments can be used as degumming methods to prepare windmill palm textile-grade long fibers with spinning ability. After chemical treatment, the cellulose content of WPF increased to more than 60%, up from 34%. However, the line densities of the acid-alkali and acid-alkali-enzyme textile-grade long fibers decreased to 5.29 ± 1.00 tex and 4.52 ± 0.82 tex, respectively. For the enzyme-treated fiber, a stratification phenomenon of the fiber cell walls and a decrease in the modulus were observed. The palm/cotton yarn had a high tensile strength and strip uniformity.