Natural fibres are becoming increasingly important owing to their desirable environmental properties. The tensile behaviors of these fibres are affected by plant growth and processing conditions and their micro structure. These properties can be improved by chemically modifying the fibres for a variety of uses.
Natural fibres are becoming increasingly important owing to their desirable environmental properties. The tensile behaviors of these fibres are affected by plant growth and processing conditions and their micro structure. These properties can be improved by chemically modifying the fibres for a variety of uses.
Natural fibres are becoming increasingly important owing to their desirable environmental properties. The tensile behaviors of these fibres are affected by plant growth and processing conditions and their micro structure. These properties can be improved by chemically modifying the fibres for a variety of uses.
(BIT-TBI) PROJECT PROPOSAL BANNARI AMMAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNLOGY (An Autonomous Institution Affii!t"# to Ann! Uni$"%sit& of T"'(noo)&* Coim+!to%" A,,%o$"# +& AICTE A''%"#i!t"# +& NBA N"-#"(i !n# NAAC -it( .A/ G%!#") S!t(&!m!n)!!m 0 123456 E%o#" 7ist%i't T!mi N!#u In#i!8 SUBMITTE7 TO T(" H"!# !n# A#$iso%* NSTE7B 7i$ision 7",!%tm"nt of S'i"n'" !n# T"'(noo)& T"'(noo)& B(!-!n N"- M"(%!ui Ro!# N"- 7"(i 665561 AGA9E AMERICANA L8: A FIBRE FOR FUTURE TECHNICAL AN7 IN7USTRIAL APPLICATIONS INTRO7UCTION Natural fibres are becoming increasingly important owing to their desirable environmental properties. The tensile behaviors of these fibres are affected by plant growth and processing conditions and their micro structure. These properties can be improved by chemically modifying the fibres for a variety of uses. The effect of processing conditions such as retting duration, mercerization and hydrothermal treatment influences on the tensile properties of these fibres. Agave genus has a millenary relationship with the history of Mexico, as it has been useful for a wide range of applications among Mexican cultural development, from alimentary purposes to medicinal, religious, textile, construction, and even ornamental ones. The genus belongs to the order Asparagales and to the Agavaceae family, and more than 2 species plus !" infra specific categories have been identified, from which "#$ are found in Mexico, being this country the center of origin of this genus. There are around %&# species of Agave endemic to Mexico. 'ome agaves are mainly used to produce alcoholic beverages such as Mezcal (A. angustifolia) A. potatorum) A. salmiana*, 'otol (A. dasylirion) +asilyrion ssp.*, ,acanora (A. angustifolia) A. potatorum) A. pacifica*, -ul.ue (A. salmiana*, and Te.uila (A. te.uilana*. Natural aguamiel or /uices obtained from cores or 0pi1as2, fresh or coo3ed, can be used to obtain polysaccharides, agave fructans, high fructose syrup, biofuel or Maillard compounds. Agave fibrous wastes also can be used as source of paper4ma3ing fibers and fertilizers. 'ome agaves are mainly used in fibre production such as A.'isalana and A.Americana. AGA9E AMERICANA L PLANT Agave Americana 5. is a monocotyledon plant, which belongs to the amaryllidaceae family (6igure %*. This species of Agave originates from 7entral America and is abundantly available in several regions of North Africa. The basic fiber of Agave American 5. is hard and is derived from the leaf structure of the plant. 8p until the %9#s, it was used by the local people in North Africa to ma3e ropes and cordage. The leaves of Agave Ameri cana 5. present a composite structure with an organic matrix and reinforcement composed of cellulose micro4fibers, which show different 3inds of chemical bonding such as covalent, hydrogen or :an der ;aals bonds. 6igure % Agave Americana 5. plant. The organic matrix is composed of several components including hemicelluloses, pectin matter, lignin and gums. The reinforcing fibers are mainly composed of cellulose, but after extracting them from the matrix, the other elements of the matrix can be found. These fibers are presented as fibrous bundles called technical fibers. The study of physical characteristics of the technical fibers of Agave Americana 5. shows that the count is 2! tex, the density is %.&& g<cm& and the length is up to %.# m. This fiber has a high rupture strain ranging from &9 to !9$ and an initial modulus around ! =-a. +ue to its strong mechanical properties, Agave technical fibers have been used for a long time in the rope industry. 'ome studies were interested in using technical Agave fibers in composite materials. FIBRE CHARACTERISATON Mo%,(oo)i'! ,%o,"%ti"s The agave Americana 5. fibres are white to yellowish in colour, and have a hard touch due to the existence of lignin on their surface. ;e can also observe longitudinal strea3s which are characteristics of long vegetable fibres (6igure 2a*. ,y examining these technical fibres with an '>M ('canning >lectron Microscope*, we can see a ?composite@ structure where Aultimate fibres are held together by stic3y and waxy substances to finally form a technical fibre with section forms which are difficult to define. The ultimate fibres show oval and irregular sections with a large lumen (6igure 2b*. 6igure 2a. 5ongitudinal and cross4section views of an Agave Americana 5. fibre 6igure 2b. (5eft* '>M picture of individual fibre showing the helical structure of this fibre and length of a spiral side. (Bight* '>M picture of individual fiber showing the ribbon shape of the fiber and highlighting its two axis (a* and (b*. P(&si'! ,%o,"%ti"s +ensity (g<cm&* %.&C 6ineness (tex* 2!. 7rystallinity ($* #%.2 Tenacity (cN<tex* &!.# Mean brea3ing 'trength (g* #2& Dnitial modulus (cN<tex* C".2 >longation ($* %!. 7ellulose ($* #9. 5ignin ($* 2.# Eemicellulose ($* &F.! 5ength (cm* up to %#. The Agave Americana 5. fibres are coarse fibres with an average linear density e.ual to 2! tex, a diameter (calculated by assuming the cylindrical form of the fibre* e.ual to %# Gm, and an apparent diameter measured on a pro/ection microscope e.ual to 2C& Gm. The pro/ected apparent diameter distribution of these fibres is symmetric, uni4 modal and ad/ustable to a normal law with an error limit e.ual to #$. 7ompared to other fibres from the same family , the agave Americana 5. fibres are light, with a density e.ual to %.&C measured at 2%H7 using the gradient column techni.ue. Also, in comparison with other textile fibres, the agave Americana 5. fibres are more hydrophilic than cotton, flax, and other vegetable fibres, with a regain e.ual to %"$. At this point, they are comparable to /ute and wool fibres. M"'(!ni'! +"(!$io% These mechanical properties of Agave Americana shows a specific behaviour, which recalls that of rubber, with great extensibility (#$* before rupture. Most vegetable fibres do not exceed %$. The tenacity of agave Americana 5. fibres is near those of vegetable fibres such as sisal or flax) their initial modulus is much less than those of the other natural fibres. The rupture wor3 is higher than that of other natural fibres, especially vegetable ones. 6igure &. Agave Americana 5eafs and 6ibres PROCESS SE;UENCE OF FIBRE E<TRACTION Agave Americana fibre is extracted from the leaves by mechanical and chemical methods. Mechanical extraction is mainly employed generally in consideration with environmental issues.process se.uence of Agave Americana fibre production is given below in figure 6igure !. -rocess se.uences of Agave Americana fibre production Agave Americana 5eaves are collected from the plant using long 3nives and transported to the crushing machine. The leaves are crushed using the crushing machine and crushed leaves are dried.The dried fibres are combed for removal of short fibres and unromoved leave matters. =rading of fibres are done based on color and length of the fibre. The picture of lab model machine used for crushing is given in figure #, EAB:>'TDN= I6 5>A:>' 7B8'EDN= I6 5>A:>' ;A'EDN= I6 6D,B>' >JTBA7T>+ 6BIM 5>A:>' +BKDN= -A7LDN= 7IM,DN= =BA+DN= 6igure #. 5ab model 7rushing Machine for Agave Americana fibre extraction 6igure C. 7rushing of Agave Americana leaves COMPARISON OF AGA9E AMERICANA =ITH OTHER NATURAL FIBRES P%i'" 'om,!%ison -rice of the Agave Americana fibre is expected to be very less compared to similar natural fibres li3e >ut"* sis!* f!? !n# ("m,. The table given below shows the comparison of mar3et prices of similar fibers '.No 6ibre Name Approximate -rice < Lg % Agave Americana & (>stimated* 2 'isal "# & Eemp ! ! Mute 2" # 6lax " Cuti$!tion %"@ui%"m"nts All the natural fibres re.uire fertilized land with very good irrigation facility preferably near to the rivers because of more re.uirement of water for fibre extraction. ,ut Agave Americana can be cultivated in a dry landscape which receives very less rainfall and also no need of retting process which re.uires huge .uantity of water and more wor3 forces. P(&si'! ,%o,"%ti"s 'om,!%ison Length 6ibre length upto %.# m can be extracted from Agave Americana fibre which is comparable with similar fibres. Strength Tenacity of Agave Americana fibre is around &# (cN<tex* which is &# $ higher than steel wire with same weight. Morphological nature This fibre has a special characterizes of hollowness in nature compared to other natural leaf and bast fibres APPLICATIONS As this fibre has higher strength and abrasion resistance properties can be used in the following applications %. Bopes 2. Twines &. 6ibre reinforced 7omposites for low weight mechanical components !. Nonwoven fabrics for civil and agriculture applications #. Abrasive pads and polishing pads. Eollow nature of the fibre can be utilized in the below products %. Acoustics proof materials in theaters , auditorium and automobiles 2. 6alse roofing in hot weather countries li3e Dndia ,iodegradability of this fbre leads to the applications wherever the fibre has to be degraded after some time li3e artificial land scapes, erosion control etc. The below picture shows the needle punched nonwoven fabric made from Agave Americana fibre. 6igure ". Needle punched Non4;oven fabric made from Agave Americana fibre FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS OF FIBRE PRO7UCTION Cost of ,%o#u'tion fo% 6555 A)s of fi+%" Approximate weight of leaves is N %. Lgs 6ibre yield percentage N !. $ Amount of leaves re.uired N 2#, Nos -lants per acre of land N %&, Nos Number of leaves yield < acre < year N C, Nos Amount payable to farmer N O %, Earvesting and transport N O C, -rocessing cost N O #," 7rushing N O % ;ashing N O % +rying N O % 7ombing N O % >lectricity bill N O % -ac3ing 7harges N O ! ;ater 7harges N O & Iverhead expenses N O 2# Total >xpenses N O 2&,2 Tot! 'ost of ,%o#u'tion of fi+%" B C)s : D E28E5 S"in) P%i'" B C)s : D 25855 Total 'ales N O &, =ross -rofit N O C,F P%ofit B C)s : D 1835 The farmer who has # acres of land can earn O %, , < year by planting this crop. P%o#u'tion '!,!'it& of t(" m!'(in" 7rushing speed N 2 3gs < min 7rushing capacity per day N 9,C 3gs 6ibre extraction < +ay N ! 3gs 6ibre >xtraction per month N %,! 3gs Mont(& tu%no$"% : D 2* 6E*555 Mont(& P%ofit : D F5*FE5 BU7GET 7ETAILS: The process involves three stages li3e 7rushing, ;ater /et washing, drying and combing. The details of the budget is given below, =o%Ain) C!,it! fo% 6 mont( '. NI. DT>M' B>P8DB>+ BAT> I6 MAT>BDA5' A--BIJ. 7I'T ( O * CRUSHING UNIT % 7alendar rolls 2 Nos. (#3g x 2 Q % 3g* #2 #2 2 6eeding conveyer 2 & 5oading >lements R 'prings F nos C! ! 5i.uor exit frame ( 'teel -late & 3gs* F# 2## # Machine '3eleton ( ! Lgs* #2 2F C =ear and -ulleys % " Motor % % F 5eaves storage bins % Nos % % 9 Trolleys for transport & Nos # %# % 5athe charges & Total Amount 6EGGH5 =ATER JET CLEANING % =uiding Bollers ! Nos. (2 3g x ! Q F 3g* #2 !%C 2 'upport -lates ('tainless steel* 2 Nos. (23g* % 2 & =ears and auxiliaries F Nos %# %2 ! Machine '3eleton ( 2 Lgs* #2 %% # ,lunt needle bars C Nos %# 9 C ;ater Met nozzles C Nos %# 9 " ;ater -ump # # F 6ibres storage bins # Nos % # 9 5athe 7harges ! Total Amount 31E15 7RYING % +rying grids with clamps ( " Lgs* % " 2 Machine 6rame 2 Lgs #2 %! & +rying 6an 2 Nos %# & ! 5athe 7harges %# Total Amount 1E455 COMBING MACHINE % 7onveyer belt 2 pairs "# %# 2 =rip -lates ! Nos ( '. 'teel % Lgs* F# F# & -in point comber 2 Nos ( 'teel %2 3gs* #2 C2! ! Motor % % # =ears and ,elts %# C 5athe 7harges & " Auxiliaries % Total Amount G4F45 'heet Metal ;or3 for machine 7over 25555 >lectrical -anel wor3 EH555 Transport charges E5555 Ither >xpenses EH555 G%!n# Tot! 4*F2*2H5 Baw material for % month production N O 99,F! (2, !9,C leafs S .! < 5eaf* 5abour 'alary N O FF,! Iverhead >xpenses N O 2C, Total ;or3ing 7apital N O 2, %!,2! Total -ro/ect 7ost N O C, F",#9 P%o>"'t ,!&+!'A P"%io# : 668H mont(s CONCLUSION Nowadays development of Technical Textile field is becoming a emerging field in textiles. Leeping the ecological issues in mind May countries are restricting the applications of mamade fibre. 'o, demands for the natural fibres are increasing in the Technical Textile applications. Eigher strength, abrasion resistance properties and hollow nature of Agave fibre suits in many applications li3e ropes, composites, abrasive pads, acoustics proof and thermal insulation materials. This fibre has low manufacturing cost and locally available in Dndia. the farmer society will get benefit from the plant by low investment and high return compared to other fibre crops. 7urrent researches going on this fibre will more application for this fibre and increase the mar3et potential.