A REVIEW ON THE USE Of ESTABRAGH

(MILKWEED) FIBERS IN NONWOVEN

APPLICATIONS
MohammadAmin SARLİ 1, Deniz DURAN 2
1,2 Ege University, Engineering faculty, Textile Engineering, İzmir, Turkey
(e-mail: mohammadaminsarli@mail.ege.edu.tr)
(e-mail: deniz.duran@ege.edu.tr)
Abstract 3. Application of Milkweed Fibers in Nonwovens
Milkweed fiber (Its native Persian name is Estabragh) is a natural fiber which is a valuable plant that is easy Nonwovens is the fastest growing sector in textile materials. They are flat, porous sheets or web structures. Nonwoven

to grow in dry and arid climates, requires minimum water, and can be harvested for floss twice every year.
.
These fibers possess hollow structure and the smooth surface. The hollow structure of Estabragh fibers is
responsible for their low density; and incorporation of these fibers in different functional areas such as
nonwovens, composites, sound absorbing materials, sport garments and medical textiles would be of
interest. In this Review, Milkweed fibers studied for their potential applications as nonwoven material. Also in
this review presents a good deal of information pertaining to Estabragh (Milkweed) fibers such as fiber
morphology and characteristics, properties and summaries the various researches initiated with Milkweed
fiber nonwovens in different field of applications like sound absorption material, soil erosion control material,
medical and technical textile, filtration media, etc.
fabrics of ideal materials are used as acoustical insulation products because they have high total surface area [11]. The
Milkweed fibers extracted from the Milkweed plants stems or seedpods have been identified prehistorically and utilized
as the textile raw materials, especially in different regions of the United States and southern Canada. These fibers were
also used for food and medical applications [12]. Milkweed floss which are widely used in textile, water safety equipment,
insulation, upholstery and mattress products as a result of their softness and buoyancy. Milkweed seed floss was
gathered and used as fill in “Mae West” life jackets for the World War II effort. Because of their hydrophobic nature and
hollow structure, Milkweed fibers were employed as the raw material in life jacket manufacturing during the Second
World War [13]. Gharehaghaji and et.al studied the mechanical damage to Estabragh fibers in the production of thermo
bonded Layers. This work was designed to find the likely mechanism of Estabragh fiber failure and the effect of

Keywords: Estabragh, Milkweed, Natural fibers, Nonwoven, Nonwoven applications hollowness on the mechanical behavior. The results of a typical stress–strain curve and SEM of single Estabragh fibers
show that the hollowness, variable thickness, and shape of the cross-sectional area of Estabragh fibers mainly affect the
1. Introduction fracture phenomenon. The results show that the fiber undergoes tensile stresses deforms into a rectangular shape due

These days, traditional natural fibers, including Cotton, Hemp, Flax and Jute, have being seeing more to the stress concentration at the thin walls of the fibers. Furthermore, the fracture starts from the outer surface of the
demand internationally, while other fibers such as Hemp and Milkweed are starting to emerge into more fiber and develops toward the inner surface in a plane perpendicular to the fiber axis. Another result is in carding process
developed nonwovens areas. One of the natural fibers increasing its role in the nonwovens industry is which was illustrated that fiber shortening was declined with the percentage of PET fibers increasing, while the mean
milkweed. Milkweed floss is a silky white seed with a resilient hollow tubes that looks similar to a straw. The tenacity shows a significant drop in the fiber. Consequently, the amount of damage in this process was law but serious.
presence of hollow channel along the fiber length is responsible for their lightweight and good insulation Estabragh/PET layer shows lower bending rigidity that makes it more comfortable to use, and more useful in the sun
properties [1]. Because of the fibers’ ecological and chemical benefits, numerous technical application fields protective clothing industry due to its higher UV protection. Finally it is illustrate that some properties of the produced
could be considered for the eco-friendly and nonallergenic textiles made of milkweed fibers especially in layers, including moisture absorption, ultraviolet absorption, and bending length, are reported [14]. Hassanzadeh have
production of medical goods Since morphological aspects as well as physical and mechanical properties of also investigated the acoustical performance of Estabragh hollow fibers blended with polypropylene fibers in forms of
the milkweed fibers significantly affect their functional behavior during their end uses, here in this review needle punched nonwovens. They concluded that increasing the Estabragh fibers content in blend significantly leads to
paper it is aimed to summarize all the available information regarding the fibers’ characteristics and properties increase nonwovens sound absorbency. Numerous researches on designing the light-weight nonwovens as suitable
and nonwoven applications in thermal and acoustic insulation Figure 1 represents the classifications of sound absorbing materials for automotive applications are also available [15]. Mahmoud investigated the effect of hollow
natural fibers from different origins. fibers component on acoustical performance of nonwoven structures. It was found that more sound was absorbed when
the percentage of hollow fibers in the blend increased. It should be stated that using natural fiber nonwoven presents
Natural fibers
ecological benefit such as saving energy in the production process which is very important for industries [16]. A study of
the insulation properties of various materials found that milkweed fiber owing to its hollow structure would possess
Organic Inorganic
significantly higher sound absorbency. Crews et al. investigated the potential application of milkweed fiber as insulation
material. They analyzed seven identical jackets filled with various materials on a per unit weight basis and measured the
Animal Plant Asbestos
thermal insulation, thickness, compression, resiliency and hand. They concluded that milkweed floss blended with down
had insulative properties similar to down [17]. Hasani et al. examined the effects of different thermal bonding process
Wool Fruit Steam Seed
variables such as Estabragh fiber ratio in blend, layer weight, needle punching density, thermal process temperature,
and calendering speed on uniaxial breaking force and bending rigidity of nonwovens produced from
Silk Coir Flax Cotton
Estabragh/polypropylene fiber blends were investigated using Taguchi method. The findings of the research showed that
the blend ratio of fibers, layer weight, and the applied temperature during the thermal bonding process significantly
Hemp Kapok
increased the nonwoven layer resistance against axial tensile forces [18]. However, the variables like punch density and

Jut Milkweed calendering speed had no significant effects on the breaking force values of the samples. In case of the samples’bending
rigidity, it was found that all the variables except the calendering speed have significant effects. To the extent the bending
Kenaf rigidity nature of nonwoven is concerned, it was noted that the mix proportion was the most influencing component. The

Figure 1. Natural fibers classifications [1].
2. Estabragh (Milkweed) Fibers
Milkweed is a valuable plant that is easy to grow in dry and arid climates, requires minimum water, and can
be harvested for floss twice every year [2]. Its native Persian name is estabragh. It is a soft-wooded, ever
green, perennial shrub [3]. In comparison to other natural or man-made fibers, the physical and mechanical
properties of Estabragh fibers are similar to other naturally grown fibers such as Rux fibers, which grow in the
USA and Southeast Asia, respectively. Figure 2 shows Estabragh fibers with their pods and hollow structure
of Estabragh fibers [4].
less number of holding point framed in the higher weighted layers realizes lessening in the resistance of the samples
against bending powers [19]. Sanaz Hassanzadeh et al. evaluated the effect of needle-punching process parameters on
the sound absorption properties of Estabragh/polypropylene needle-punched nonwoven [15]. They have evaluated the
predictor variables like fiber blend ratio, punch density, and areal density. Their outcomes articulated that samples with
higher extent of Estabragh fibers can be viewed as more effective means for noise absorption than the other proportion.
This increased sound absorption capacity of the nonwoven fabric was due to the hollow structure of Estabragh fibers. In
general, the geometry of fibers and their arrangement within the structure were the responsible for the acoustic
performance of nonwoven structures. Hence, the physical property of the constituent fibers of a nonwoven structure was
the main reason for the higher sound absorption nature of the assembly [20].

4. Conclusion
The Milkweed fibers have their own physical and mechanical properties based on the regions from which could be
extracted. In other word, the appearance and chemical compositions as well as their mechanical behavior are
significantly affected by the conditions of the soil and the environment The hollowness nature of Milkweeds is also
responsible for the fibers lightweight and their good insulation properties than other commercially used natural fibers.
Therefore, these fibers have a good potential to be used as the sound and thermal insulators. Considering this
characteristic Milkweed fibers also could be used as a high potential materials with oil-cleanup capability in comparison
with the commercially available synthetic materials. Capillary action through the long hollow channel of the fibers, which
Figure 2. Estabragh fibers with their pods and hollow structure of Estabragh [4]. generally occurs due to the hydrophobic interaction between the fibers surface and the water molecules, is the main
reason for the significant ability of Milkweeds in oil spills cleanup.
Milkweed is a Milkweed floss has been reported to have hollow structure that provides large interspatial area
to trap and retain oil [5]. Milkweed fiber comprise of 55% cellulose, 18% lignin [6]. Table 1 shows physical References
properties of milkweed fibers [7]. Milkweed floss is a unique natural fiber with a low density of about 0.9 1. Karthik, T., (2014). Studies on the spinnability of milkweed fibre blends and its influence on ring, compact and rotor yarn characteristics. Ph.D. thesis, Anna University.
2. Nourbakhsh, A., Ashori, A., and Kouhpayehzadeh, M., (2009). Composites, J. Reinforced Plast. Comp, 28(17), 2143-2149.
3. Bahreini, Z., Kiumarsi, A., (2008). Prog. Color Colorants Coat., 1, 19-26.
g/cm3 due to the presence of a completely hollow center [8]. Because of its low density, milkweed floss has 4. Nasser, R. A., Al-mefarrej, H. A., Khan, P. R., et al., (2012). Technological properties of Calotropis procera (AIT) wool and its relation to utilizations. Am Eurasian J Agric
Environ Sci, 12, 5-16.
been used as filling material in jackets to replace goose down [9].The fiber (floss) in the plant has been 5. Kopayashi, Y., Massuo, R., and Nishiyama, M., Patent No 52, Japanesh Patent 138.
6. Choi, H. M., Moreau, J. P., (1993). Oil sorption behaviour of various sorbents studied by sorption capacity measurement and environmental scanning electron
studied for use in textiles and filling materials [10]. microscopy. Microsc. Res. Technol., 25, 447-455.
7. Parmar, M. S., Mansi, B., and Rao, J. V., (2016). Milkweed blended fabrics and their thermal insulation and UV protection properties. Indian Journal of Fibre & Textile,
14.139.47.23.
Table 1. Properties of milkweed fibers. 8. Sakthivel, J. C., Mukhopadhyay, S., and Palanisamy, N. K., (2005). J Ind Text., 35, 63-76.
9. Crews, P. C., Sievert, S., and Woeppel, L. T., (1991). Text Res J, 61, 203-210.
Property Milkweed (Mw) 10. Shakyawar, D. B., Dagur, R. S., and Gupta, N. P., (1999). Indian J Fibre Text Res, 24, 264-268.
Fiber denier (ASTM D 1577) 0.8 11. Batra, S. K., Cook, F. L., (1992). The Nonwoven Fabrics Handbook, INDA Publications, Cary, NC.
12. Jeeshna, M.V., Manorama, S., and Paulsamy, (2009). Antimicrobial property of the medicinal shrub, Glycosmis pentaphylla. J Basic Appl Biol, 3, 25-27.
Fiber length, mm (ASTM D 5867) 28.9 13. Knudsen, H. D., (1990). Milkweed floss fiber for improving nonwoven products. In: Nonwovens conference proceedings (pp. 209-212). Peachtree Corners, GA: TAPPI.
Breaking strength, g (ASTM D 3822) 3.80 14. Gharehaghaji, A. A., Hayat, D. S., (2008). Mechanical Damage to Estabragh Fibers in the Production of Thermobonded Layers. J Appl Polymer Sci, 109, 3062-3069.
15. Hassanzadeh, S., Hasani, H., and Zarrebini, M., (2014). Analysis and Prediction of Noise Reduction Coefficient of Lightly-needled Estabragh/Polypropylene Nonwovens
Tenacity, g/den (ASTM D 3822) 2.7 Using Simplex Lattice Design. J Text Inst, 105, 256-263.
Density, g cm-3 (ISO 1183) 0.89 16. Abdelfattah, A., Mahmoud, G. E., and Eman, R.M., (2011). Using Nonwoven Hollow Fibers to Improve Cars Interior Acoustic Properties. Life Sci J, 8, 344-351.
17. Crews, P. C., Sievert, S. A., and Woeppel, L.T., (1991). Evaluation of milkweed floss as an insulative fill material. Text Res J, 61, 203-210.
Moisture regain, % (ASTM D 2495) 10.8 18. Hasani, H., Zarrebini, M., Zare, M., and Hassanzadeh, S., (2014). Evaluating the acoustic properties of Estabragh (Milkweed)/Hollow-Polyester nonwovens for
Elongation at break, % (ASTM D 3822) 1.5 automotive applications. Text Sci Eng. 4, 1-6.
19. Bahari, N., Hasani, H., Zarrebini, M., and Hassanzadeh, S., (2015). Investigating the effects of material and process variables on the mechanical properties of low-
density thermally bonded nonwovens produced from Estabragh (milkweed) natural fibers. Journal of Industrial Textiles, 46 (3), 719-736.
20. Tascan, M., (2005). Acoustical properties of nonwoven fiber network structures (Unpublished Ph.D. thesis). Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.