A PROJECT PRESENTATION ON

TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES OF SUNN HEMP AND BANANA FIBRE IN AGRO-

TEXTILES
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
in
Textile Technology
By

Anushka Kumari (2008020610003)

Harsh Chaudhary(2008020610005)
Prateet anand(2108020619010)
Shivangi nath(2108020619016)
Under Guidance and Supervision of Submitted to:
Dr. Nidhi Sisodia
Department of Textile technology
Scientific Officer at NITRA

NITRA TECHNICAL CAMPUS, GHAZIABAD

AKTU , Lucknow
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to express our profound gratitude to Mr. M.S Parmar (Director) and Mr. Vivek
Agrawal (Dean) of Nitra Technical Campus for their contribution in the completion of my project
titled entitled “To explore the possibilities of Sunnhemp and Banana Fibre in Agro-textile”.

We would like to express my special thanks to our mentor Dr. Nidhi Sisodia (scientific officer),
for her time and efforts she provided throughout the partial completion of this project . Your useful
advice and suggestions were really helpful to us during the project’s completion. In this aspect, we
are eternally grateful to you.

We would like to acknowledge that this project was completed entirely by our team(Anushka
kumari , Harsh Chaudhary , Prateet anand and Shivangi nath ) and not by someone else.
 ABSTRACT

Geotextiles and agro textiles made of synthetic fibres have questionable environmental compatibility, and there are
other related issues as well. On the other hand, comparable products created from natural fibres have a shorter lifespan
but are more environmentally friendly, giving them an advantage over those made from synthetic fibres. Natural
fibres are healthy since they are biodegradable, annually renewable, and non-carcinogenic. Natural fibres degrade
within biological cycles of soil penetrability without causing pollution. The fibres that are breaking down help soil
retain moisture and improve permeability. Natural components easily combine with soil and raise its organic content,
fertility, and texture. Therefore, it is necessary to look for environmentally benign, renewable, widely accessible, and
financially viable alternatives. Banana and hemp fibre is a suitable raw material for geotextiles, and Agro textiles.
In this research we explore the possibility of banana and sunnhemp fibres in agro textiles. In this research optimization
of extraction procedure and dyeing behavior of sunnhemp and banana fiber were studied. Extracted fibres were
evaluated for physical and chemical properties. Development of Yarn by using Sunnhemp blend with cotton (60:40
for Sunnhemp) and Nonwoven products (Mulch Matt).
OBJECTIVES :

• To study the existing material/product used for soil erosion and crop cover
• To collect and cultivation of sunnhemp ,banana , jute ,and rice stubbler and
optimize their extraction process
• To evaluate the physical and chemical properties of optimized fiber and
develop the yarn using these fibers and their blends
• Development of product as per the standard methods and evaluate physical
and chemical properties using field trial
 INTRODUCTION
5

Technical textiles are defined as the textile materials and products used primarily for
their technical performance and functional properties rather than their aesthetic or
decorative characteristic. Depending on the product characteristics, functional
requirements and end use applications, these have been grouped in 12 segments.
 NEED OF THE STUDY 6

Synthetic materials such as , such as plastic

films , are commonly used in mulching and
crop cover applications in agriculture . While
they offer certain benefits , there are also certain
disadvantages associated with their use :
•Natural materials blend easily with soil and
increase the organic
content of soil, fertility and texture.
• need for search for eco-friendly, renewable,
abundantly available
and economically viable alternatives.
•Sunhemp and banana fiber is one of the
appropriate raw materials
for Geotextiles and Agro-textiles
• Synthetic materials, such as plastic films, are commonly used in mulching and crop cover applications in
agriculture. While they offer certain benefits, there are also disadvantages associated with their use: 7

• Limited Biodegradability
• Environmental Impact
• Poor Moisture Permeability
• Lack of Aeration
• Microclimate Alteration
• Weed Control Challenges
• Physical Degradation
• Difficulties in Disposable
REQUIRED PROPERTIES OF AGRO AND GEOTEXTILE : 8

• Weather resistant
• Resistant to microorganisms
• Light-weight
• Resistant to solar radiation
• Resistant to ultraviolet radiation
• Biodegradability
• Water holding capacity
• Moderate to high
• Tensile strength
• Abrasion resistant
• Temperature regulation
 Use of Natural fibers
instead of synthetic 9
fibers

Biodegradability
Under Technical Textile Natural fibers (NFs) are used
in various forms like rope, strands, and reinforcing
agents for bio-composites and their application can Moisture absorption and
breathability
be found in many areas such as in aerospace,
automobile, sports, home appliances, building and
construction due to their biodegradability, low cost, Nutrient and water
high specific strength and good physical retention
properties.

Biocompatibility

There are several reasons why we choose to use

natural fibers instead of synthetic fibers: Environment
sustainability

Cost effectiveness
SUNNHEMP FIBRE:

Sunn is also known as SANAI, bast fiber which is obtained from the outer bark of the stem of sunn plant. It comes
under the species Crotalaria juncea and family of legume(fabaceae). It is also known as sunn hemp, Indian hemp,
Bombay hemp, rattle pods and madras hemp. It is originated from India and Pakistan. Largest producer of sunn fiber
is India. Sanai Anusandhan kendra of Pratapgarh, UP, India is the only research center for Sunn hemp in the whole
world. It is grown in tropical and subtropical countries. It requires annual average temperature from 18 to 27 ͦ and
average annual rainfall is as low as 200 mm.

The sunn hemp plant reaches a height of about 2 to 3 meters, with long, slender stems that contain strong and durable
fibers. The fiber is extracted from the stem of the plant through a process called decortication, which involves removing
the non-fibrous components to obtain the usable fiber strands.

Sunn hemp fiber has several desirable characteristics that make it

suitable for various applications. It is best known for its strength,
durability, and high tensile strength, which makes it comparable to
other natural fibers like jute and hemp. The fiber is also lightweight,
has good moisture absorption properties, and exhibits excellent
resistance to pests, fungi, and bacteria.
Extraction process of Sunn hemp fiber :

The extraction of Sunn hemp fiber involves several steps. Here is a general outline of the process:

Drying
Fiber
cleaning
Fiber
separation
Stripping
Retting
Harvesting
Chemical composition of Sunn hemp fiber: Properties of sunn hemp fiber:

• Length: 5 to 20 mm
• Breadth: 12-35 mm
• Length/breadth: 450
• Density: 1.5g/cc
• Transverse swelling in water: 18-20%
• Moisture regain at 65% RH: 10.5%
• Tenacity: 30-40 g/tex
• Extension at break: 2.5 -3.5%
• Flexural rigidity: 125-175 dynes cm-2

• It has very good flexural properties.

• The color of fiber is off-white.
• It is fairly resistant to mildew.
• It has high strength because it contains high cellulose
content and low micro fibril angle.
 Uses:

It is commonly used for making Cordage, fishing nets, Soles of shoes, sandals, Ropes, sacking, twines, canvas, floor
mats, rugs, carpets, webbing, table and bed linen, currency notes, cigarette paper, tissue paper , carbon base paper,
electrical condenser, handmade paper, airmail paper and wax impregnated paper.

Advantages:

• It is a soil improving and green manure crop.

• It is resistant to root-knot nematodes.
• It will reduce soil erosion when it is used as a cover crop.

COTTON FIBER :

Cotton fiber is a natural, soft and fluffy staple fiber that is harvested from the seedpods of the cotton plant. The cotton
plant belongs to the genus Gossypium, which is a member of the mallow family Malvaceae. Cotton falls into the
category of seed hair, the only other fiber of this type being Kapok. However, unlike cotton, Kapok is very short length
fiber and quite weak. The cotton fiber is most often spun into yarn or thread and is used to make a soft, breathable textile.
The cotton is most widely used natural fiber in clothing today.
The cotton fibers are usually about 1-1.5 inches long, but can be longer. They
are usually white, but can also be various shades of brown, yellow, green, or
gray. They are also smooth and lustrous.

Cotton fibers are used to make a wide range of products, including textiles,
clothing, and other household items. Cotton is considered as the most
important natural textile fiber in the world. It is also known for its
breathability, absorbency, and softness. It is also hypoallergenic and resistant
to wrinkles. Due to its properties, it is widely used in clothing, bedding,
and industrial products.

Cotton is a renewable resource and is grown in many parts of the world. It is a

major crop in countries such as the United States, China, India, Pakistan, and
Brazil. The cotton is generally grown in the warm climates, it is a water-
intensive crop, and it is often heavily sprayed with pesticides and fertilizers.
Properties of Cotton Fiber:
15
Cotton fiber has several properties that make it a popular choice for textiles and other products:

Softness: Cotton fibres are naturally soft and comfortable to the touch, making them ideal for clothing, bedding, and other household items.

Absorbency: These fibres are highly absorbent, which means they can hold a large amount of water. This makes cotton fabrics breathable and
comfortable to wear.

Strength: They are strong and durable, which means they can withstand repeated washings and wear.

Hypoallergenic: Cotton fibres are hypoallergenic, which means they are less likely to cause allergic reactions.

Resistant to wrinkles: Cotton fibres are naturally wrinkle-resistant, which means they can maintain their shape even after being washed or worn.

Biodegradable: Cotton are biodegradable, which means they can break down naturally in the environment.

UV-Resistant: Cotton fibres have natural UV resistance and can block out some of the harmful rays of the sun.

Easy to dye: They are easy to dye, which means it can be colored in different ways, making it versatile and can be used in a variety of clothing.

Renewable Resource: Cotton is a renewable resource and is grown in many parts of the world.
Climate & Soil Requirement :
16
Cotton, a semi-xerophyte, is grown in tropical & sub tropical conditions. A minimum temperature of 15°C is required for better
germination at field conditions. The optimum temperature for vegetative growth is 21-27°C & it can tolerate temperature to the
extent of 43°C but temperature below 21°C is detrimental to the crop. Warm days of cool nights with large diurnal variations
during the period of fruiting are conducive to good boll & fiber development.

Cotton is grown on a variety of soils ranging from well drained deep alluvial soils in the north to black clayey soils of varying
depth in central region and in black and mixed black and red soils in south zone. Cotton is semi-tolerant to salinity and sensitive to
water logging and thus prefers well drained soils.

Crop Season :

The sowing season of cotton varies considerably from tract to tract and is generally early (April-May) in northern India and is
delayed as we proceed to down south (monsoon based in southern zone). Cotton is a Kharif crop in the major parts of the country
viz. Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and parts of Andhra Pradesh & Karnataka. In these
areas, the irrigated crop is sown from March-May and the rain fed crop in June-July with the commencement of the monsoon. In
Tamil Nadu, the major portion of the irrigated and rain fed crop is planted in September-October, whereas the sowing of the rain
fed crop in the southern districts is extended up to November. In parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the desi cotton is usually
sown in August-September. In addition, summer sowings in Tamil Nadu are done during February-March. The sowings of cotton
in the rice fallows of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu extent from the second half of December to the middle of January.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF THE PROCESS:
Sunn hemp 17

Collection of raw material

Raw material
used
Cotton

Extraction of fibers and

optimization of process parameters Fineness

Bundle
strength
Evaluation of physical and Moisture
chemical properties of extracted Properties
fibers regain
Antimicrobial

Development of pure and blended Biodegradability

yarn

woven
Development of fabric Types
Non-woven

Product development : (crop

cover ,mulch ,soil protection) ,
field trials and commercialization
 of 14

BANANA 18

Banana (Musa sp.) is the second most important fruit crop in

India next to mango.

• Banana fiber provides a better ultraviolet protection factor

(UPF)
• It has a higher moisture content which can preserve food
material naturally.
• Banana is having high strength, thermal resistance, UV
resistance, etc. Properties and
is weather proof.
• It is grown every region of this country covering about 150
districts of many states like U.P., M.P, Maharastra, across the
country and referred to as sunnhemp fibres
 EXTRACTION PROCESS OF BANANA FIBER
19

Fiber Fiber
Harvesting Stripping Fiber drying
extraction processing

Fiber extraction: Once the pseudo-stem is exposed, the long fibres are extracted from the inner layers.
There are several methods for extracting the fibres, including hand scraping, mechanical decortication, and
retting.
 Hand scraping: In this method, the inner layers of the pseudo stem are scraped using a blunt knife or a
piece of broken glass. The scraped material is then separated to obtain the fibres.
 Mechanical decortication: This method involves using mechanical equipment to separate the fibers
from the pseudo-stem. The stalk is passed through rollers or a decortication machine that removes the
non-fibrous parts and leaves behind the fibres.
 Retting: Retting is a process where the pseudo-stem is soaked in water or buried in the ground to allow
natural processes to break down the non-fibrous material and separate the fibres. It can take several
weeks for the fibres to loosen and become easily separable.
 RICE STUBBLE 20

Rice stubble is the vegetative part of the rice plant (Oryza sativa L.), that remains
after the cutting of rice fields .
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF BANANA FIBRE:

Properties of Banana Fibers:

 Tenacity: 29.98 g/denier

 Fineness: 17.15 denier
 Moisture Regain: 13.00%
 It is highly strong fiber.
 It has smaller elongation.
 It has somewhat shiny appearance depending upon the extraction & spinning process.
 It is light weight.
 It has strong moisture absorption quality.
 CULTIVATION OF SUNNHEMP CROP AT NITRA 22

1. Sowing of Sunnhemp seeds is done on 22.07.2023

2. Crop after 15 days(on 05.08.2023) 3. Crop after 25 days(on 05.08.2023) 4. Crop after 1 month(on 22.08.2023)

5. Crop after 2 month (on 22.09.2023) 5. Crop after 3 month (on 22.10.2023)
Extraction & Optimization of fibres:
23

1-Hot Water 2-Hot Water 3- (M) 4 -(M) 5 -(M) 6-(M)

Boiling Boiling Sunnhemp Sunnhemp Sunnhemp Water
after-5 hr after-5 hr Fibre Water Fibre Water fibre Water Retting
Sunnhemp tracking retting Retting Retting After 5
fibre Fibre After-2 day After-3 day After-4 day day
Sunnhemp

Fineness of Fineness of Fineness of Fineness of Fineness of Fineness of

fibre-170 fibre-147.09 fibre-271 Fibre-152.01 fibre-87.36 fibre-100.41
denier denier denier denier denier denier

1-(B) Water 2-(B) 3-(B) 4-(B) 5-(U) 6-(U) 7-(U) 8-(U)

Retting Water Water Water Water Water Water Water
After- 2 Day Retting Retting Retting Retting Retting Retting Retting
After- 3 Day After- 4 After- 5 After- 2 After- 3 After- 4 After- 5
Day Day Day Day Day Day

Fineness of Fineness of Fineness- Fineness- Fineness- Fineness- Finenes- Fineness-

Fiber- 129.92 fiber- 100.45 141.87 71.69 61.08 85.48 72.60 78.03
denier denier denier denier denier denier denier denier
SPINNING PROCESS OF SUNNHEMP AND COTTON 24

Raw material
Trasher

Fresh raw fibre Carding Lap

Lap Draw frame Sliver

Sliver Speed frame Roving

Roving Ring frame Yarn formation

CARDING :
25
The carding is the second process of spinning which converts
fed material (lap) into the uniform strand of fibres
called “sliver”. The good quality carding of cotton is very
important because the yarn quality very much depends upon it.
The neps percentage in the yarn varies according to the quality
of carding process. "The carding is called the heart of
spinning". In the carding process, the material gets passed
through a carding machine. The fibres are made parallel to each
other. The fibers tangle in this operation, thus it makes it
possible to remove all types of impurities present in the cotton
The Purposes or Objective of Carding:
The carding is the first machine in the spinning preparation that delivers a sliver. The
main objectives of the card are:

 To open the flocks into individual fibers.

 Cleaning and elimination of impurities.
 Reduction of neps.
 Elimination of short fibers.
 Fiber blending.
 Fiber orientation.
 Sliver formation.
PROJECT TIMELINE 26
THANK YOU