Properties of Flax Fiber

Properties of Flax Fiber

Yashashree Ingle

Department of Textile Technology

Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, Mumbai ,Maharashtra, India.

Chemical Composition:

• Cellulose-65-70%
• Pectin Substance-20-25%
• Woody and Cuticular tissues- 4.5%
• Ash-1%

Chemical Characteristics:

• Cellulose- 85%
• Hemi Cellulose- 9%
• Lignen- 4%
• Ash- 1%

Physical Characteristics of Flax Fiber:

• Density- 1.4 gm/cc
• Standard Moisture regain- 10 to 12%
• Diameter of stem – 2 to 3 mm
• Tenacity- 6 to 8.5 gm/ den
• Elongation
• Wet-1.8%
• Dry-2.2%

  

  Fig- Flax before fiber extraction

Chemical properties of Flax Fiber:

Action of acids and alkalis:

• Acid have same effect on linen as cotton, concentrated strong acids like sulphuric acids, hydrochloric and nitric acid destroy fibers.
• Dilute acids tends to weaken fibers
• The flax fiber is attacked more readily by alkalies than cotton weak alkalies like borax, aluminium do not injure linen.

Affinity for Dyestuffs:

• It requires special dyes because of the hardness and less penetrability of fiber.
• Linen yarn often being of uneven thickness will dye somewhat unevenly and this fact gives the natural look quality.

Reaction to Bleaches:

• Linen does not stain as readily as cotton but it is difficult to bleach. It gets weakened by sodium hypochlorite bleaches.

Effect of Organic Solvent:

• Flax is adversely affected by dry cleaning solvents in common use.

Physical properties of Flax Fiber:

Length of fiber:

• It ranges in length up to 90 cm

Luster:

• It has characteristic silky luster.

Strength:

• Linen is stronger than cotton and its tensile strength increases when the fiber is in wet condition. 
• Over retting weakens the fiber appreciably.

Absorbency:

• It absorbs moisture and dries more quickly than cotton.

Heat conductivity:

• Linen is better than cotton as conductor of heat. It carries away heat away from the body faster.
• Hence garment made from linen feel cooler than those of comparable weight in cotton.

Shrinkage:

• Linen does not shrink a great deal, infact it shrinks less than cotton.

Drapability:

• Linen has more body than cotton and hence drape somewhat more than cotton.

Elasticity:

• Linen has no significant elasticity, in fact it is least elastic of natural fibers.