The Effect of Harvesting Time and Finishing Treatment on Properties of Degummed Ramie Fibers
摘要
This paper investigated the influence of different harvesting times of stem ramie at 50 and 60 days on the degummed ramie properties. The decorticated fibers degummed with conventional chemical-physical degumming along with finishing treatment and advanced cleaning agents. The analysis of physical and mechanical properties such as tenacity, breaking-elongation, fineness, moisture content, and moisture regain of degummed fibers were measured. The results showed the 60 days-old fibers were more mature than the 50 days-old so the fibers component is more complicated. The cleaning agent and finishing agents worked well to improve fibers quality. The microstructure analysis showed the degradation of a non-cellulosic component on degummed fibers, the XRD analysis showed the increment of crystallinity after degumming. The results indicate that ramie fibers can be harvested at the age of 50 days which reducing the harvesting time, it has fiber tensile 29.5 ± 1.82 g/tex, elongation 15.55 ± 2.9%, fibers fineness 0.69 ± 0.08 tex, moisture content 8.46 ± 0.08%, and fiber humidity 9.24 ± 0.09%. The advance agent can serve as an effective finishing treatment without damaging the properties of the degummed fibers.