SUSTAINABLE

BAMBOO FABRIC PRODUCTION

ASSIGNMENT 1
A LITTLE ABOUT BAMBOO
Bamboo is fastest growing woody plant on this planet. Sometimes
the growth of bamboo is approximately three feet over a night.
India has one of the richest bamboo resources in the world,
second to China in Bamboo production. The numbers of species of
bamboo existing in India are approximately 130.
Bamboos are plants of global interest because of their distinctive life
form, their ecological importance and the wide range of uses and
values they have for humans.
Bamboo and its related industries already provide income, food and
housing to over 2.2 billion people worldwide.
BAMBOO FIBER
Bamboo fiber can be of two types: natural fiber(produced
from the bast /phloem) or regenerated fiber (produced
from the pulp).
As a natural cellulosic fiber, it can be 100% biodegraded in
soil by microorganisms and sunshine. Its decomposition
process doesn't cause any pollution in the environment.
For textile applications, bamboo fibers are mostly produced
from the tallest bamboo species Phyllostachys edulis which
is more popularly known as Moso.
Physical and chemical properties of bamboo fiber is very close
to that of viscose.
EXTRACTION OF BAMBOO
FIBER
The characteristics displayed by the bamboo products primarily
rely on whether the bamboo fiber is of natural origin or a
regenerated variety. Broadly speaking, there are two main
modes of effective utilization of bamboos in the textile industry :
Producing natural (bast) fiber via physical and chemical
treatment
Spinning regenerated (pulp) fiber via retting bamboo plant
into pulp

The former method gives bundles of original or pure bamboo

fibers of 2 mm staple length, whereas the latter gives
bamboo viscose filaments (also called regenerated bamboo
MECHANICAL PRODUCTION
PROCEDURE
The initially cut and crushed woody parts of the bamboo are
treated with natural enzymes that break the bamboo into a
soft, mushy and spongy mass. Subsequently, the natural fibers
can be combed out mechanically to get individual fibers,
followed by spinning yarn out of them. The fabric manufactured
via this process is often termed as bamboo linen.
Yao and Zhang (2011) have reported that fibers obtained are
rough in texture if the sequence of operations is: cutting,
separation, boiling and fermentation with enzymes.
To obtain fine fibers, one should opt for the sequence: boiling,
fermentation, washing and bleaching, oil-soaking and
air-drying.
MECHANICAL PRODUCTION
PROCEDURE

From left to right, (1)bamboo is gathered ; (2) bamboo is crushed and

processes into thick mushy pulp ; (3) bamboo is further processed into
fine pulp sheet ; (4) bamboo pulp manufactured into fiber through wet
spinning process ; (5) bamboo fibers are spun into yarn.
CHEMICAL PRODUCTION
PROCEDURE
When it is required to have a regenerated bamboo viscose fiber for the end-use
application, the moso bamboo stalks ought to be freed from lignin and
hemicellulose.
The basic idea is to cook the leaves and woody shoots of the bamboo plant in
these strong chemical solvents and then perform alkaline hydrolysis combined with
multi-phase bleaching. The process is like conventional viscose manufacturing
process; and even the product obtained is similar to rayon or modal.
This regenerated cellulosic form of bamboo was first introduced by Hebei Jigao
Chemical Fibre Co. Ltd, China in 2002, though its origin dates back to
1864 when it was patented by Lichtenstadt.
The details of the most common process sequence are depicted through a flow
chart shown next.
CHEMICAL PRODUCTION
PROCEDURE
PROPERTIES
Biodegradable Breathable (because
of its structure being
Anti-bacterial
filled with micro-gaps
Anti-static and holes)
UV Protective Can be worn in both
summers and winters
Soft and lustrous
Highly absorbent
Strong, durable (more than cotton)
and flexible Basic round structure
Can be easily ensures it to sit
blended with other perfectly next to the
fibers skin.
PRODUCTS
Bamboo Textiles and
Garments
Bamboo Towels,
Bathrobes
Underwear
Medical accessories like
Masks, Gowns, Caps,
Wipes, Shoe-cover
Cosmetic and hygiene
products
REFERENCES
Bamboo: An Alternative Source For Production Of Textiles by
Ajay Rathod and Dr. Avinash Kolhatkar
Bamboo Fibres in Textile Applications by Abhijit Majumdar and
Sanchi Arora
www.bambrotex.com
www.fibre2fashion.com
THANK YOU.

EFFORTS BY
SHWETA
SAHA
BFT 6