Analysis of Water Absorption of Different Natural Fibers

The demand for natural fibers has always been high due to their unique characteristics like strength, lightweight, availability, bio-degradability, etc. In every phase of life, from clothing technical textiles, are used. Water absorption is considered really important in many aspects, e.g., Sportech, Medtech, Geotech, This work analyses water raw and alkali-treated cotton, arecas, pineapple leaves, banana fibers. Fibers were scoured with different concentrations alkali (2, 4, 6 gm/L NaOH), washed neutralized the dilute acetic acid solution, then dried. Later on, fiber samples immersed into distilled water, percentages determined 10 minutes within 1 hour total. It appeared that at untreated conditions, areca highest capacity compared other Alkali-treated cotton shows absorption, show approximately 60% cotton.