Impact of UV Radiation on the Physical Properties of 100% Raw Kapok Fibers Needle-punched Compound Nonwovens for Agrotextile Applications

ABSTRACT

Producing functional nonwovens from sustainable fibers can become a great challenge if the chosen fiber is kapok, as it has unique qualities but very low inter-fiber cohesion. From a very exhaustive work, a new innovative production method was developed with a patent application (patent application number PT 109924A). With this method, the production of 100% raw kapok fibers needle-punched compound nonwovens were carried out, these were evaluated before and after being exposed to accelerated aging. After degradation (QUV), these compound nonwovens increased its thickness more than double reaching 25.66 mm, they obtained good mechanical properties, reaching a tensile strength of 161.13 N and puncture strength of 182.60 N. There was a significant increase in the perforation peak height (h_op), with lower through-thickness damage and greater diameter of the plunger-lateral damage, increasing its thermal resistance and thermal conductivity. These compound nonwovens proved to be superhydrophobic with a contact angle of 180° and through the condensation effect they gained almost double in thickness and catching approximately 5 g of weight in water. After these tests, these 100% raw kapok fibers needle-punched compound nonwovens can be considered to have the functional performance required for agrotextile applications.

摘要

如果选用木棉纤维,用可持续纤维生产功能性非织造布将是一个巨大的挑战,因为它具有独特的品质,但纤维间的粘合力非常低. 通过一项非常详尽的工作,开发了一种新的创新生产方法,并申请了专利(专利申请号). 利用该方法,生产了100%生木棉纤维针刺复合非织造布,并在加速老化前后对其进行了评估. 降解(QUV)后,这些复合非织造布的厚度增加了一倍以上,达到25.66mm,获得了良好的力学性能,拉伸强度达到161.13N,穿刺强度达到182.60N. 射孔峰值高度(hop)显著增加,穿透厚度损伤降低,柱塞横向损伤直径增大,增加了其热阻和导热系数. 这些复合非织造布具有180°接触角的超疏水性,通过冷凝作用,它们的厚度几乎增加了一倍,在水中的重量约为5g. 经过这些测试,这些100%生木棉纤维针刺复合非织造布可被认为具有农用纺织品应用所需的功能性能.

KEYWORDS:

• Kapok nonwoven
• accelerated aging
• mechanical properties
• thermal properties
• superhydrophobic
• agrotextile

关键词:

• 木棉非织造布
• 加速老化
• 力学性能
• 热性能
• 超疏水
• 农用纺织品

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the support of 2C2T- Centre for Textile Science and Technology (UID/CTM/ 00264/2019) of University of Minho for the availability of lab facilities to carry out this work.

Additional information

Funding

This work in funded by National Funds Throught FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, Reference UID/CTM/00264/2013 and FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 Programme under the project number POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136; [POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136.].