Effect of saline water treatment on nonwoven and composites developed from natural fibres

The development of technology in various fields has led the mankind into a new world of consumerism. In the field of textiles also, the technological developments have created a lot of new consumer products to meet the ever increasing demand of the public. In previous years, the use of natural fibres was widespread and restricted to conventional products. Though there were other materials such as jute, ramie, sisal, coir, banana known to man, their uses were restricted to non textile materials such as packing materials, ropes etc., The developments in the use of latest technology in adopting these non apparel fibres have led to introduction of new diversified products such as composites. The technology of composites making is very new and has very high potential in the natural fibres says Mathews (1999). Nonwoven products are taking the palce of many woven and knit materials because of their lower cost and lighter weight. A study was conducted to find out the effect of nonwoven and composites developed from natural fibres such as Jute, Coir, Banana and blends. Seven samples were taken from the developed nonwoven and composites. They are Jute, Coir, Banana nonwoven and composite as 1st and 2nd & 3rd samples, Jute Coir, Banana Coir, Jute Banana nonwoven and composites as 4th, 5th and 6th and Jute Coir Banana nonwoven and composites as 7th sample. These developed samples were subjected to saline water treatment. Colour fastness and an observation test were carried out. The study revealed that nonwoven prepared from Coir had absorbed more water when compared to Banana Jute and Coir Banana Jute. The composite made up of Coir had absorbed more water due to the space found in between the composite than the other composites.