Tree Age, Leaf Maturity and Exposure to Sunlight Influence Tensile Strength of Fibres in Pandanus Utilis
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Date Uploaded:
27 November 2022
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Fibers from Pandanus utilis leaves were investigated to determine how fibre
strength varies with tree and leaf maturity, exposure to sunlight, leaf
degradation state, and fibre position along the leaf. Such information is
necessary to optimise leaf harvest to obtain strongest fibres. It has been
shown that the strongest fibre comes from a young leaf from a younger
tree exposed to the sunlight. Tests and SEM revealed two types of fibres,
thin and thick; with the former being stronger. A new method to precisely
measure the shape and area of the fibre cross-section, the pre-extraction
method that generates optimum-fibre-yield are presented.