Introduction,structure,production,properties and end uses of jute fibre

1. JUTE
FIBER
BAST FIBER

2. Stem
Jute (Chorchorus)

4. Outline:
Introduction
Structure of Fiber
Production and Processing of fiber
◦ Cultivation
◦ Harvesting
◦ Retting
◦ Stripping
◦ Washing
◦ Drying
◦ Bailing & Packing
◦ Transport
Properties
End Uses

5. Introduction
Jute is a natural fiber
popularly known as the
“Golden Fiber”.
Jute fiber comes from
the stem of a herbaceous
annual plant
“Corchorus”.

6. Jute is the second in the world’s production of textile
fibers after cotton
India, China, Bangladesh are leading producers of Jute
Jute is almost entirely a market oriented crop
Bangladesh is the largest cultivator of raw jute
The plant has a height of 8 to 12 feet

7. Structure of Fiber
Commercial jute varies from yellow to brown to greyish in
color.
The bundle of fibers held together by gummy material;
lignin which plays an important role in structure of plant.
By contrast with the regular lumen of flax, that of jute is
irregular; it becomes narrow in places quite suddenly.

8. Structure of Fiber
Longitudinal View

9. Part of a fiber bundle of jute as seen in transverse view under the scanning electron
microscope.The cementing material between the ultimate fibers can be clearly seen.
Magnification7600.
Cross-sectional view

11. Production and Processing of Fiber
Jute is a rainy season crop, sown from March to May
according to rainfall and type of land.
Jute requires a warm and humid climate with temperature
between 24ċ to 37ċ.
The soil of good depth, containing salts from annual
floods, is best for jute.
The stalk diameter of plant is ¾ inches.

12. Stages of Production & Processing
Cultivation
Harvesting
Retting
Stripping
Washing
Drying
Bailing & Packing
Storage

13. Cultivation Process
Sowing of jute starts with the showers in March or
April and continues till early June. Phosphorus,
Potash & Nitrogen fertilizers are used for this
crop.

14. Harvesting Process
Jute is harvested any time between 120 days to 150 days
when the flowers have been shed, early harvesting gives
good healthy fibers. The harvested plants are left in the
field for 3 days for the leaves to shed (means leaves got
dried up).

15. Retting Process
Retting is a process in which fibers get loosened due to
decomposition of hard cell walls by the action of bacteria.
The bundles are steeped in water at least 60cm to 90cm
depth.

16. Stripping Process (Fiber Extraction)
Stripping is the process of removing the fibers from the stalk
after the completion of retting. Fibers are removed from
the stalk by any one of the following methods:
1. Single plants are taken and their fibers are taken off.
2. Taken off a handful of stalks, breaking it in a to and fro motion in
water.

17. Washing Process
Extracted fibers are washed in clean water. The dark color of
fibers can be removed by dipping them in tamarind water
for 15 to 20 minutes and again washed in clean water.

18. Drying Process
The fibers are hung on bamboo railings for sun drying for
2-3 days. After drying, the fibers are ready to be sold in the
market.

19. Bailing & Packing Process
The bailing of jute fiber is done according to grading
system. The fiber is graded into Top, Middle, B, C and X-
Bottoms.
Packing into Kutcha bales about 250 pounds for use in
mills or jute market.

21. Properties
1. Fiber Surface & Appearance: Yellow to brown to dirty grey
in color and Natural Silky Lustrous appearance
2. Tensile Strength: Not stronger than flax because of the
irregularities in the thickness of cell wall.
3. Elongation:
Elongation at break = 1.7%
4. Elastic Properties: It is a stiff fiber and not tend to return its
original length completely when the tension is relaxed.
5. Specific Gravity: 1.5
6. Length: 1~4 meters (3~12 feet)

22. Properties
7. Effect of Moisture:
Moisture Regain = 13.75%
Jute can absorb as much as 23% of water under humid conditions
8. Effect of Age: High content of non-cellulosic matter makes jute
sensitive against chemical and photochemical attack.
9. Effect of Microorganisms: Jute is more resistant to micro-
organism due to protective effect of lignin.

23. Advantages:
Great antistatic properties
Low thermal conductivity.
100% Biodegradable; so it is environment friendly
fiber like Cotton.
Cheap in market.
Can be widely used in Agriculture Sector, Textile
Sector, Woven Sector, Nonwoven Sector.
Jute Fiber can be blended with Natural and Synthetic
fibers.

24. Disadvantages:
The crease resistance of Jute is very low.
Drape Property is not good enough.
Create Shade effect and becomes yellowish
if sunlight is used.
If Jute is wetted it lose it’s strength.

25. End Uses
Jute is cheap and reasonably strong and is available in large
quantities.
Generally used in:
Sacks & Packing Cloth
Food Storage
Backing cloth for carpets
Curtains & Furnishing fabric
Used in Geotextiles, technical textiles and textile
composites
Mixed with wool, used in cheap clothing