Fabrication of novel cellulosic okra woven fabric and evaluation of its mechanical and coloration properties: an agricultural waste turning into valuable material

• Published in: Cellulose (London) 2023-08, Vol.30 (12), p.8001-8022
• Main Authors: Masudur Rahman, A. N. M., Zhang, Xueping, Qin, Xiaohong, Smriti, Shamima Akter, Khadem, Ashfaqul Hoque, Ul Hasan, Touhid, Das, Sabitry Rani, Sharmin, Fatema Akter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abrasion resistance; Agricultural wastes; Bioorganic Chemistry; Ceramics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Color fastness; Composites; Elongation; Enzymes; Fourier transforms; Glass; Industrial applications; Infrared spectra; Jute; Mechanical properties; Natural Materials; Natural resources; Okra; Organic Chemistry; Original Research; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Shrinkage; Sustainable Development; Tear strength; Tensile strength; Variance analysis; Warp; Weft; Woven fabrics
• ISSN: 0969-0239; 1572-882X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10570-023-05364-9

In this study, we report on a sustainable, pure okra woven fabric made of 100% okra fiber and its physical, mechanical and dyeing behaviors. To ensure the feasibility of industrial applications, the fabric attributes have been compared with a similar construction of jute fabric which has worldwide commercial applications. Experimental results revealed that the tensile strength of okra and jute woven fabric was respectively 815.2 N and 918.893 N in the warp direction and 621.047 N and 658.2 N in the weft direction. Nevertheless, okra woven fabric outperformed jute fabric in elongation, with 16.34 and 8.449% in the warp direction and 11.856 and 7.342% in the weft direction, respectively. Okra fabric demonstrated greater tear strength, high stiffness and more abrasion resistant than jute one, while jute fabric presented more shrinkage than okra. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) data of the mechanical properties of the woven fabrics displayed a significant variance in the tear strength, flexural rigidity, and shrinkage. Both fabrics have undergone alkali and enzyme treatments before dyeing. Compared to an alkali-treated fabric, the dyed one with enzyme treatment had stronger color retention properties. Both the colored fabrics exhibited improved color fastness properties, receiving Grade 3 in dry and wet conditions. Identical Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra was found for similar treated colored fabrics of okra and jute. With this comparison, it can be stated that appropriate usage of available natural resources and environmental agro-wastes become vital materials for establishing sustainability and productivity in commerce. Graphical abstract