Improve fiber material from bamboo

Concerns about ' durable ' yarns are facilitating the booming of bamboo forests, in which bamboo-based fabrics are becoming the leading environmentally friendly fabric on the market.

Chemists in Colorado are now announcing solutions to two key issues related to bamboo fibers that can boost the growing of astonishing plants - Jack's perennial bean plant (fairy tale in the UK) without any special care - in the garment industry and other consumer products.

Presented at the 235th National Conference on American Chemical Society, Dr. Subhash Appidi and Ajoy Sarkar of Colorado State University discovered a method of making bamboo fibers against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Harmful of the sun and has antibacterial properties .

Widely grown in Japan, China, India and other countries, bamboo is malleable, durable and elastic. Soft bamboo shape like silk and shiny bamboo body. As the first choice in the fabric market called 'ethical production' , bamboo is one of the fastest growing plant species in the world, growing completely within 3 to 4 years, compared to with 25-70 years of other commercial plants in the US.

Appidi said 'Bamboo is an environmentally friendly plant. Pesticides and other agents are necessary to develop most other natural fibers, but in bamboo production it is not necessary. '

However, although bamboo has the potential to make environmentally friendly fibers, Appidi thinks untreated bamboo fibers have a lot to improve. Raw bamboo fibers will allow most harmful ultraviolet radiation to penetrate and touch the shell. And while many people praised bamboo for its antimicrobial properties, Appidi found that untreated bamboo fibers do not have the proper anti-bacterial properties.

Bamboo forest in Kyoto, Japan (Photo: Paul Vlaar)

"All cellulose fibers allow a lot of moisture to leak and provide food for bacteria," Appidi said . That's why bacteria grow faster in natural fibers than in synthetic fibers'. The consequences of fast-growing bacteria will bring unpleasant odors and healthy harmful clothes.

For Appidi, the creation of non-bacterial bamboo clothes is essential. His goal is to create clothes used for medical environments that require 100% anti-bacterial and ultraviolet radiation resistance.Appidi has increased the ability of ultraviolet-resistant fibers by coloring the fabric made of bamboo in a dye with added UV-absorbing chemicals. After finding the optimal concentration of absorbing chemicals, he examined the levels of UV protection.

In order to improve the true antimicrobial properties of bamboo, Appidi treated the bamboo fibers bought in the market with Tinosan - according to the researcher, 'one of the good antimicrobial agents on the market today.

His experimental results showed a reduction in bacteria from 75-80% - an important improvement on raw bamboo fibers. He said the level of UV protection also increased. As for the ' ultraviolet blocking index ' (UPF), any value above 50 is recognized as safe against ultraviolet rays. Appidi said his processed bamboo fiber almost reached the number 56.

More research could put Appidi's bamboo fibers in hospitals. He is investigating other antibacterial agents that help him get a 99% reduction in bamboo fibers. Understanding the effect of repeated washing is also essential, although preliminary preliminary findings suggest that UV and bacterial protection remains after washing the fabric.

Finally, Appidi wants bamboo fibers to become popular in the US as well as in other Asian countries. Appidi said 'In the future bamboo fiber will have good prospects.'