Tree Age, Leaf Maturity and Exposure to Sunlight Influence Tensile Strength of Fibres in Pandanus Utilis

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• pandanus utilis
• leaf maturity
• tree maturity
• sunlight exposure
• tensile strength (ts)
• cross-section area (csa)