Flax and hemp fibers are known as textile raw materials with pro-health properties. This paper presents results of research aimed at investigating the antioxidant activity of the fibers in order to explain a mechanism for the favorable influence of textiles made of these fibers when in contact with human skin. The study presents a new approach in evaluation of textile fibers in terms of their inherent pro-health properties. Antioxidant properties of flax and hemp fibers were tested with the use of FRAP and DPPH methods. The content of phenolic acids: syringic, sinapinic, p-coumaric and ferulic acid was determined with the use of HPLC. The results proved that the antioxidant activity of the tested fibers depends on a type and variety of fibrous plants, a method of fiber extraction and subsequent stages of preliminary processing of the fibers. Both decorticated flax and hemp fibers showed higher antioxidant activity in comparison to the fibers obtained with other extraction methods, while decorticated flax of different varieties presented the highest value of the FRAP. Wet methods of fiber extraction and processing caused reduction of phenolic acids content and significantly lower values of the FRAP and DPPH.
The study investigated the effectiveness of the combination of chemical and physical methods of natural fibers’ modification. The long flax fibers were subjected to various types of modification. These were silanization, plasma modification and a combination of these methods. For the silanization process, two types of silanes were used: amino- and vinylsilane. The application of structurally different compounds allowed us to acquire knowledge about the effect of the modifier structure on its properties. Various properties of flax fibers were investigated, comparing the results before and after different modification processes. The flammability of prepared samples were tested by pyrolysis combustion flow calorimeter (PCFC). In the effect of the natural fibers’ modifications, flammability was reduced even by 30%. The thermal stability of modified fibers increased. The FTIR tests of the gases released during thermal degradation of the tested fibers allowed us to determine the important compounds and prove a lower degree of flax-fiber decomposition after modification. Flax fibers were also tested to evaluate their physical properties (linear mass, average diameter, aspect ratio and hygroscopicity). Changes in surface morphology were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The properties of natural fibers improved significantly, thus contributing to an increase in their suitability for the use in composites.
The study explored the impact of the hydrodynamic degumming process applied for decorticated monomorphic flax on fiber quality. The experiment was designed as the first stage of research leading to the development of a method for decorticated flax fiber elementarization and cottonization; in particular, effectively dividing the fiber bundles to ensure low linear density and reducing impurities in the content, to make the fibers suitable for cotton spinning systems. The degumming process of the decorticated fibers covered hydrodynamic disposal of the gluing substances, mainly pectins from the fibers, with use of a specially designed lab-scale Model Device for Physical Degumming of the Flax Fibers. The degummed fibers were tested for linear density, length, impurity content and chemical composition by thermogravimetric analysis combined with the analysis of evolved gases (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and analysis of images of fiber cross-sections and longitudinal views from a scanning electron microscope. The study outcomes allowed us to determine the optimal parameters of the degumming process applied for decorticated flax fibers, in which the obtained fibers were of the highest quality. It was found that the optimal parameters of the process were a bath temperature of 30°C and a degumming process duration of 24 hours. These lab-scale process conditions were used in further work on the degumming process of flax fiber carried out on a semi-technical scale, followed by a mechanical cottonization of the fiber, at the final stage of the technological chain.
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