Oil Sorption behavior of Nettle /Kapok blended Nonwoven Fabrics

Abstract

Kapok fibers are significantly hydrophobic fiber and do not get with water. The main difficulty in the process is the inability to make a structure out of kapok fiber. So, Kapok fiber is blended with nettle fiber, which also proved to be good oil sorbent. Needle punched nonwovens from nettle and kapok fibrous webs of varying proportions are made. The nonwovens samples prepared were with 100% nettle, Nettle/Kapok 85/15, Nettle/Kapok 70/30 and Nettle/Kapok 50/50. Among all the samples, Nettle/Kapok 70/30 blended nonwovens proved to be the best oil sorbent with high oil absorption rate and oil recovery % with structural integrity till 3 times of use.