Abstract
In this study, three types of Thai hybrid silk waste are considered, the inferior knubbs, filature gum waste and pierced cocoon which represent respectively the outer, middle and mixed portions of cocoon layers. They have been prepared following the main processes, i.e. degumming and bleaching, opening, carding. In order to evaluate the feasibility in blending with cotton, the silk sliver is cut into staple fibre length of 35mm. All types of wastes after preparation process have proved to have similar contents of impurities (sericin and oil content). The physical properties such as length, fineness, tenacity and elongation of the fibres are being studied. The inferior knubbs fibres are finer than the filature gum waste fibres whereas the pierced cocoon fibre fineness is placed betwixt and between. Strength of the inferior knubbs fibre is quite similar to the pierced cocoon and both lower than that of the filature gum waste. The characteristics of the pierced cocoon fibre average those of the inner and the outer layers. In order to obtain further data concerning the physical properties of silk/cotton blended fibres, the pierced cocoon is chosen to be blended and mixed with cotton fibre in the ratio 50/50 by weight in an industrial cotton card. Physical properties of the pierced cocoon, cotton and blended fibre are compared with the same methods. Upper half mean length, tenacity and colour of the silk fibre are higher than those of the cotton fibre. The blended fibres have physical properties between those of the silk and cotton following a mixing law except for the stress-strain behaviour of fibre bundles. The stress-strain curves of pure component and blended fibres are discussed and show that blending improves fibre cohesion.
© 2004 by Japan Academic Association for Copyright Clearance (Except in the USA), Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (In the USA)
