Value Addition to Mesta Fibres Through Wet Processing

Abstract

Mesta variety AS73 CP 560 grown in Institute of Organic Farming, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad was selected for the study. Fibres were extracted from stalks harvested at two different stages of plant growth using urea treatment and different steeping methods. Scoured, bleached and dyed mesta fibres were assessed for quality viz., length, fineness, strength and elongation. Results found that length of the fibres have gradually reduced on wet processing treatmentsuch as scouring, scouring+bleaching, scouring+bleaching+dyeing, on subjecting such fibres to chemicals and higher temperature tends to break these nodes and thereby reduce the fibre length. A successive decrease in the fibre diameter was observed on wet processing treatment, because pretreatment leading to a larger removal of impurities from the fibre. Due to the coarser characteristics of fibre there is hardly influenced of fibre strength on scouring, but scouring+bleaching and scouring+bleaching+dyeing had adversed effect on the fibre strength. Similarly, a successive decrease in the fibre elongation was noticed on wet processing treatment, fibres break at certain point at higher load that creates extension in fibre structure.