Jutecell Fibre: An Innovative Fibre

Jutecell fibre is bio-compatible, environment-friendly and has applications in healthcare, fashion and home textiles sectors, writes Dr N. N. Mahapatra.

Jutecell is a new type of cellulose fibre developed by special technical treatment of jute and kenaf as raw materials, which overcomes the disadvantages of natural hemp fibres, that are hard, thick, short and itchy to skin and keeps the original characteristics of natural hemp fibres, such as hygroscopic, breathable, bacteriostatic and mildew-proof, etc.

Jutecell fibre is a new type of regenerated cellulose fibre produced from jute and kenaf through a special process developed by Shandong Helon Co Ltd. The special manufacturing technology imparts the fibres bacteriostatic, bactericidal and anti-fungal properties. Besides this, the denier and the length can be adjusted according to the spinning order. The fibre is bio-compatible, environment-friendly and has applications in healthcare, fashion and home textiles sectors. It has high tensile strength, low extensibility and ensures better breathability of fabrics. It adopts the special manufacturing technology with bacteriostatic, bactericidal and antifungal activity.

THE JUTECELL YARN
The special manufacturing technology keeps the Jutecell yarn with bacteriostatic, bactericidal and antifungal activity. Besides this, the denier and length can be adjusted according to the spinning order. Because it has the unique cross section, the fabric made of this yarn is full and smooth with high colour brilliance. So jutecell is a new, healhy, fashion, green and naturally breathing fibre.

PROPERTIES

1. Appearance: There are many irregular and continuously distributed streaks of different shades in the longitudinal side. The cross section is approximate to the irregular C shape. The edge has deep irregular concave and convex. Fabrics made of this kind of fibres with such unique cross section shape have good air permeability and moisture absorption and perspiration performance.

2. Strength property: The fracture strength in dry state is similar to that of viscose fibre. The fracture strength in wet state is 1.4 times that of viscose fibre. The elongation at break in both dry and wet state is smaller than that of viscose fibre. The initial size in both dry and wet state is higher than that of viscose fibre, which is 1.1~1.2 times that of viscose fibre. That means under the condition of small deformation, the resistance to deformation of Jutecell is better than that of viscose fibre and the shape stability of its finished product is better than that of viscose fibre.

4. Moisture regain: Its moisture regain is 12.86%, which is close to viscose fibre. It shows that Jutecell has good hygroscopicity and small electrostatic effect, which is helpful in textile processing. The finished products have good wearability.Friction performance
5. Friction performance: Both static and dynamic friction coefficient are greater than that of viscose fibre. That means its cohesive force is better than viscose fibre. But the smoothness is poorer than viscose fibre. In the spinning process, we should pay attention to selecting yarn guides of different materials to improve the friction performance of Jutecell.
6. Crimp properties: The crimp percentage, crimp elasticity and residual crimp percentage are all smaller than that of viscose fibre, which means that the crimp resistant and the crimp recovery capability are both poorer than that of viscose fibre.
7. Infrared absorption spectrum: The infrared absorption spectrum is basically similar in the features of Jutecell

1. Raw material is renewable natural hemp, which is green and environmentally-friendly.
2. It has hollow section shape similar to raw hemp fibre.
3. It has natural bacteriostatic properties. It is anti-bacterial and mildew-proof.
4. Skin-friendly. Excellent moisture absorption and air permeability. Good drainage performance.
5. Plump and round fabric texture. Dry and smooth hand feeling. Bright and brilliant luster. Healthy and fashionable like viscose fibre. It has spectrum band with typical cellulose fibre characteristics.

Because it has the unique cross section, the fabric made of this fibre is full and smooth with high colour brilliance. So jutecell is a new, healhy, fashionable, green and naturally breathing fibre.

Characteristics
1. It is a kind of environmental yarn which is made from natural plants.
2. It has cross section similar to raw jute which is fistular.
3. Natural bacteriostatic, bactericidal and antifungal activity.
4. Comfortable, nice absorption and quick drying.
5. Fabric surface is full and smooth with high colour brilliance.

BLENDING

The invention discloses a cotton fibre and jutecell fibre blended yarn and a spinning process thereof. The blended yarn comprises jutecell fibre with fibre content blending ratio as 70% and 30% fine staple cotton. The fibres are spun into yarns through the blended spinning process. Raw materials of the yarns are composed of the jutecell fibre and the fine staple cotton. Compared with the prior yarn where long staple cotton and jutecell fibre are used for blended spinning, the process is low in cost and high in cost performance. The blending mode of one pre-blending and three mixed-blending is adopted, so that the blending spinning ratio is accurate, and components are even. The blended yarns produced in the production process are high in single yarn strength, even in yarn levelness and few in nep and yarn fault. The yarn structure can further improve textile comfortableness, improve textile hand feel and improve lining grade.

The jutecell/modal/cotton blended ratio is 40/35/25. By adopting reasonable fabric specification and process design one can obtain better performance, such as exquisite fullness, dimensional stability, comfortable feel, antibacterial mould proof, hydroscopic and fast dry, ecological environmental protection.

Application of Jutecell

1. Apparel textile: Underwear, costumes, high-grade business suit fabric.
2. Household textile: Decorative cloth, as bed sheet, bedspread, sofa cover, curtain, tablecloth, antependium, napkin and wall cloth, etc.
3. Medical nonwovens: Hospital hygiene products, special diaper for patients with urinary incontinence and briefs, bandages, tissues and wound dressing materials, etc.
4. Medical textile: Hospital gown, protective clothing, doctor pullover, surgical cap, surgical mask, surgical towel, surgical gown, bed sheet and pillow, etc