Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Kapok Fiber: Structure and Properties

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Biomass and Bioenergy

Abstract

Due to the development of sustainable technology, green renewable resources have attracted increasing interests in recent years. Kapok fiber belongs to a typical cellulosic fiber, which is obtained from the seed hairs of kapok trees (Ceiba pentandra). Kapok fiber possesses the features of thin cell wall, large lumen, low density, and hydrophobic–oleophilic properties. This chapter focuses on the structure and properties of kapok fiber.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Cao QL, Cao Y, Wang L, Sun XW (2010) Structures and properties of kapok fiber. In: 2nd International conference on advanced textile materials & manufacturing technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech Univ, Hangzhou, Oct 20–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen B, Xu GB (2012) Effect of ultrasonic treatment on the properties of kapok/cotton blended yarns (in Chinese). J Donghua Univ 38(261–265):366

    Google Scholar 

  • Cho IH, Kang PH, Lim YM, Choi JH, Hwang TS, Nho YC (2007) Preparation of ion exchange kapok fiber by radiation polymerization. Polym-Korea 31:512–517

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chung BY, Cho JY, Lee MH, Wi SG, Kim JH, Kim JS, Kang PH, Nho YC (2008) Adsorption of heavy metal ions onto chemically oxidized Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. (Kapok) Fibers. J Appl Biol Chem 51:28–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dauda BMD, Kolawole EG (2003) Processability of Nigerian kapok fibre. Indian J Fibre Text 28:147–149

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duan CT, Zhao N, Yu XL, Zhang XY, Xu J (2013) Chemically modified kapok fiber for fast adsorption of Pb2+, Cd2+, Cu2+ from aqueous solution. Cellulose 20:849–860

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fang C, Yan JJ, Wang FM (2012) Compressibility of kapok fibrous assemblies under wet and pressure treatment (in Chinese). J Donghua Univ 38:401–406

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng J, Sun JX, Wang FM (2006) Kapok fiber: a green natural thermal fiber (in Chinese). Fiber Technol 10:97–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Fengel D, Przyklenk M (1986) Studies on kapok. 2. Chemical investigation. Holzforschung 40: 325–330

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fengel D, Wenzkowski M (1986) Studies on kapok-1. Electron microscopic observations. Holzforschung 40:137–141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao J, Zhao T, Chen JB (2012) Composition, structure and property analysis of calotropis gigantean, kapok and cotton fibers (in Chinese). J Donghua Univ 38:151–155

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Han L (2010) Properties of kapok fiber and its application suggestion in spinning and weaving (in Chinese). Cotton Text Technol 38:469–472

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kang PH, Jeun JP, Chung BY, Kim JS, Nho YC (2007) Preparation and characterization of glycidyl methacrylate (GNU) grafted kapok fiber by using radiation induced-grafting technique. J Ind Eng Chem 13:956–958

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lim TT, Huang XF (2007) Evaluation of hydrophobicity/oleophilicity of kapok and its performance in oily water filtration: Comparison of raw and solvent-treated fibers. Ind Crop Prod 26: 125–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Wang FM (2011) Influence of mercerization on microstructure and properties of kapok blended yarns with different blending ratios. J Eng Fiber Fabr 6:63–68

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu W, Xu GB, Wang FM (2007) The microbiological properties of kapok Battings. In: International forum on biomedical textile materials, Donghua Univ, Songjiang Campus, Shanghai, May 30–June 2, pp 231–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Lou LQ (2011) Structure, properties of kapok fiber and test on heat retention (in Chinese). Shanghai Text Sci Technol 39:15–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Mwaikambo LY, Bisanda ETN (1999) The performance of cotton–kapok fabric–polyester composites. Polym Test 18:181–198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nilsson T, Björdal C (2008) The use of kapok fibres for enrichment cultures of lignocellulose-degrading bacteria. Int Biodeter Biodegr 61:11–16

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi MW, Xiao H, Yu WD (2010) The fine structure of the kapok fiber. Text Res J 80:159–165

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun XL, Xu GB, Wang FM (2011) The surface adsorption characteristics of kapok fiber (in Chinese). J Donghua Univ 37:586–589

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JT, Zheng YA, Wang AQ (2012a) Effect of kapok fiber treated with various solvents on oil absorbency. Ind Crop Prod 40:178–184

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JT, Zheng YA, Wang AQ (2012b) Superhydrophobic kapok fiber oil-absorbent: preparation and high oil absorbency. Chem Eng J 213:1–7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao H, Yu WD, Shi MW (2005) Structures and performances of the kapok fiber (in Chinese). J Text Res 26:4–6

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao H, Yu WD, Shi MW (2006) Study on the fine structure of the kapok fiber-The structure of cell walls and the sizes of fibrils (in Chinese). J Donghua Univ 32(85–90):95

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu GB, Liu W, Lou Y, Wang FM (2009) Analysis of the tensile property of kapok fiber (in Chinese). J Donghua Univ 35(525–530):574

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu G, Luo J, Lou Y, Wang F (2011) Analysis of the bending property of kapok fiber. J Text I 102:120–125

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang L (2010) Exploratory research on sizing performance of pure kapok yarns (in Chinese). J Text Res 31:34–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang L, Jin HL (2008) Analyses of kapok yarn property (in Chinese). Cotton Text Technol 36:272–274

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang L, Bi SM, Hong J (2013) Effect of blending ratio on kapok fiber cotton blended yarn property (in Chinese). Cotton Text Technol 41:30–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XY, Fu WY, Duan CT, Xiao H, Shi MW, Zhao N, Xu J (2013) Superhydrophobicity determines the buoyancy performance of kapok fiber aggregates. Appl Surf Sci 266:225–229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

We are grateful for the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21107116).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, 18# Tianshui Middle Road, Lanzhou, China

    Yian Zheng & Aiqin Wang

Authors
  1. Yian Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Aiqin Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aiqin Wang .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia

    Khalid Rehman Hakeem

  2. Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia

    Mohammad Jawaid

  3. Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia

    Umer Rashid

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Zheng, Y., Wang, A. (2014). Kapok Fiber: Structure and Properties. In: Hakeem, K., Jawaid, M., Rashid, U. (eds) Biomass and Bioenergy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07641-6_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation