Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The influence of unintended field retting on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of industrial hemp bast fibres

Journal of Materials Science volume 52, pages 5759–5777 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Developing hemp fibre composites for structural applications requires both reconsideration and optimisation of the transformation processes to obtain stable, high-quality fibre reinforcements. In this context, field retting remains an important issue because it is weather dependent and has not been completely mastered by the hemp industries. Retting can be achieved voluntarily to facilitate fibre separation and extraction from the stalks prior to mechanical decortication. However, retting can also be involuntary and result from climatic misfortune and unforeseeable events at the time of harvest. Therefore, this study aimed to quantify the influence of involuntary and non-controlled field retting on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of industrial hemp bast fibres. A wide spectrum of analytical techniques was applied, including colour spectrophotometry; morphological, microscopic (SEM), surface (EDX, roughness), biochemical (HPLC and pXRD) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses; dynamic vapour sorption; and tensile characterisation. The results indicate that retting induced a decrease in the average width of fibre elements after mechanical processing and a loss of pectic substances. We also observed a change in colour from yellow to dark grey, an increase in surface roughness and an increase in the decomposition temperature for the third mass loss region. A decrease in tensile properties at the scales of both single and technical fibres was also observed. Since no significant decrease in cellulose content was measured, this decay in mechanical performance was connected with both the significant degradation of hemicelluloses and a decrease in the fraction of crystalline cellulose that was quantified in this work.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9

Abbreviations

NR-SF:

Non-retted single fibres

NR-TF:

Non-retted technical fibres

R-SF:

Retted single fibres

R-TF:

Retted technical fibres

SF:

Single fibres

TF:

Technical fibres

References

  1. Carus M (2015) World-wide market data on hemp and other bast fibres—status and outlook. In: 12th International conference of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA), Wesseling, Germany, May 20th–21st

  2. Carus M, Karst S, Kauffmann A, Hobson J, Bertucelli S (2013) The European Hemp Industry: cultivation, processing and applications for fibres, shivs and seeds. 10th International Conference of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA), Wesseling, Germany, May 22nd–23rd

  3. Bono P, Le Duc A, Lozachmeur M, Day A (2015) Materials: new fields of research and development for the valorization of technical plant fibers (flax fiber and hemp). OCL 22(6):D613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Placet V (2009) Characterization of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of hemp fibres intended for the manufacturing of high performance composites. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 40(8):1111–1118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Placet V, Cisse O, Boubakar ML (2012) Influence of environmental relative humidity on the tensile and rotational behaviour of hemp fibres. J Mater Sci 47:3435–3446. doi:10.1007/s10853-011-6191-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Duval A, Bourmaud A, Augier L, Baley C (2011) Influence of the sampling area of the stem on the mechanical properties of hemp fibers. Mater Lett 65(4):797–800

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Thygesen A (2006) Properties of hemp fibre polymer composites—an optimisation of fibre properties using novel defibration methods and fibre characterisation, PhD Thesis, Risø National Laboratory Roskilde Denmark, p 146

  8. Bourmaud A, Baley C (2007) Investigations on the recycling of hemp and sisal fibre reinforced polypropylene composites. Polym Degrad Stab 92(6):1034–1045

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Beckermann GW, Pickering KL (2008) Engineering and evaluation of hemp fibre reinforced polypropylene composites: fibre treatment and matrix modification. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 39(6):979–988

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Lu N, Swan RH, Ferguson I (2012) Composition, structure, and mechanical properties of hemp fiber reinforced composite with recycled high-density polyethylene matrix. J Compos Mater 46(16):1915–1924

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Madsen B, Thygesen A, Lilholt H (2009) Plant fibre composites - porosity and stiffness. Compos Sci Technol 69(7–8):1057–1069

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Thygesen A, Thomsen AB, Daniel G, Lilholt H (2007) Comparison of composites made from fungal defibrated hemp with composites of traditional hemp yarn. Ind Crops Prod 25(2):147–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Pickering KL, Beckermann GW, Alam SN, Foreman NJ (2007) Optimising industrial hemp fibre for composites. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 38(2):461–468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Shah D (2013) Developing plant fibre composites for structural applications by optimising composite parameters: a critical review. J Mater Sci 48(18):6083–6107. doi:10.1007/s10853-013-7458-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Rask M, Madsen B, Sörensen BF, Fife JL, Martyniuk K, Lauridsen EM (2012) In situ observations of microscale damage evolution in unidirectional natural fibre composites. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 43(10):1639–1649

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Coroller G, Al Lefeuvre, Le Duigou A, Bourmaud A, Ausias G, Gaudry T, Baley C (2013) Effect of flax fibres individualisation on tensile failure of flax/epoxy unidirectional composite. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 51:62–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Hernandez-Estrada A, Gusovius H-J, Müssig J, Hughes M (2016) Assessing the susceptibility of hemp fibre to the formation of dislocations during processing. Ind Crops Prod 85:382–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Franck RR (ed) (2005) Bast and other plant fibres. Woodhead Publishing, Boca Raton, USA

  19. Akin DE, Condon B, Sohn M, Foulk JA, Dodd RB, Rigsby LL (2007) Optimization for enzyme-retting of flax with pectate lyase. Ind Crops Prod 25(2):136–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ribeiro A, Pochart P, Day A, Mennuni S, Bono P, Baret J-L, Spadoni J-L, Mangin I (2015) Microbial diversity observed during hemp retting. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 99(10):4471–4484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Sharma HSS, van Sumere CF (1992) The biology and processing of flax. M Publications, Belfast, Northern Ireland

  22. Liu M, Fernando D, Daniel G, Madsen B, Meyer AS, Ale MT, Thygesen A (2015) Effect of harvest time and field retting duration on the chemical composition, morphology and mechanical properties of hemp fibers. Ind Crops Prod 69:29–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Liu M, Meyer AS, Fernando D, Silva DAS, Daniel G, Thygesen A (2016) Effect of pectin and hemicellulose removal from hemp fibres on the mechanical properties of unidirectional hemp/epoxy composites. Compos A Appl Sci Manuf 90:724–735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Liu M, Silva DAS, Fernando D, Meyer AS, Madsen B, Daniel G, Thygesen A (2016) Controlled retting of hemp fibres: effect of hydrothermal pre-treatment and enzymatic retting on the mechanical properties of unidirectional hemp/epoxy composites. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 88:253–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Sisti L, Totaro G, Vannini M, Fabbri P, Kalia S, Zatta A, Celli A (2016) Evaluation of the retting process as a pre-treatment of vegetable fibers for the preparation of high-performance polymer biocomposites. Ind Crops Prod 81:56–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Di Candilo M, Bonatti PM, Guidetti C, Focher B, Grippo C, Tamburini E, Mastromei G (2010) Effects of selected pectinolytic bacterial strains on water-retting of hemp and fibre properties. J Appl Microbiol 108(1):194–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Di Candilo M, Ranalli P, Bozzi C, Focher B, Mastromei G (2000) Preliminary results of tests facing with the controlled retting of hemp. Ind Crops Prod 11(2–3):197–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Dreyer J, Müssig J, Koschke N, Ibenthal WD, Harig H (2002) Comparison of enzymatically separated Hemp and Nettle fibre to chemically separated and steam exploded hemp fibre. J Ind Hemp 7(1):43–59. doi:10.1300/J237v07n01_05

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Li Y, Pickering KL, Farrell RL (2009) Analysis of green hemp fibre reinforced composites using bag retting and white rot fungal treatments. Ind Crops Prod 29(2–3):420–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Thygesen A, Liu M, Meyer AS, Daniel G (2013) Hemp fibres: enzymatic effect of microbial processing on fibre bundle structure. In: Risoe international symposium on materials science. Proceedings, 2013. Forskningscenter Risoe Materialeforskning, pp 373–380

  31. Valladares Juarez AG, Dreyer J, Göpel PK, Koschke N, Frank D, Märkl H, Müller R (2009) Characterisation of a new thermoalkaliphilic bacterium for the production of high-quality hemp fibres, Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius strain PB94A. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 83(3):521–527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Saleem Z, Rennebaum H, Pudel F, Grimm E (2008) Treating bast fibres with pectinase improves mechanical characteristics of reinforced thermoplastic composites. Compos Sci Technol 68(2):471–476

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Akin DE, Epps HH, Archibald DD, Sharma HSS (2000) Color measurement of flax retted by various means. Text Res J 70(10):852–858

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Berzin F, Vergnes B, Beaugrand J (2014) Evolution of lignocellulosic fibre lengths along the screw profile during twin screw compounding with polycaprolactone. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 59:30–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Monties B (1984) Dosage de la lignine insoluble en milieu acide: influence du prétraitement par hydrolyse acide sur la lignine Klason de bois et de paille. Agronomie 4(4):387–392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Beaugrand J, Chambat G, Wong VWK, Goubet F, Rémond C, Paès G, Benamrouche S, Debeire P, Donohue MO, Chabbert B (2004) Impact and efficiency of GH10 and GH11 thermostable endoxylanases on wheat bran and alkali-extractable arabinoxylans. Carbohydr Res 339(15):2529–2540

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Beaugrand J, Nottez M, Konnerth J, Bourmaud A (2014) Multi-scale analysis of the structure and mechanical performance of woody hemp core and the dependence on the sampling location. Ind Crops Prod 60:193–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Thygesen A, Oddershede J, Lilholt H, Thomsen AB, Stahl K (2005) On the determination of crystallinity and cellulose content in plant fibres. Cellulose 12(6):563–576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Guicheret-Retel V, Cisse O, Placet V, Beaugrand J, Pernes M, Boubakar ML (2015) Creep behaviour of single hemp fibres. Part II: influence of loading level, moisture content and moisture variation. J Mater Sci 50(5):2061–2072. doi:10.1007/s10853-014-8768-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Wang HM, Postle R (2004) Improving the color features of hemp fibers after chemical preparation for textile applications. Text Res J 74(9):781–786

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Martin N, Mouret N, Davies P, Baley C (2013) Influence of the degree of retting of flax fibers on the tensile properties of single fibers and short fiber/polypropylene composites. Ind Crops Prod 49:755–767

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Akin DE (2013) Linen most useful: perspectives on structure, chemistry, and enzymes for retting flax. ISRN Biotechnol 2013:186534. doi:10.5402/2013/186534

  43. Müssig J (2010) Industrial applications of natural fibres: structure, properties and technical applications. doi:10.1002/9780470660324

  44. Virk A (2010) Numerical models for natural fibre composites with stochastic properties, PhD Thesis, University of Plymouth, UK, p 115

  45. Fuentes CA, Brughmans G, Tran LQN, Dupont-Gillain C, Verpoest I, Van Vuure AW (2015) Mechanical behaviour and practical adhesion at a bamboo composite interface: physical adhesion and mechanical interlocking. Compos Sci Technol 109:40–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. George M, Mussone PG, Abboud Z, Bressler DC (2014) Characterization of chemically and enzymatically treated hemp fibres using atomic force microscopy and spectroscopy. Appl Surf Sci 314:1019–1025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Amaducci S, Scordia D, Liu FH, Zhang Q, Guo H, Testa G, Cosentino SL (2015) Key cultivation techniques for hemp in Europe and China. Ind Crops Prod 68:2–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Fromm J (2010) Wood formation of trees in relation to potassium and calcium nutrition. Tree Physiol 30(9):1140–1147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Hepler PK (2005) Calcium: a central regulator of plant growth and development. Plant Cell 17(8):2142–2155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Akin DE, Henriksson G, Morrison WH, Eriksson K-EL (1998) Enzymatic retting of flax. In: Enzyme applications in fiber processing. ACS symposium series, 687 edn. American Chemical Society, pp 269–278

  51. Willats WT, McCartney L, Mackie W, Knox JP (2001) Pectin: cell biology and prospects for functional analysis. Plant Mol Biol 47(1–2):9–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Finnan J, Burke B (2013) Potassium fertilization of hemp (Cannabis sativa). Ind Crops Prod 41:419–422

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Benito B, Garciadeblás B, Fraile-Escanciano A, Rodríguez-Navarro A (2011) Potassium and sodium uptake systems in fungi. The transporter diversity of Magnaporthe oryzae. Fungal Genet Biol 48(8):812–822

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Fischer H, Müssig J (2010) Bast fibre processing and uses. In: Singh B (ed) Industrial crops and uses, p 326

  55. Marrot L, Lefeuvre A, Pontoire B, Bourmaud A, Baley C (2013) Analysis of the hemp fiber mechanical properties and their scattering (Fedora 17). Ind Crops Prod 51:317–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Jankauskienė Z, Butkutė B, Gruzdevienė E, Cesevičienė J, Fernando AL (2015) Chemical composition and physical properties of dew- and water-retted hemp fibers: Advances in Industrial Crops and Products Worldwide: AAIC 2014 international conference. Ind Crops Prod 75:206–211

  57. Liu M, Fernando D, Meyer AS, Madsen B, Daniel G, Thygesen A (2015) Characterization and biological depectinization of hemp fibers originating from different stem sections. Ind Crops Prod 76:880–891

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Blake A, Marcus S, Copeland J, Blackburn R, Knox JP (2008) In situ analysis of cell wall polymers associated with phloem fibre cells in stems of hemp, Cannabis sativa L. Planta 228(1):1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Bauer S (2012) Mass spectrometry for characterizing plant cell wall polysaccharides. Front Plant Sci 3:45. doi:10.3389/fpls.2012.00045

  60. Carpita NC, Gibeaut DM (1993) Structural models of primary cell walls in flowering plants: consistency of molecular structure with the physical properties of the walls during growth. Plant J 3(1):1–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Yasuda S, Fukushima K, Kakehi A (2001) Formation and chemical structures of acid-soluble lignin I: sulfuric acid treatment time and acid-soluble lignin content of hardwood. J Wood Sci 47(1):69–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Beaugrand J, Berzin F (2013) Lignocellulosic fiber reinforced composites: influence of compounding conditions on defibrization and mechanical properties. J Appl Polym Sci 128(2):1227–1238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Williams PT, Besler S (1993) Thermogravimetric analysis of the components of biomass. In: Bridgwater AV (ed) Advances in thermomechanical biomass conversion, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 711–782

    Google Scholar 

  64. Kabir MM (2012) Effects of chemical treatments on Hemp fibre reinforced polyester composite. University of Southern Queensland, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  65. Ouajai S, Shanks RA (2005) Composition, structure and thermal degradation of hemp cellulose after chemical treatments. Polym Degrad Stab 89(2):327–335. doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2005.01.016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Placet V, Trivaudey F, Cisse O, Gucheret-Retel V, Boubakar ML (2012) Diameter dependence of the apparent tensile modulus of hemp fibres: a morphological, structural or ultrastructural effect? Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 43(2):275–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  67. Virk AS, Hall W, Summerscales J (2010) Failure strain as the key design criterion for fracture of natural fibre composites. Compos Sci Technol 70(6):995–999

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Placet V, Cisse O, Boubakar L (2014) Nonlinear tensile behaviour of elementary hemp fibres. Part I: investigation of the possible origins using repeated progressive loading with in situ microscopic observations. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 56:319–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Placet V, Cisse O, Boubakar ML (2012) Influence of environmental relative humidity on the tensile and rotational behaviour of hemp fibres. J Mater Sci 47(7):3435–3446. doi:10.1007/s10853-011-6191-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  70. Hill CAS, Norton A, Newman G (2009) The water vapor sorption behavior of natural fibers. J Appl Polym Sci 112(3):1524–1537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  71. Bessadok A, Langevin D, Gouanvé F, Chappey C, Roudesli S, Marais S (2009) Study of water sorption on modified Agave fibres. Carbohydr Polym 76(1):74–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Francois Gaudard from FARE for his skilful technical assistance in HPLC, lignin quantification and MEB support. The authors also express theirs thanks to Miguel Pernes for the DVS support. Additionally, Justine Padovani is acknowledged for her critical discussion. Roland Salut, Thomas Jeannin and Paul Tourneroche from FEMTO-ST are thanked for their assistance in energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, surface roughness measurements and ATG, respectively, and Virginie Moutarlier from UTINAM is acknowledged for performing XRD measurements. The authors would also like to thank La Chanvrière Company in France for supplying the hemp fibres. Johnny Beaugrand acknowledges the financial support from the CPER MATRICE state-to-country France-Champagne-Ardenne programme.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, FEMTO-ST Institute, CNRS/UFC/ENSMM/UTBM, 25000, Besançon, France

    Vincent Placet

  2. Fibres Recherche Développement, Technopole de l’Aube en Champagne, Hôtel de Bureaux 2 – 2 rue Gustave Eiffel, CS 90601 - 10901, Troyes Cedex 9, France

    Arnaud Day

  3. CNRS, UMR8576, UGSF- Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, Unité de Lille, 59000, Lille, France

    Arnaud Day

  4. INRA, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100, Reims, France

    Johnny Beaugrand

Authors
  1. Vincent Placet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Arnaud Day
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Johnny Beaugrand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vincent Placet.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Placet, V., Day, A. & Beaugrand, J. The influence of unintended field retting on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of industrial hemp bast fibres. J Mater Sci 52, 5759–5777 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-017-0811-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-017-0811-5

Keywords

search

Navigation