Microscopic and chemical characterization of vegetal textile fibers from Malvaceae family

• Grant number: 10/13295-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2010
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Júlia Baruque Ramos
• Grantee: Raquel Seawright Alonso
• Host Institution: Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades (EACH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In Brazil, the textile industry is showing increasing investments in technology, research and innovations, resulting in improvements to the consumers, environmental and economic perspectives to the Brazilian community. The study of biodegradable fibers is important to encourage their presence in the market and thereby promoting development by means of sustainability. Therefore, the importance of studies aiming analysis of new vegetal origin materials with potential for the textile industry.Thus, the general objective of this study is the microscopic and chemical characterization of 04 vegetal species from Malvaceae family, namely: Sida cordifolia L., Sida rhombifolia L. Sidastrum paniculatum (L.) Fryxell and Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Gurck. These fibers will be tested for transverse and longitudinal optical microscopy, combustion, effect of acids, alkalis and organic solvent and pH of the aqueous extract determination. These will be compared with other ones from fibers that present recognized employability in the textile industry.