Comparison and Analysis on Moisture Absorption Performances of Pineapple Leaf Fiber and Other Plant Fibers

Abstract

Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and other test methods were used to examine the microcosmic morphologies of pineapple leaf fiber and fibers of flax, ramie and cotton. Test results showed that the pineapple leaf fiber's morphological structure is different from the other three's because of its larger specific surface area. Pineapple leaf fiber's crystallinity is close to those of flax fiber and ramie fiber and higher than that of cotton fiber. Under standard tropical conditions, oven dryer and regression model were used to test and analyze the four fibers' moisture absorption and desorption performances. Test results also showed that pineapple leaf fiber's moisture absorption performance is the highest and cotton's is the lowest. Pineapple leaf fiber's moisture regain rate after reaching moisture absorption equilibrium and moisture absorption rate were close to flax fiber and ramie fiber's and its moisture regain rate after moisture desorption equilibrium and moisture desorption rate were higher than those of flax and ramie.