Plants as Sources of Cloth and Industrial Products

Jute bags that we use in our daily life are eco-friendly, reusable products that are made up of plant fibres called jute. Plant fibres are sclerenchyma elongated cells that occur in different parts of plants, mainly in the stems and leaves. Cotton, hemp, flax are also some of the fibres that we get from plants. These fibres are mainly used in making different types of fabrics.

Gum, tannin, rubber, timber, quinine, penicillin are some of the industrial and medicinal products that we obtain from plants. These products are used in different industries which mainly help humankind. Let us scroll down to know more about Plants as sources of cloth and industrial products.

Plant Fibre

Plant fibres are fibres that are extracted from plants. Fibres are materials that are thin, long, flexible, and thread-like. The fibre is extracted from the source and spun into yarn. After that, yarn is woven or knitted into cloth. They are natural fibres since they are obtained naturally and directly from various plant sources. Natural fibres or plant fibres include cotton, hemp, jute, flax, etc.

1. Cotton: Cotton fibres come from the seed of the cotton plant. It’s a fluffy, silky fibre. It’s an excellent absorbent. It is one of the more classic textile fibres. It is one of the most popular fibres since the cloth manufactured from it is both durable and has a nice drape. It’s also moisture-absorbent and silky smooth to the touch. Another characteristic of cotton fabric is that it takes a long time to dry. It’s used in bath towels, the textile industry, and the pharmaceutical industry, among other things. However, it wrinkles readily, necessitating frequent ironing.

Fig: Cotton

2. Jute: The stem of the jute plant is used to make jute fibre. The major constituents are cellulose and lignin. When the plant begins to flower, it is harvested for jute fibre. The harvested plant stems are submerged in water for a few days then the stems will rot, and the fibres are removed by hand. All these fibres are first spun into yarns before being used to produce fabrics. Jute is occasionally combined with other materials or used on its own in the manufacture of clothing. Jute is used to produce twine, doormats, sacks, chairs, slippers, curtains, rope, carpets, tables and bags. Dress fabrics are made from finer jute threads.

Fig: Jute

3. Hemp: Hemp is the soft, long-lasting, naturally produced bast fibres derived from Cannabis plants. It is one of the extremely fast plants in the world, and it was one of the first plants to be spun into fibre almost 50,000 years ago. Even now, there remains considerable demand for this product. Paper, rope, textiles, clothes, biodegradable plastics, paint, insulation, biofuel, and food are just some of the commercial products that may be made from it. It can also be used as animal bedding or garden mulch.

Fig: Hemp

4. Flax: Flax fibre, like jute fibre, is a bast fibre. It is mostly grown in cooler climates around the world. Flax fibres are 2-3 times stronger than cotton fibres. It is naturally straight and smooth. It is used in the textile and apparel industry to manufacture high-quality papers, surgical threads, handkerchiefs, ropes, etc. The flax plant is used to produce linen cloth. Linen is commonly used in the production of summer clothing and home linens.

Fig: Flax

Industrial Products from Plants

The industrial products received from plants are as follows:

Gum from a Tree

Gums are sap or resinous, adhesive plant compounds that form specialised ducts in many plants. This material is frequently polysaccharide-based and is found in woody plants, particularly under the bark or as a seed coating. When exposed to water, the gums swell and form a viscous mass. They are insoluble in alcohol but soluble in water. They have a colloidal structure. They contain a lot of sugar and are related to pectins. They can be found in adhesives, soaps, printing inks, paints, confectionery, and other products. Acacia senegal is the best Arabic gum in commerce.

Fig: Acacia senegal

Tannins in Plants

Tannins can be found generally in tree bark, wood, leaves, buds, stems, fruits, seeds, roots, plants, galls, etc. It’s a colourless substance that dissolves in water to produce astringent flavour solutions. They are mostly used in the tanning of leather, dyeing of fabrics, and the production of ink, as well as in a variety of medical applications. They are valuable commercially due to their ability to generate an insoluble colloidal compound (leather) with animal hides. Tannins are also what give black and green teas their astringency, colour, and some of their flavour.

Rubber in Plants

Natural rubber is one of the most significant polymers for human society. Hevea brasiliensis, a member of the Euphorbiaceae family, is the most significant rubber plant. Latex is a milky liquid that can be found in latex vessels (ducts) or rubber-producing plant cells and is used to make natural rubber. It’s found in medical gadgets, surgical gloves, plane and vehicle tyres, pacifiers, clothing, toys, etc.

Fig: Rubber Plant

Timber yielding Plants

Wood is the most familiar and important forest product because it is required for the construction of houses and the manufacture of furniture. The rise of civilization has been significantly assisted using wood. Apart from food and clothing, wood is the most used commodity today. It is one of the industry’s most vital and adaptable raw materials. For these objectives, we prefer wood because of its endurance, attractive finish, and resilience to temperature variations. Timber is a type of wood that is useful for carpentry and construction. Teak, saal, sheesham, pine, deodar, mango, etc., are some of the most common timber yielding plants.

Fig: Teak Plant

Medicinal Plants

Medicinal plants have been regarded as a rich source of substances that can be used in traditional medicine practices since prehistoric times. Quinine is a malaria treatment made from the bark of the cinchona plant. The first antibiotic, penicillin, was discovered in 1928 by Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming. The fungus Penicillium notatum produces penicillin. Aloe, tulsi, neem, turmeric, and ginger are all medicinal plants that can help with a variety of diseases.

Fig: Penicillin

Fig: Cinchona Plant

Summary

Plant fibres are fibres that are derived from plants. Fibres are thin, long, flexible, thread-like materials. Cotton, hemp, jute, flax, etc., are examples of natural fibres. Cotton fibres come from the seed of the cotton plant. The stem of the jute plant is used to make jute fibre. Hemp is the soft, long-lasting, naturally produced bast fibres derived from Cannabis plants. The flax plant is used to produce linen cloth. The best gum Arabic of commerce is Acacia senegal. Tannins can be found generally in tree bark, wood, leaves, buds, stems, fruits, seeds, roots, plants, galls, etc. Hevea brasiliensis, a member of the Euphorbiaceae family, is the most significant rubber plant.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Plants as Sources of Cloth and Industrial Products

Q.1. Which plant is used as a source of clothing material?
Ans: Cotton, flax, jute, hemp, bamboo fibre, etc., are all sources of clothing material.

Q.2. What is latex?
Ans: Latex is a milky liquid that can be found in latex vessels (ducts) or rubber-producing plant cells that are used to make natural rubber.

Q.3. What is coir?
Ans: Coir is made from coconut plant fibres that are naturally produced. This coir fibre is made mostly from coconut husks and is commonly used in the production of floor mats, brushes, gunny bags or sacks, and ropes.

Q.4. Which fibre crop is known as golden fibre?
Ans: Jute is known as the golden fibre because of its yellowish-brown colour and high economic value.

Q.5. Name the fungus through which penicillin is obtained.
Ans: The fungus Penicillium notatum produces penicillin.

Hope this detailed article on Plants as Sources of Cloth and Industrial Products helps you in your preparation. In case of any query, reach us in the comment section and we will get back to you at the earliest.