New spins on natural fibers

The Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) has discovered how to convert the hard, coarse and stiff fibers of indigenous plants into soft spun yarns, a potential boost to use of renewable resources in textile manufacture. The PTRI process involves fiber pretreatment with alkaline chemicals and mechanical processing with fluted rollers to make fibers spinnable into yarns with medium to coarse gauges. “Blended with polyester, cotton or silk, yarns from the fibers are applicable for apparel, home textiles and industrial uses,” says PTRI chief Carlos Tomboc, who estimates that the pretreatment technology will be commercially available within three years.