Development of a Woven Textile Fiber using Dragon Fruit Foliage Fiber Trisha Althea A. Barruga, Maybelyn B. Cayabyab, Adrian N. Gilbuela, Redentor L. Irinco and Rose Angeli Mae B. Trongco.--

Bachelor's thesis

College of Industrial Technology.-- Bachelor of Technology in Apparel and Fashion Technology Technological University of the Philippines 2024.

Includes bibliographic references and index.

The red-fleshed pitaya, often called the dragon fruit plant (Hylocereus costaricensis), is a
climbing cactus that belongs to the Cactaceae family. The leaves are usually thrown away
as agricultural waste, but the fruits are highly prized. This study investigates dragon fruit
foliage's potential as an affordable and environmentally friendly textile material that can
replace conventional natural fibers. Water retting, which entailed soaking the foliage in
water for two to three hours to separate the fibers, was the method used to extract the fibers.
These fibers were afterward woven with 67% cotton yarn to create a textile. According to
laboratory studies, the fabric passed abrasion testing when rubbed against a 120-grit
sandpaper surface with a 5-newton force, demonstrated a tensile strength of 195 N/20mm,
a tearing strength of 6.3 N/60mm, and an ignition point of 198°C in flammability testing.
Fifty participants from various institutions assessed the cloth using a predetermined
evaluation criterion. An average grade of 4.60 was given to it, meaning that it was
considered highly acceptable. The results show that the leaves of dragon fruit can be turned
into a useful textile material. This invention not only gives the textile sector a sustainable
substitute but also offers a way to cut down on agricultural waste.