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.--
- Manila; Technological University of the Philippines 2024.
- xii 105pages 29cm.
Bachelor's thesis
College of Industrial Technology.--
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.