Thermal Insulation Behavior of Chemically Treated Jute Fiber Quilt

Jute fibers are explored here as a raw material of quilt for thermal insulation. Alkali treatment of the jute fibers has been conducted to make the fibers soft, bulky, porous, and crimpy. Process of alkali treatment has been optimized by Box-Behnken response surface design to develop maximum crimp in the fiber structure. A good negative correlation (-0.91) has been observed between fiber crimp and thermal conductivity of quilts prepared thereof. Highest crimp (28.88%) and lowest thermal conductivity (0.378 W/mK) of the jute quilt has been observed when jute fibers are woollenized at low level of reaction temperature, medium level of time and at high level of alkali concentration. Even, thermal conductivity of the woollenized jute quilt is found lower than domestic cotton and commercial polyester fiber quilts. Scanning electron microscope images of woollenized jute fiber reveal that after alkali treatment bundled jute fiber strands are individualized due to removal of surface binder lignin creating bulky and porous morphology.

Automated summary

Jute fibers treated with alkali can be used as raw materials for thermal insulation quilts, with optimized process for maximum crimp in fiber structure. The thermal conductivity of woollenized jute quilt is lower than domestic cotton and commercial polyester fiber quilts, due to the removal of surface binder lignin creating bulky and porous morphology in the fibers.