It is also high in dietary fibre, protein, iron, calcium, manganese, thiamin, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper. The specific epithet, usitatissimum, means "most useful". Flax also so much popular for the comfortableness and softness. It has been found in ancient tombs and was used in burial shrouds for Egyptian pharaohs. Flax is an annual crop, which when fully grown reaches a height of 50 to 100cms. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, flax - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Fibres and dyes. A follow-up to the enthusiastic response of 2018 Design Week's panel discussion, "Connecting Threads: Rebuilding our Domestic Apparel System", Shannon Welsh and Angela Wartes-Kahl of Fibrevolution, present a primer about this incredible bast fiber. Fine linen fabrics, indicating a high degree of skill, have been discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs. Because linen absorbs and releases moisture quickly and is a good conductor of heat, linen garments have a cooling effect on the wearer. Fine linen fabrics have been discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs. Plants cultivated for seed are shorter and many-branched. Harvesting the fibre usually takes place after the lower portion of the stalk has turned yellow but before the fruit is fully mature. These technical fibers consist of elementary fibers with lengths generally between 2 and 5 cm, and diameters between 10 and 25 Pm. Remnants of flax fabric (linen) have been found in excavations at the historic lake regions of Switzerland, which date back to about 10,000 B.C. Developing the foundation for a sustainable, ethical, thriving agricultural and fibre-arts business that produces dynamic, fun, and accessible linen pieces within 200 km of where the flax is sowed. The end result of this project is linen, however it begins as flax. …is probably the discovery of flax and wool fabrics at excavation sites of the Swiss lake dwellers (7th and 6th centuries. Although linen increases in strength when wet, the excessive use of alkalies in laundering can weaken the fibres. Evidence of its use has been found in the prehistoric lake dwellings of Switzerland. It is a natural, cellulosic, multi-cellular bast fiber. It is also known as linen. “Today, we are pleased to announce that we have created a sustainable, commercially viable com. 23rd September 2010. The fibre, which is very high in cellulose, is extracted first by "retting" (rotting either by water or dew) and then by "scutching" the stalks. Lower grades are also used in the paper industry (largely for cigarette tissue manufacture) and, in a chopped form, in the automobile industry and for insulation purposes. The strands of flax fibre are embedded longitudinally in the stalk of the plant, between the outer epidermis and the central woody tissue. Natural fibres are mostly used for the production of underwear and apparel, especially for higher level products. The flax plant produces the flax fibres used to make linen. The fabric and yarn which is collected from the flax plant is called linen. From fields of golden flax to linen fiber... Oregon's Willamette Valley has a storied history with linen fiber, and a bright future ahead. It can be bleached to a pure white but dyeing is somewhat difficult because the fibres are not readily penetrated. It is used for fashionable apparel, fine household textiles, technical textile. Flax fibre is amongst the world’s oldest natural fibre crops. A bast fibre, flax is one of the oldest textile fibres. Linen is a flax-based textile that is predominantly used for homeware applications. Linen is a bast fiber, meaning it is obtained from the stem of a plant – in this case, the flax plant. The other countries which have flax growing areas are North Ireland, Egypt, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, France, USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand please follow the … In the 17th century the German states and Russia were major sources of raw material, and the linen industry was established in the Netherlands, Ireland, England, and Scotland. Linen, Fibre, yarn, and fabric made from the flax plant. Analytical differentiation is complicated by strong interventions into these fibres during the textile The leaves, alternating on the stalk, are small and lance-shaped. These fibres are composed mainly of cellulose and some lignin and are sometimes called ligno-cellulosic fibres. Updates? This year, Fernandez took her love of textiles one step further. The fabric and yarn which is collected from the flax plant is called linen. YFL is situated in Kolkata. Phoenician traders apparently brought linen from the Mediterranean area to Gaul and Britain, and the Romans introduced linen manufacture throughout their empire. Flax is planted in spring. Flax fibers are naturally smooth and straight. It is resistant to attack by microorganisms, and its smooth surface repels dirt. Flax is stronger than cotton as its polymers lie almost parallel to the fiber axis. Fibre. Some higher specification textile flax qualities are used in the production of bank note paper. Linen fabric is made from the cellulose fibers that grow inside of the stalks of the flax plant, or Linum usitatissimum, one of the oldest cultivated plants in human history. Flax is grown in wide areas of temperate and sub-tropical regions of both hemispheres. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? Flax fibre is obtained from the stems of the LINUM USITATISSIMUM plant, belonging to the LINACÆ family. Though flax has lost some of its value as a commercial fibre crop owing to the availability of synthetic fibres, flaxseed has grown in popularity as a health food, and flax remains economically significant in a number of countries around the world, including China, Russia, and Canada. Linen fiber is collected from the flax fiber. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Flaxseed, or linseed, harvested from flax (. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Following the process of retting, the straw is dried and then scutched, a process which by mechanical means breaks down the pith, or "boon", and removes it as completely as possible from the fibre. According to some reports, it uses less water and uses less energy than the production of cotton. Properties of Flax fibers: flax is a natural fiber and this fiber is used to make most of the expensive cloth which is most comfort to wear. The plant is adaptable to a variety of soils and climates but grows best in well-drained sandy loam and in temperate climates. fiber fragmentation test for flax fiber failure strain and strength characterization is considered. It also can be used in cooking, though it is somewhat unstable and goes rancid quickly. Once the fiber is spun, it is called linen. It is a natural, cellulosic, bast and multi cellular fiber. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Flax fibres are 9% lighter than any equivalent carbon material and offer significantly better vibration damping. Flax is one of the oldest textile fibres used by humans; evidence of its use has been found in Switzerland’s prehistoric lake dwellings. Flax Fiber Art of producing Linen from flax plant was known earlier than 2500 BC, though flax production was introduced to the industry in 12th century. Fibre colour ranges from buff to gray, with the best qualities creamy white. While linen is similar to cotton, it is made from fibers derived from the stems of the flax plant instead of the bolls that grow around cotton seeds. Generally speaking the blue flowered variety produces fine, good quality fibre, whereas the white-flower plant produces stronger but coarser fibre. The strands of flax fibre are embedded longitudinally in the stalk of the plant, between the outer epidermis and the central woody tissue. Many other bast fiber plants have been used for textiles throughout history and the world. Thanks to Bcomp’s ampliTex flax fabric and powerRibs technology, the greater vibration absorption and impact resistance makes the natural fibre material well suited to use in the driver’s seat. Their properties are similar and they are scarcely differentiated at the fibre form. The prepared fibre of the New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax) became the basis of most clothing. It was not until the early part of the nineteenth century that cotton began to challenge this premier position. © 2021 Wigglesworth & Co. Limited. Flax fiber is botanically known as “Linum usitatissimum”. Linseed oil, derived from the seeds, is used in the production of paints, printing inks, linoleum, varnish, and oilcloth. Omissions? Harvesting flax near Hrodna, in western Belarus. Deeply intrigued with all aspects of the process of creating textiles, Fernandez decided earlier this year to grow, process, and spin her own flax—the fiber used to make linen. Lower grades are used for products requiring strength and the ability to withstand moisture—such as canvas, twine, fire hose, bagging, industrial sewing thread, and fishnet. It is also known as linen fiber. Today flax production for commercial textile purposes (it is also grown widely for its oil-yielding seed, especially in North America, India and China) is primarily in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Belo-Rus, Ukraine, Egypt and China. Flax and hemp are cellulose fibres produced from stocks of row material. Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is a bast fibre plant cultivated for the production of fibres, for use in a wide range of woven and non-woven end uses. An update to Camira’s Craggan family of natural wool upholstery textiles, Craggan Flax incorporates natural bast fibres (a material gathered from the phloem surrounding the plant’s stem) to enhance the characteristics of the pure wool without the need for … The use of textile flax for heavier quality products purposes, such as canvas and toweling, has declined in recent years and its main use today is for finer textile fabric yarns (including blending with wool, silk and cotton as well as synthetic fibre). Short flax fiber. The word linen comes from the Latin name for flax. The use of flax for weaving into "linen" cloth dates back to the Egyptian dynasties over four thousand years ago and from the latter part of the Middle Ages it became the most commonly used textile material in Europe. The seeds can be eaten raw or toasted; added ground or whole to salads, morning cereal, and smoothies; or incorporated into baked goods. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Flax fiber is obtained from the stalk of the flax plant. Fine grades of flax fibres are made into woven fabrics and laces for apparel and household furnishings. We use cookies to give you the best online experience. Its diameter varies from 40 to 80 μm. Flax fibers have been used for textile utilization such as woven, knitting and technical textiles for many centuries. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. It is stronger than cotton, dries more quickly, and is more slowly affected by exposure to sunlight. It is the first natural fiber that was produced industrially from the flax plant. Moreover, flax fibers are used to make linen. UCL is the largest bast fibre processing & manufacturing unit in India with a capacity to produce over 1000 tons per month of cottonised fibres (Flax, Jute & Hemp) and over 40 tons of dry spun flax yarn per month. There is non-standardized grading system, as it is an annual crop, and fibre quality can vary due to the variations in the weather conditions during the growing season. Sales are normally affected on the basis of samples delivered from each annual crop. Various studies have been conducted to assess the fibre-to-mortar bond properties and to investigate the tensile behaviour of TRMs based on plant textiles, such as flax, hemp, coir, sisal, and jute. Flax is a herbaceous annual. The fruits are small dry capsules composed of five lobes. At first it is used in the industry among all of the vegetable fiber. When it approaches maturity (after 70 to 100 days depending upon weather conditions), blue (vulgare) or white (album) flowers are produced depending on the variety. The fibre strands, which measure about 30 to 75 cm (12 to 30 inches) long, are made up of individual cylindrically shaped cells with fairly smooth surfaces. Hemp and flax are the most well-known bast fibers, followed perhaps by ramie, a nettle-like plant native to eastern Asia used for coarse fabrics and rope. Linen fiber is collected from the flax fiber. Flax, hemp, jute and kenaf are bast fibres, fibres which develop in the bast of the plant. Flax, (Linum usitatissimum), plant of the family Linaceae, cultivated both for its fibre, from which linen yarn and fabric are made, and for its nutritious seeds, called flaxseed or linseed, from which linseed oil is obtained. When densely planted for fibre, plants average 0.9 to 1.2 metres (3 to 4 feet) in height, with slender stalks 2.5 to 4 mm (about 0.10 to 0.15 inch) in diameter and with branches concentrated at the top. Linen fiber is relatively smooth, straight and lustrous, linen fiber is more brittle and less flexible than cotton.It is more difficult to prepare and spin into yarn. The fibre, which is very high in cellulose, is extracted first by "retting" (rotting either by water or dew) and then by "scutching" the stalks. All Textile Flax fibre is sold in accordance with samples provided against specific orders. Garments made of linen are desirable in hot and humid climates. Fabric made from flax is called linen. As a result, our customers can always find the solution that suits them the best. A bast fibre, flax is one of the oldest textile fibres. Flax fibers are used to make linen. In early summer it produces blue flowers and it is harvested in late summer after the plant has reached its full height of 2 to 3 feet. Flax is a bast fibre found in the stem of the plant 'Linium usitatissium' The plant is cultivated in cold and humid condition So the plantation is centered in cold countries. The fibre is stronger than cotton and also strongest when wet, rather than when dry. Flax is an annual plant, which means it only lives for one growing season. Māori made textiles from a number of plants, including harakeke (New Zealand flax), wharariki, tī kōuka, tōī, pingao, kiekie and toetoe—although the paper mulberry was introduced by Māori, who knew it as aute, it seems not to have thrived and bark cloth was always rare.. Evidence of its use has been found in the prehistoric lake dwellings of Switzerland. Flax fiber Directory for Textile Industry Flax is often considered the oldest fiber used in the Western world. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Flax is a bast fiber which is cultivated in cold and humid condition. Flax fiber is obtained from the stalk of the flax plant. Linen is valued for its strength, lustre, durability, and moisture absorbency. At first it is used in the industry among all of the vegetable fiber. It is shown that fiber fragmentation ... are isolated from the flax plant for the use in textile industry. Flax fiber is 10–100 cm in length. Raw materials that we get from flax can be applied in bio-polymers, aerospace and automotive industries as well as for production of agro fine chemicals. The Short flax fibers are especially relevant in the production of dry spun yarn (small counts), paper, insulation, and the automobile industry. Low elasticity, imparting hard, smooth texture, also makes linen subject to wrinkling, which can be reduced by chemical treatment. Flax is also grown as an ornamental plant in gardens. The major source of supply of flax is from old U.S.S.R. lets have a discussion about properties of flax fiber. Flax, hemp and jute have more or less similar morphologies and can have similar functions in the composite. Flax is grown for its seeds, which can be ground into a meal or turned into linseed oil, a product used as a nutritional supplement and as an ingredient in many wood-finishing products. Russian flax was used for marine ropes in the British Navy until it was superseded by the use of Abaca Fibre. In most areas planting of the same land with flax is limited to once in six years to avoid soil exhaustion. Innovation in Textiles | Portland, OR The characteristics of the fibre are great strength, fineness and durability. There are, however, accepted "high", "medium" and "low" quality parameters, which are widely used in the industry. Flax is one of the oldest textile fibers. It is a natural, cellulosic, bast and multi cellular fiber. Cool moist growing seasons produce the most-desirable fibre. It has the highest level of ALA of any vegetable oil, and food-grade linseed oil is sometimes taken as a nutritional supplement. Linen is a textile made from hairs of the flax plant. Fine linen fabrics, indicating a high degree of skill, have been discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs. The productivity of processing using flax is said to be twice as efficient as it is with hemp, yielding nearly twice as much usable fibre after going through the Crailar process. The flowers, borne on stems growing from the branch tips, have five petals, usually blue in colour but sometimes white or pink. Linen is an ancient fiber. In North America the expansion of the cotton industry reduced the importance of linen. J. Müssig, N. Graupner, Characterisation of Fibre/Matrix Adhesion in Biobased Fibre‐Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites, Textile Finishing, 10.1002/9781119426790, … Cotton, wool, flax and silk are the main natural fibres used in the clothing industry with cotton being the most widely produced. the latter, which is considerably different in price. Flax fibers have been used for textile utilization such Therefore we provide different qualities of impurities. All rights reserved. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Summary: The use of lignocellulosic fibers, pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) and sisal as reinforcements in thermoplastic and thermosetting resins for developing low cost and lightweight composites is an emerging field of research in polymer science and technology. 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