Abaca, considered as the strongest natural fiber in the
world, s the only one that can match the durability of synthetic fibers.
Because of abaca’s strength, it was originally used for ship rigging and other
heavy-duty industrial applications. Up
to the present, the Philippines
is the world’s leading producer of abaca fiber, which is why abaca is also
called Manila hemp.
It is mainly grown in the Eastern
Visayas and Bicol regions and remains the backbone of the
livelihoods of thousands of families in those parts of the country.
Because of abaca’s socioeconomic impact on many Filipinos,
the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), a research and
development agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST),
continues to encourage activities that strengthen the abaca industry.
In a DOST-
ITDI-sponsored seminar, Dr. Hitoshi Takagi of the University
of Tokushima in Japan,
discussed the topic “Characterization of Abaca Fiber Reinforced Green
Composites,” in which he offered a comparative study between the properties of
untreated abaca fiber and abaca fiber treated with green composites.
According to Dr.
Takagi, the said process strengthens every single strand of a fiber by
solidifying its lumen, or the strand’s hollow part. The use of green
composites, he added, will make abaca fiber stronger and more heat resistant
than bamboo fiber.
As such, this process has the clear potential to boost and
revive the local abaca sector by posing a challenge to the dominance of
synthetic fibers in the global market.
Meanwhile, Dr. Byung-Sun
Kim, a principal researcher at the Korea Institute of Material Science (KIMS),
gave a detailed look on the many and varied applications of natural fiber
composites in items around us.
Among the many uses he presented was the use of abaca fiber
as roofing material for public utility jeepneys. Dr. Kim said that unlike
steel, abaca has lower heat conductivity that can keep temperatures cooler
inside the jeep, a major benefit considering the country’s tropical warmth and
humidity.
Likewise, he urged Filipinos to patronize locally
handcrafted bags made from natural fibers as a substitute for plastic bags when
shopping. He noted that the use of “bayong” was common but has since fallen out
of favor among shoppers. However, Dr. Kim said that plastic bags contribute
significantly to the growing problem of waste disposal, and that these are
often the reason for the clogging of sewers and waterways especially in Metro
Manila.
Dr. Kim is also
looking forward to collaborating with ITDI in abaca fiber R&D, a proposal
met with support in the gathering because of its potential impact to abaca
producers as well as related industries such as ropemaking, handicraft, and
garments.
The Seminar on Natural Fiber Composites was
participated in by representatives from other government agencies,
entrepreneurs, and university students. (Ceajay N. Valerio, S&T Media
Service)
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