Suitability of Nettle Fiber for Textile Production

Nettle plants widely exist in China, but up to now there is no research regarding Chinese nettle fiber properties, especially about its spinnability. This paper has studied the properties of Chinese nettle fiber and its spinnability, The research results show that the average length of nettle fiber is about 34 mm, the nettle fiber fineness ranging from 0. 589 to 0. 769 tex. Nettle fiber has high breaking strength, low breaking extension and high initial modulus. Both the biochemical method and chemical method can meet the requirement of nettle degumming, with the residual being less than 4%. Nettle fiber can be utilised as textile material and can be spun in rotor-spinning machines after well degummed .