Kenaf bast fibers are derived from bark of the Hibiscus Cannabinus L plant. The fibers are biodegradable, renewable and environmentally benign. Demand for moldable nonwoven fabrics containing kenaf for automobile interiors is increasing.

Raw kenaf fibers consist of coarse bundles of single fiber cells glued together by lignin and pectin in a meshwork of interconnected single fibers. These fibers have to be chemically retted and refined. To efficiently card the fibers on a cotton card some of the binding glue (lignin and pectin) has to be removed so that the resulting fibers will have bundle fragments that are fine enough to card. Continuing research efforts at SRRC have resulted in a simplified chemical retting of mechanically harvested fibers. Chemical retting procedures have been developed for two distinctly different varieties of kenaf, namely, Forage harvested Tainug-2, 1.5-3 inch short fibers supplied by Mississippi State University, and naturally retted Cultivar Everglades-41, 40”-50” long ribbons supplied by University of Arkansas. Development of chemical retting procedures is expected to provide guidelines for retting of any kenaf variety.

In addition to chemical retting and the application of a card-finish to the fibers, certain properties of needlepunched thermoformable composites made with kenaf and other vegetable fibers for auto interiors are also described. Chemically retted and finished kenaf fibers were processed in combination with other fibers such as greige cotton, recycled polyester and polypropylene.