Flax fibre-extraction and quality characteristics

Stalks of flax varieties viz., DLV1, Himalini and No55x NL115 were collected from AICRP, MULLARP Scheme, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad for extraction of fibres in water, chemical and enzymatic retting methods. The extracted fibres were assessed for quantity and quality parameters viz., fibre yield, fibre length, microscopic appearance and fibre solubility in different chemicals. The results of the study revealed that, urea retting method yielded higher percentage of fibres, enzyme retted fibres gave longer length of the fibre. The fibre yield was higher in Himalini variety while the fibre length was higher in DLV 1 and No55x NL115 variety. Flax fibres were soluble in 50 per cent sulphuric acid concentrated whereas insoluble in alkalies and solvents.