From paper, cordage, furniture, and handicraft industries, uses of abaca (Musa textilis Nee) have extended to natural fiber-reinforced plastic composite material to replace some parts of cars.

Dr. Leslie Joy Lanticse-Diaz, chair, Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, shared this information with natural fiber stakeholders at the recently concluded National Conference on Natural Fibers held at Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City. The study conducted by a team of researchers led by Dr. Diaz aimed, among other things, to incorporate the natural fiber into plastic matrices for various applications. Research results show that the fiber of abaca or Manila hemp displayed a tensile strength of up to 970 MPa, which means that 140,686 pounds per square inch of force is needed to break this fiber. Abaca fiber was also reported to reach a maximum of 3 meters that gives it the advantage of length. She explained that these were among the factors that made abaca fiber viable for automotive composites. The researchers also concluded that weave construction and weave patterns are significant parameters to be optimized to ensure better control and consistency in the properties of the composite to be constructed with abaca as the natural fiber reinforcement.

A 150-percent increase in disease-free abaca plantlets was recorded from tissue culture technique while 114 kilograms of dried fibers per day are produced by a portable stripping machine introduced to abaca farmers.

This was according to a team of researchers led by Dr. Ruben M. Gapasin of the National Abaca Research Center (NARC) as he presented the NARC-developed production and post-harvest technologies during the recently concluded National Conference on Natural Fibers held at Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City. He explained that with tissue culture techniques, or the growing and propagation of plant cells, tissues, and organs on an artificial medium under sterile and controlled environment, 124,518 virus-free abaca plantlets were produced from 500 suckers. Tissue-cultured plantlets are pegged at P4.50 each while plantlets from conventional breeding method sell at P8 to P10 apiece.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has laid out a road map to define the future of natural fibers for textile manufacture in the Philippines.

DOST, through the Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development and the Philippine Textile Research Institute, led the stakeholders in natural fibers industry in drafting the Science and Technology Road Map for Philippine Tropical Fabrics and Ethnic Textiles, which would spell out policy formulation and actions on the efficient use, processing, and production of this raw material to revitalize the local textile industry.

Fiber stakeholders will gather to discuss the current and future trends of Philippine natural fibers in response to global challenges at a national conference on December 2, 2009.

The Department of Science Technology, through the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) and the Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (PCIERD), and other participating agencies will showcase the latest technology developments and innovations in natural fiber production, processing and utilization, and encourage the exchange of ideas and knowledge sharing on natural fibers at the said one-day event to be held at Dusit Thani, Makati City.

Science Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro offers a portfolio of upgraded and optimized natural dye technologies developed by the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) to assist weavers of traditional fabrics across the Philippines.