Abaca is a strong fibrous crop. It is among the strongest natural fibers in the world. The Philippines has an abundant supply and is the biggest exporter of it.
The flexibility and durability of abaca (Musa textilis) have long been used in a variety of industrial applications, from textiles and paper products to ropes, fishnets, and hoisting cables. Its resistance to damage by saltwater makes it an ideal material for fishing lines, marine cables, and ropes.
For this reason, the Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) has been researching Philippine natural fibers, specifically on abaca.
Through its Materials Science Division (MSD), it has developed an abaca fiber nano-composite, for use in the transport industry as an alternative material.
The composite, composed of compressed abaca fibers reinforced with resin, is lightweight, durable, waterproof, corrosion-resistant, has good insulation, and cheaper to produce than the more commonly used fiberglass, steel, or galvanized iron.
It has been successfully tested in transport applications, firstly as canopies for tricycles, and more recently, in the hull construction of rescue boats.
Its potential as an alternative material for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is currently being studied, among other applications.
Learn more about ITDI’s R&D efforts on natural fibers at the Consultative Meeting and Stakeholders’ Forum on Nanoclay and Natural Fiber/Thermoplastic Composites on December 18, 2020. (RRUdelaCruz//DOST-ITDI S&T Media Service)
