It is difficult to imagine the whole bamboo plant – including both its leaves and tall, stems woody tissue can be transformed into soft, silky.

Among the 1,250 species of bamboo, 1,000 are in the tropics. China has the largest number of species of bamboo and is the largest producer of bamboo in the world. Bamboo is an amazingly fast-growing crops that can easily be grown organically, without harming the environment.

Is used for a wide variety of commercial uses, including:

– Food: its shoots are edible and widely exported
– Construction: wood is used in the construction as a substitute for wood
– Decoration: the wood is hand made in the articles are used as outdoor and indoor decoration
– Clothing: fiber are processed to create a silk-smooth

Bamboo fabric for the market is harvested at about 4-5 years after planting. The fabric itself is feeling of silk, but much more affordable. It is also easier to care for, since it is wrinkle resistant and dries quickly. It also has components natural anti-bacterial and SPF, making it an excellent choice for baby clothes.

There are two types of fibers of bamboo: the degummed natural bamboo fiber and regenerated bamboo fiber. The degummed natural bamboo fiber is a natural extract with no chemical additives. Soluble fiber is easily identified through analysis of fiber and is said to be a non-cotton vegetable fiber. The regenerated bamboo fiber is produced through chemical processes of pulp and pectin and turned in a fiber, resulting in a wrinkle-free fiber similar to rayon or modal. A regenerated bamboo fiber is classified as a man-made fiber.

Fibers reclaimed are processed mechanically or chemically.

Machining
In the mechanical treatment, the woody parts of the bamboo plant are crushed and natural enzymes are used to produce a soft mass, where the fibers are combed out and turned into a thread. The product is a woven bamboo or bamboo clothes. This process is organic and is similar to the manufacture of linen fabric from flax and hemp.

Chemical Processing
This is the most common process for regenerated bamboo fiber. It's "cooking" the fiber with chemicals to create a form of regenerated cellulose fiber threads can become can be woven into clothing. All parts of the bamboo stem and leaves are used to make bamboo fabric. The plant undergoes the process of extraction and crushed in a mixture chemicals and becomes yarn.

The most environmentally friendly in that the process of bamboo fiber is the Lyocell process, which has been praised to be more sustainable than other commonly used chemical processes. Lyocell shares many characteristics with other cellulose fibers such as cotton, linen, ramie and rayon. The N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide chemicals used in the Lyocell process are nontoxic and are safer for humans. During production, 99.5% chemicals are captured in a closed-loop container and are recyclable. A minimal amount of chemicals released into the atmosphere, wastewater and products.

The new technology is being developed to add another option for bamboo processing methods called Greenyarn "Which involves using chemicals to create nano bamboo charcoal particles that are then woven into fabrics. There is little literature available to support real and complete the process with this technology.

The most commonly used chemical process involves the use of carbon disulfide. In this process, Bamboo is crushed and the material moisture content of bamboo is ready to be over 65%. The forms of production of alkali cellulose in the form of sulfide is through chemistry of carbon disulfide added to it. This process converts the cellulose gel is diluted with sodium hydroxide. This produces a viscous solution that is transmitted through nozzles and another chemical solution where it hardens and is converted into spun yarn and fabric.

Copyright (c) 2008 Virginia Ginsburg

Virginia Ginsburg writes about sustainable products, green living, and her quest for a socially-conscious lifestyle. She is founder of Green Baby Gifts (http://www.greenbabygiftsonline.com), which offers beautifully-wrapped baby gifts made of bamboo fiber and packaged in completely recycled and recyclable packaging.

2004 LEAF CERTIFIED FABRIC OF THE GAME BASEBALL