Reed Cyperus sp. (Cyperaceae) fibers, traditionally used for mat weaving in Southeast Asia, remain underutilized in modern textile engineering despite their cultural and economic importance in community enterprises. This study aimed to develop and characterize reed fibers and evaluate their potential for sustainable textile applications. Fibers were extracted using a semi-automatic mechanical process and analyzed using tensile testing, FTIR, and SEM. Mechanically extracted reed fibers exhibited a tensile strength of 2.19N and an elongation at break of 6.33%, confirming their classification as lignocellulosic fibers rich in cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Compared with water hyacinth fibers, reed fibers showed lower tensile strength but greater extensibility, attributed to their lignin content and microfibril structure. To enhance performance, reed-recycled polyester blended yarns were produced, achieving a tensile strength of 7.71N and elongation at break of 5.73%. These improvements indicate an enhanced mechanical performance attributed to the complementary mechanical behavior of reed fibers and recycled polyester. Overall, the findings highlight reed fibers as promising sustainable materials that bridge traditional craft with modern eco-textiles, breaking limitations of mat production and opening pathways for innovative natural fiber applications.
Srivorradatphisan et al. (Mon,) studied this question.