Use of hemp for textile substrates

Who is the project aimed at?

Textile manufacturing companies and, indirectly, agricultural producers in our country.

Project objective

To incorporate hemp fibre into the manufacturing process for home textiles as a substitute for cotton. The main challenge is to adapt the spinning conditions for short and long fibres during hemp fibre processing in order to obtain fine yarns that provide the greatest possible feeling of softness and comfort.

Project description

Incorporating hemp fibre into textile manufacturing will promote the cultivation of this fibre, with positive knock-on effects for both environmental sustainability and the improvement of agricultural production in our country.

Growing hemp before other crops has positive effects on the decontamination of soils containing heavy metals through bioremediation. It can also be grown in soils with different characteristics without the need to apply fertilisers or pesticides.

Incorporating hemp fibre into textile processing and optimising the fibre separation processes through mechanical and biochemical treatments that enable processing using existing industrial machinery for short- and long-staple fibre spinning would represent a significant advance. This would reduce dependence on external raw material supplies, help maintain agricultural holdings and improve the environmental balance.

This project aims to optimise enzymatic treatments to improve hemp fibre fineness, reduce lignin and pectin content, and obtain fine fibres that provide the comfort characteristics required for textile products commonly used in hospitals and nursing homes.

Project funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. Project MAT2016-79352-R.