Sahajong is a kind of Calotropis spp. plant fiber from small evergreen trees or shrubs of Asclepiadaceae. Cantaloupe originated in Africa and Asia and other arid, semi-arid and saline areas. The molecular structure of its wool fiber is similar to that of silk, and it is a high-quality natural textile fiber. Because of its strong resistance to drought and barren, it is also an excellent local tree species for ecological restoration. At the same time, it has a large biomass and high protein and starch content in fresh leaves, which is a rare source of plant feed.
There are mainly two kinds of cantaloupe: common cantaloupe (Calotropis gigantea) in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia and Africa, and white flower cantaloupe (Calotropis Procera) only in the south of Sahara desert.
Five uses of the melon:
Feed: large biomass of stem and leaf, high protein content, comprehensive nutrition, as high-grade feed after detoxification
Medicine: the white juice of rhizome, leaf and fruit is rich in a variety of cardiotonic compounds, with remarkable medicinal effect
Textile: fiber has high holocellulose value and is one of the most valuable plant fiber resources found at present
Energy: it is rich in hydrocarbon liquid, and its hydrocarbon ratio is similar to that of crude oil, so it can be used to replace oil
Food: in African countries such as Benin, local residents mash young leaves as a coagulant for cheese
Warmth retention
As early as 1740s, this kind of fiber has been used as filling flocs for bedding in Germany, and its warmth retention can be equivalent to high-quality goose down.
Extremely light weight
During the Second World War, the United States planted and obtained such fibers on a large scale to meet the large demand of buoyancy materials for life jackets and lifeboats in the war, and they can also be used as reinforcement materials for light composite materials.
Antibacterial property
Fiber is antibacterial, mothproof and mildew proof. According to the test, the rate of anti Staphylococcus aureus is more than 99%. Textile with antibacterial function can be developed, such as antibacterial gauze, antibacterial sanitary napkin, etc.
Hygroscopicity
Saha down fiber is more hygroscopic than cotton, so it is suitable to make clothing fabric which is not only hygroscopic and hot, but also breathable and warm.
Ecological and environmental protection of the new ultra light natural plant fiber, its cross-section has a great degree of hollowness similar to kapok fiber. Compared with cotton, it has no natural curl, lighter quality, extremely smooth surface, luster like silk, soft and smooth feel, so it is called "plant silk" and crystal cotton.
SEM cross section: croissant fiber (a) cotton fiber (b), SEM longitudinal plan: croissant fiber (c) cotton fiber (d)
The surface of the muskmelon fiber is smooth, cylindrical, without natural turning. 80-90% of the medium cavity and the cotton fiber has natural turning, and the surface is rough, light and short in length. It is difficult to control the floating and flying of the fiber, and there are many falling flowers. It is easy to bring many problems such as difficult to control the yarn blending ratio, poor evenness, low strength, poor fastness, and large waste. It is characterized by high rigidity and brittleness, smooth surface, no curl or twist in longitudinal direction, easy to swell, and no obvious positive pressure effect with other fibers. The friction and cohesion between the fibers are small, which seriously affects the spinnability, and it is very difficult to form a net. Therefore, the excellent performance of the fiber is also the limitation of its weaving in the textile field
