SOYABEAN FIBER

Introduction:

AFTER nearly a hundred years of development chemical synthetic fibres gradually matured
in the 20th century. Despite the fact that chemical synthetic fibers (polyester, acrylic, nylon)
of various features have become one of the major raw materials of the global textile
industry, it has certain serious weaknesses which are as

follows;

a. It relies on gradually depleted oil resources

b. Some products produce pollution during production

c. The comfort of chemical fibre products is less than that of natural fibres.

In order to overcome the fatal weaknesses of chemical fibres, efforts will mainly be made in
three aspects

a. Adopting natural resources from agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry, which are
abundant and cheap.

b. Using production processes which must be clean and friendly to the environment.

c. Being more comfortable to the skin of the human body.

One of the fibres, which pass all above mentioned characteristics, is Soyabean fibre. It is
the Healthy and Comfortable fibre of the 21st century. At present, only industrialized
countries have invested heavily in developing

new fibres for the new century

Protein-based fibers are generated from many protein sources including plants, insects and
animals. The use of natural protein fibers is historical, while man-made regenerated protein
fibers have been produced since 1950s and their development remains constant
innovation. In 1936, Ferretti in Italy published his work on a new type of protein fiber
produced from milk casein. This fiber called "lanital achieved a reputation commercially as
a wool substitute because of its chemical and physical similarity to wool. The success of
lanital inspired fiber research on a great many other proteins, among them, fish protein,
regenerated silk, peanut, corn zein, and soybean. The ford research chemists had several
yean background of soybean research in 1937 and undertook the development of a fiber
from soybean protein at that time.

Soybean protein fibers (SPF) are manufactured fibers, produced from regenerated soya
Glycine Max soybean proteins in combination with synthetic polymer (polyvinyl alcohol) as
a predominant component. SPF is a kind of regenerative plant Fibre. Polyvinyl alcohol is
used for improving strength of fiber. It is a kind of reproducible plant protein fiber.

This Fibre appears from soybean a plant which has enormous source and is abundant in
nutrition. As it contains 18 amino acids beneficial to the human body and added anti-
bacterial elements, SPF offers a protective function to the skin. SPF has been praised by
industry expert as a healthy and comfortable fiber of the 21st century. The soybean in
many ways is an outstanding source of protein for fiber work.

Economically it is sound. The supply of soybeans is large and increasing yearly. soya bean
is easily grown and finds favor with the farmers. The production of SPF will not bring
pollution to the environment, as the accessory and auxiliary agent used are not poisonous,
while the residue after the protein extracted can be still used as feed.

Protein-based fibers become important in the development of lightweight materials because

they offer not only light weight but also biodegradability, excellent moisture and
temperature regulation, resiliency and possibly exceptional mechanical properties.

when good protein is used, spinning solution containing 20 percent protein can be
obtained. Soybean fiber made at present has about 80 per cent the strength of wool, has
more elongation both wet and dry, and does not wet so easily as wool or casein fiber. It
does not promote mold growth so readily as casein fiber. The fiber blend well with wool and
cotton and has been processed satisfactorily on both cotton and worsted textile equipment.

Advanced nanofibers and nanocomposites made from regenerated proteins and other
polymers exhibit great potential to make new lightweight functional materials for textiles,
health and medical, energy and engineering applications. Soybean fibers are sustainable
and don't need chemicals to grow effectively. Soybean is a renewable resource and the soy
protein fiber is made using by-products of the soybean industry.

The main component of soybean Fibre is it possesses the superiorities of many natural
fibres and synthesized ones and it is quite similar to those of cashmere and silk, featuring
fine denier, low density and good tenacity and elongation. The resulting fabric can give
cashmere-like hand touch, silk-like luster, cotton-like moisture conduction and wool-like
warm retentiveness.

It is a skin-friendly fabric. It is used for shirting and apparel making for men and women. It
is environmental friendly and has a silky and soft feel to it.

Features
Extremely skin-friendly
Anti-bacteria function
Environmental friendly
Soft and silky
Dry and comfortable
Luxurious

Production of Fiber from Soybeans

Extraction or Oil. The continuous solvent extraction method is used to extract the oil. The
crushed beans are washed counter currently with hexane which removes the oil. The
resulting oil-free meal is passed through a steam-jacketed pipe for removal of the solvent.
Although the Ford extraction equipment is different, the whole operation is standard in the
soybean industry with the exception that the meal prepared for fiber work is treated at much
lower temperatures than meal prepared for cattle food,

Extraction of Protein from Oil-Free meal. This is a critical and Important part of the fiber
preparation. Although protein extraction is a relatively simple operation, extreme care must
be exercised in order to produce uniform batches. There are many ways of extracting
protein, some of which are closely guarded secret. The indications are that the simpler
methods will be the most satisfactory. One method is to treat carefully sized oil-free meal
with a weakly alkaline solvent, such as 0.1 percent sodium sulfite solution, for a half
hour. The resulting solution is clarified either by filtering or centrifuging. the protein in the
solution is precipitated with a acid, and the resulting curd is washed and dried.

In mass production at industry At first the oil is extracted from soybean, then a high
polymer residual cake is found. Then a spinning solution of certain concentration is
prepared and a filament bundle of single fiber is spun from the solution by wet spinning
method. The fiber performance is stabilized through hydroformylation and then it undergoes
winding, heat setting and cutting. In this way, soybean fiber of various lengths and
specifications for spinning can be manufactured [

II. CHARACTERISTICS OF SOYBEAN PROTEIN FIBERS

2.1 Luster: The soya-bean protein fiber is lustrous like silk.

2.2 Drape ability: This fiber has also excellent drape ability.

2.3 Comfortability: Knitted fabric of soybean protein fiber has soft, smooth and light
handle which is same as that of fabrics made from silk blended with cashmere and
the fabric has the same moisture absorption as that of cotton and better moisture
transmission than that of cotton, which make it comfortable [3].

2.4 Color: The color of soybean fiber is light yellow as like as silk.

2.5 Dyeability: Weak acid dye, reactive dye and substantive dyes can be used for
dyeing soybean fiber while due to the low color fastness to wash, the substantive
dyes are usually not used to soybean fiber except very few colors.

2.6 Function of Health: Soybean Protein Fiber possesses many amino acids
necessary to human's body, so this sole botanic protein fiber has the function of
health that no other fiber processes. Meeting people's skin, the amino acid in
soybean protein can activate the collagen protein in the skin, resist tickling and
 evaporate the skin. Bacteria resistant elements are integrated in fiber's molecule
chain, which makes the fabrics keep the property of resisting coli bacillus,
staphylococcus aureus and candida albicans permanently, this avoids the
shortcoming of not permanent effect when the anti-bacteria function is added to the
yarn when finishing.

2.7 Breaking strength: Breaking strength of the single soybean protein fiber is over
3.0cNdtex, which is higher than silk. By now, 1.27dtex fiber can be spun into 6dtex
yarn with high quality, which can be used for high-quality and high-density fabrics

2.8 Elastic recovery: Soyabean fiber has 55.4% elastic recovery.

2.9 Resistance Properties to Alkali, Acid, Moth and Fungus

2.10 Sanitarian property: Soybean fiber has good biocompatibility and is

beneficial to the human health. Furthermore, the anti-bacterial agents, which were
added to the soybean fiber in spinning process, can restrain the growth of colon
bacillus, impetigo bacterial and sporothrix. Therefore, soybean fiber is a kind of
sanitarian fiber .

2.11 Some physical properties: Property SPF Silk Dry breaking extension (%) 18-21 14-
25 Initial Modulus (kg/mm2 ) 700-1300 650-1250 Loop strength (%) 75-85 60-80 Knot
strength (%) 85 80-85 Moisture regain (%) 8.6 11.0 Density (g/cm3 ) 1.29 1.34-1.38
Heat endurance Yellowing and tackifing at about 120 C (Bad) Keep stable When
temperature <=148 C (Good) Ultraviolet resistance Good Bad

2.12 Wet Permeability and Moisture Vapor Transmission Characteristics: The wet
permeability of Soybean is lower than that of PP and PE but higher than PAN, PA
and silk; while the moisture vapor transmission property of soybean sample is better
than silk, PP, PE, PA, PAN. Therefore, soybean fiber is a kind of comfortable fiber
with relatively good wet permeability, excellent moisture vapor transmission property
and dry touch.

2.13 Frictional, flexural and draping properties[3]:

 Frictional property: The sequence of the frictional property of some yarn is as
below: Silk>Soybean fiber/spandex >cotton>soybean>Chrysalis fiber

Flexural property: The sequence of the soft handle property of some yarn is as
below: Chrysalis fiber >Soybean fiber> Silk > cotton

Draping property: The sequence of the draping property of some yarn is as below:
Chrysalis fiber >Soybean fiber> Silk Fibre Property

Soybean fiber Silk Resistance to acid Resistant to thin- acid (good). Resistant to thin-
acid (good). Resistance to alkali Resistant to thin-alkali (soda), not resistant to caustic
soda. Resistant to thin-alkali (soda), not resistant to caustic soda. Resistance to moth
/ fungus Resistant to moth and fungus. Resistant to fungus, not resistant to moth.

2.14. Light fastness property[3]: The light fastness of soybean fiber was tested under
outdoor condition for two months. After the test, the color of soybean fiber fades a little, the
strength decreases 11% and no mold fungus appears. Furthermore, the strength of
soybean fiber decreases only 9.8% under the ultraviolet irradiation for 120 hours. The test
results indicate that the soybean fiber has good light fastness property and good
resistance to ultraviolet radiation, which is better than cotton, viscose and silk. III.

CONCLUSION

From the above discussions, SPF has not only the superiorities of the natural fibres but
also the physical properties of synthetic ones. SPF meets the people's demand of
comfortable and beautiful wearing and also conforms to the trend of easy care. It is a
potential material for middle and high-class clothing in textile industry.

soybean protein fiber shows comparable luster, comfortability, color, dye ability, breaking
strength, resistance properties to acid, alkali, moth and fungus, light fastness property,
sanitarian property, wet permeability and moisture vapor transmission, frictional, flexural
and draping properties which are comparable to silk fiber. So it can be said that this fiber
can be used as a substitute to silk fiber.

SPF scanning ultra-microscopy structure

Soybean Fibre is a man-made regenerated protein fibre from soybean protein blended with
PVA(2). Soybean fibres have a cream color and their diameter is around 20 m. Scanning
Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis of soybean fibre indicated longitudinal striations on the
surface parallel to the axis, varying in length and depth, Figure 1.

SEM micrographs of the cross-section of soybean fibre, Figure 2, showed a kidney bean-
like cross-sectional shape. Recent research on the cross section of soybean correlates well
with the previous finding indicating kidney form shape. Studies on cross-sectional shapes
of wet-spun fibres have associated the coagulation rate with the cross-section. It was
suggested that noncircular cross-sections occur due to high coagulation rate in wet
spinning (6).

Fibre forming soybean proteins

Soybeans are very reach with proteins (about 37 - 42% of dry bean) (Krishnan et al, 2007)
in comparison to milk (3.2%), corn (10%) and peanuts (25%). Soybean proteins are used
for food and feed and in many industries as adhesives, emulsions, cleansing materials,
pharmaceuticals, inks, plastics and also textile fibres. Raw material for spinning textile
fibres is obtained from soybean remaining flakes after the extraction of oils and other fatty
substances.

Amino acids content of soybean proteins is given in Figure 2. Soybean proteins contain 18
different amino acids. There are about 23% of acidic amino acids (glutamic acid and
aspartic amino acid), about 25% of alkaline amino acids (serine, arginine, lysine, tyrosine,
threonine, tryptophane) and about 30% of neutral amino acids (leucine, phenylalanine,
valine, alanine, isoleucine, proline, glycine). Sulphur containing amino acids are present
also in soy proteins: about 1.0% of cysteine and 0.35% of methionine. Soybean proteins
consist of various groups of polypeptides with a broad range of molecular size: about 90%
are salt-soluble globulins (soluble in dilute salt solutions) and the remainder is water-
soluble albumins. Very important as raw material for producing textile fibres are storage
globulins with predominant -conglycinin (30 - 50% of the total seed proteins) and glycinin
(ca 30% of the total seed proteins). -conglycinin is a heterogeneous glycoprotein
composed of three subunits (a', a, ) contained asparagine, glutamine, arginine and leucine
amino acids. Subunits are non-covalently associated into trimeric proteins by hydrophobic
interactions and hydrogen bonding without any disulphide bonds. Glycinin is a large
hexamer, composed from acidic and basic polypeptides linked together by disulphide
bonds.

It is also important for later drawing of fibres and crystallization of proteins in fibres.
Denaturation (Figure 3) is modification of the secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure
of protein. Exposure of soybean proteins to strong alkali/acids, heat, organic solvents,
detergents and urea causes the denaturation of native globular proteins, i.e., converting
into unfolded polypeptide chains, which are connected with interchanging of disulphide
bonds. Extruded fibres coagulate in a precipitation acid bath and new disulphide bonds are
formed. The structure of soybean proteins and changes at converting globular proteins into
fib reforming proteins are given in Figure 3.

Oils extraction with solvents used in the mid-twentieth century, was critical for the whole
spinning process of soybean fibres, because the chosen temperatures, pH, urea, salts,
organic solvents (hexane) and reducing agents influence on the degree of denaturation of
proteins, degradation of proteins and changing of proteins colors. Protein degradation is
detrimental to the production of high-strength protein fibres. Modern method of modifying
soybean globular proteins is biochemical with using enzymes and auxiliary agent.

Applications of soybean fibre

Yarn
Spinning methods have already been established for 100 per cent soybean fibre, its blends
with natural (cotton, linen, wool, cashmere and silk) and chemical (modified polyester,
viscose, Tencel, polyenoic etc.) fibres, and used in plants dealing with cotton, silk and wool.
Production of 100 per cent soybean fibre yarns in the range of 21S - 80S and blended
yarns (28/72, 30/70, 45/55, 60/40, 70/30, 85/15 etc.) is possible.

Knit fabric

Soybean protein contained in the fibre remakes a superior, soft hand endowed with both
moisture absorbency and permeability, which makes best application in knits and
innerwear. Finishes with an anti-bacterial agent, health-care functionalities are also given. It
has great potential in its use in high-grade knits and innerwear.

Woven fabric

Weaves made of soybean fibre blends with other natural or chemical fibres have so far
been used in shirting and home textiles. A series of such products, too, has already been
developed. Their special feature is the lustre and soft hand found in silk. Their economic
effects are extremely high. SPF are soft and smooth as well as absorbent it is ideal for
products that are worn close to the skin such as underwear, sleepwear, sportswear and
children's and infant's clothes, bed sheets, towels and blankets(11).

Undergarments

The undergarment made by SPF and spandex, has incomparable and unimaginable
softness and comfortableness. Wearer's skin enjoys the pleasing breath after wearing SPF
fabric, easy stretch and fine caring especially "skin on skin feeling.

Baby wear

Eco-friendly soybean baby clothing offers many benefits to baby. The breathability, warmth
and comfort are outstanding.

Skirt
SPF has luster of silk which is joyful and an excellent drape which makes the fabric
elegant; fabrics of yarn with high count has fine and clear appearance and is ideal for top-
level shirt.

REFERENCES [1]

1. American Journal of Engineering Research (AJER) 2015

http://www.ajer.org/papers/v4(06)/F046043045.pdf

Textile Science & Engineering ttps://www.omicsonline.org

1. American Journal of Engineering Research (AJER) 2015

http://www.ajer.org/papers/v4(06)/F046043045.pdf

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