Description
Coarse, brown fibers obtained from the husks of coconuts from the tropical palm, Cocos nucifera. Coir is native to India and Southeast Asia where it has been used since ancient times. It was introduced to Europe by Marco Polo in the 13th century. The shell of the coconut has three distinct layers. The outer layer is thin and smooth while the inner layer contains the meat. The thick middle layer contains the coir fibers. Coir is retted from the outer shell, beaten with wooden mallets, then combed and bleached. It is a hard fiber that is durable even when wet. Coir is also wrinkle resistant and wear resistant. Its coarse, long fibers are used for brushes while the short, curly fibers are used for ropes, cording, fiber board, mats, upholstery stuffing, paint brushes, and coarse cloth. Some cocos fiber is sulfur bleached (blanca fiber) which produces an off-white, but acidic fiber. The bleached fibers may dye poorly and degrade readily.
Synonyms and Related Terms
kayaru; kayar; cocos fiber; coconut hair; coir fibers; blanca fiber; fibra de coco (Esp.); coir (Ned); kokosvezel (Ned)
Other Properties
Resistant to water.
Additional Information
M. Joseph, Introductory Textile Science, Holt Reinhold & Winston, Fort Worth, 1986
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Last updated on: 6/8/2009 4:25:38 AM
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