Akund

Calotropis spp. trees

Description

A yellowish fiber obtained from the seeds of the Calotropis gigantea and Calotropis procera trees that are native to southern Asia and Africa. Akund is similar to kapok but its properties are slightly inferior. The soft fibers are used as upholstery stuffing. It is rarely used for fabrics. Akund has sometimes been called vegetable silk.

See also Bombax.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Calotropis gigantea; Calotropis procera; calotropis floss; madar; vegetable silk; vegetable floss; fibra de la calotropis profera (Esp)

Physical and Chemical Properties

• Fiber length = 3 - 4 cm
• Diameter = 20 micrometers

Resources and Citations

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 430

• J.Gordon Cook, Handbook of Textile Fibres:I Natural Fibres, Merrow Publishing Co. , Durham, England, 1984

• Identification of Textile Materials, The Textile Institute, Manchester, England, 1985