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What is Flax?

Flax is the herbaceous plants with single-year life. For good quality fiber flax, its diameter of stem should be less than 2 mm, while the length of stem should be more than 1 meter. To keep growth, it needs to absorb and carry a lot of water during its growth period. The fiber accounts for 20% of the cortex of stem, is an important part of the plant responsible of carrying water. Because flax is thin and long with great surface area, therefore, a lot of water is required. Experimental data shows that, the growth per 1 kg of flax requires 470 kg of water supply and the process is completed within a short period, 30-40 days. The ability of moisture absorption and carrying water by fiber flax is a few times better than other plants.

Flax fiber shares only 1.5% of all natural fibers in the world and it is the one of main fine spinning fibers. As the high quality flax fiber, it is not only very flexible when gripping gently, but also has the touch of coolness and smoothness. In respect of fiber strength (breakage rate, the strength of yarn and fabric during spinning), its tensile value measured by the tester is near 300 N (generally, the tensile value of flax fiber lies between 150-300 N, the higher the value, the higher the quality).

Characteristics of Flax

Flax fiber has high strength and excellent performance, and it is the world's oldest textile fiber. Meanwhile, the flax stripe processed by modern technology inherits the superior performance of flax fiber.

The unique ability of flax fiber to carry water makes the linen yarn apparel has the ability of reducing body's sweating and fast water absorption rate. Moreover, the capillarity will be formed when it is in contact with body, feeling like the extension of skin. The natural characteristics of permeability, moisture absorption, fresh and perspiration, makes it become the natural textile fully permeable. It makes people feels like 4-8°C lower in temperature, therefore, it is called "natural air conditioning". The experts in the textile industry also confirmed that, the surface temperature of apparel fabricated by linen yarn is 5°C lower than others in summer, while it is felt warm and comfortable in winter. In addition, some researches and studies have shown that, flax fabric has excellent benefits to health, such as hygiene, comfortable and antibacterial.

The use of Flax

Flax Fiber

It is a high performance natural fiber and a recyclable material abundantly available with short growth period. Flax fiber has high strength, easy to shape, abrasion resistance and high temperature resistance, fast heat dissipation, low dust adhesion, non-static, acid and alkali resistance and non-perishable in water. Also, flax fiber exhibits the characteristics of composite material, such as high degree of orientation, high crystalline with tough fiber and great tensile strength, can be used as the thickening fiber of composite material. And, flax is a natural fiber, easy to cultivate with short growth period, inexpensive, biodegradable, easy recycling, therefore, it is the reinforced fiber material choice of pursuing green environment. It can be used in the manufacture of automotive interior, furniture, home textile, badminton racket and other recreational supplies.

Flax Scraps

There is no wastage during the manufacturing process of flax fiber, any broken flax stem can be recycled as flax scraps. Flax scraps can be used for producing shaving board, plant vegetation cover and can also be used to produce active carbon.

Flaxseed

It is a seed with reddish brown color and strong nutty flavor. The skin of flaxseed contains 6% - 10% of flax pectin and it is an excellent adhesive for leather manufacturing, medical and national defense industries. Flaxseed contains extremely rich of Omega-3 (Ω-3) essential fatty acids. A teaspoon of flaxseed contains 3800 mg of Omega-3 fatty acids, equivalent to 10 times of that in cod liver oil, but without the disadvantages of fishy smell, high cholesterol and saturated fatty acids. Scientists believe that, increased absorption of Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and other degenerative diseases.