Development and characterization of kapok/waste silk nonwoven as a multifunctional bio-based material for textile applications

The pollution caused by petroleum-based waste has motivated the development of ecologically friendly bio-based materials. Natural fibers are becoming increasingly popular as a renewable and biodegradable resource. In this study, we prepared a kapok/waste silk nonwoven (KSN) by wet-laid and hot-pressing, which had adequate mechanical strength, hydrophilic, lipophilic, and biodegradable properties. The effects of the kapok fiber proportion on the morphology, air permeability, softness, mechanical property, wettability, and biodegradability of KSN were studied. The results demonstrated that the thickness, porosity, air permeability, and softness decreased as the proportion of kapok fiber increased. The mechanical property was significantly enhanced, and the breaking strength increased from 0.58 MPa to 10.85 MPa. With the increase in the proportion of kapok fiber, the spreading time of oil and water increased and decreased respectively, and the static contact angles were below 50°. Degradation rate improved with the increase of kapok fiber proportion, with a maximum degradation rate of 49.41% (30 days). Therefore, the multifunctional, low-cost, easily prepared, and biodegradable kapok/waste silk nonwovens is a promising bio-based material with superior application prospects in dressings, facial mask substrate, packaging, and related fields.