Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction
Pineapple is mainly grown in sub-tropic countries, including Philippines,
Taiwan, Brazil, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, and the West Indies. However,
the credit for making textile fibers from pineapple leaves go to the Philippines.
During 19th century, pina fabric was much in demand, not only in Philippines but
worldwide. However, when the much cheaper cotton fabrics became popular, its
production ceased and Pina fabric almost disappeared. Till the mid eighties of
20th century, pina fiber was nearly impossible to find, with only a handful of
aging, part-time weavers working for its survival. In fact, Pina has been revived in
the recent past two decades only. Great efforts were made for the revival of this
age old tradition and for re-establishing the pina trade. It started with marketing of
pina barong (embroidered traditional garment of Philippines) locally which
eventually got popular with the elite. Traditional pina weaving has survived inspite
of all odds and production has since begun to flourish. Now once again, pina
fiber is globally popular and Pia cloth from the Philippines are being exported to
various parts of the world, particularly to North America and Europe.
Pia, is associated with the coming of the Spaniards, for the pineapple
plant was not indigenous to the Philippines. It is generally believed that the
pineapple was brought to our shores by the Spanish colonizers, although the
Portuguese also introduced this plant to tropical countries from South America.

During the Spanish regime, only one variety of pineapple was endemic or
only known in the country. This native variety was then called Bromcha pigna but
it now known as the Red Spanish variety. Other cultivars such as Queen,
Spanish and Cayene were grown locally in the country during the early American
period. One of the most successful and long running industry in pineapple fiber
production is on Aklan but pineapple fiber production is not limited to Aklan, the
acknowledged center of the pia fiber and cloth production. Has already been
introduced by FIDA in other areas such Negros Oriental, Antique, Guimaras,
Capiz, Palawan, and La Union and the pineapple fiber production process in
these provinces are successfully running until now.
One of the main producers of pineapple fibers here in Palawan is the
rurungan sa tubod foundation. Rurungan sa tubod is a non profitable
organization which is based on the Island of Palawan, located at the southern tip
of the Philippines. Some of the characteristics of the pineapple fiber fabric are
that its lightweight but stiff, its blend very efficiently with other fiber, it is very soft,
even softer than hemp, they have better texture than that of silk, and it can be
washed and dont need to be dry cleaned.
To extract fibers first the leaf is placed flat on a smooth wooden board.
Using the smooth edge of a broken porcelain plate, the surface is scraped from
the base to the top of the leaf. This is repeated until the fibers become visible.
The base of the leaf is folded inwards to create a space between the pulp and
the fiber. The loosened fibers are then gently extracted from the leaf. After the

extraction, the fiber is washed in a flowing stream. The fibers are thoroughly
washed until other plant material is removed, turning the fiber white and
preparing it for drying. Before the fibers are completely dry, there are whipped to
separate the fibers and remove remaining plant tissues. The fibers are then
returned to the line to dry completely. The individual fibers are then knotted and
coiled into a bun.In order to prepare the length of fiber that is needed for one
piece of cloth, the knotted fibers are arranged on a wheel before they are
mounted on a loom. The warped fibers form the vertical portion of a woven fabric.
Preparing the loom for weaving, the weaver then must set the loom by following
a process of winding the fibers around a beam and individually inserting fibers
into various portions of the loom. The weaver then proceeds to the wefting
process. Wefting refers to the preparation of the horizontal position of the fabric.
This is done by spooling fiber on a spindle, also known as the wefting wheel,
which is then applied to the shuttle used for weaving.
But there are some factors that affect the fibers that is use to make the cloth like
the aging of pineapple fibers. Base on the studies aging the fibers showed a
decrease in tensile strength of thepineapple fibers. And in some studies applying
a certain chemical called -aminopropyl trimethoxy silane can improve the tensile
strength and impact strength of the pineapple fiber. That will toughen the
material. This study was conducted to impart much needed information about the
tensile strength of pina fiber to the women weavers here in Puerto Princesa City.
By conducting this study it will allow them to further understand the material of
their craft and hopefully be more productive.
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Conceptual Framework
Plants can be competitive in terms of weight, specific tensile strength, and
cost.1
Plant fibers are used for clothing, fishing nets, paper and many other things and
one of those plants is the pineapple fiber or also known as the Pia Fiber.
Spanish introduced the pia fiber to the Chamorros and they used it as a fishing
net.2 Here in the Philippines, we use the Pia fiber for clothing specifically the
barong tagalog, which is used by men for formal occasions.
The researchers conceptualized that the Pia Fiber, used for clothing, and fishing
nets are competitive fibers in terms of clothing and a tensile testing should be
done to determine its quality.
The concept mentioned is best illustrated in Figure 1.

1Biorenewable Resources: Engineering New Products from Agriculture, Robert

C. Brown, page 132.

2Ancient Chamorro society, Lawrence J. Cunningham, page 33.
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Research Paradigm
Figure 1

Pina fiber for the

Production of Pina
Fabric

Input

Tensile strength
test

Process

Tensile strength
of Pina Fiber

Output

The Pia fiber will be subjected to several tensile tests to find out the
strength of the fiber. History claims that aside from being used for our traditional
clothing pina fiber has been utilized for other uses like fishing. The group of
researchers would like to conduct this test to find out more about this fabric which
is part of the identity of our country.

Statement of the Problem

The study entitled The Tensile Strength Of Pia Fiber aims to
collect more knowledge on the widely used natural fiber called Pia.
The researchers aim to answer the following:
1.) What is the tensile strength of the fiber as a singular strand?
2.) What is its tensile strength when exposed to other elements after two
methods of drying: sun and air drying
Salt water
Dye
Fabric conditioners
Detergents
Assumption
That the methods that we expose our regular clothes to may affect the
tensile strength of pre-bleached Pina fiber.

Significance of the Study

Country. The results of this study will contribute to the Filipino people
especially to the Pia Weaving industry of the Philippines. The study will give
benefit to the people because it will provide the community with the necessary
information on the advantages of Pia fiber and the possible effects on the
treatment to it.

Basic Education Department (HTU-BED). The study could spark

more interest for the Basic Education Department to promote and conduct
more research regarding the benefits and advantages of the Pia fiber.
Researchers. The study will serve as a tool in improving the
researchers

skills

and

knowledge

in

conducting

study.

Also,

theresearchers will benefit from the lessons, scientific attributes and

principles theyve learned will be used as they continue their educational
journey.
SCOPE AND DELIMITATION
Problem. The study is mainly focused on finding whether the tensile
strength of the pina fiber when exposed to everyday treatment of regular clothes
Locale. The study was done at one of the researchers residences.
Time Frame. The study was conducted from June 2011 to March 2012.

DEFINITION OF TERMS
Terms used in this study are defined operationally:
Pia fiber. This refers to the pineapple fiber made from the leaves of a
pineapple plant.
Tensile strength. This refers to the resistance of the Pia fiber to
longitudinal stress, measured by the minimum amount of longitudinal stress
required to rupture the material.
Tensile testing. The term which refers to the method of testing the tensile
strength of the Pia fiber.