NATIONAL CHRISTIAN LIFE COLLEGE

Marikina City

Banana (Musa Acuminata) Fiber

as Paper Alternative for Art Craft Material

A Research Requirement
For the Subject
Inquiries, Investigation,
and Immersion (3 I’s)

Submitted to:
Tchr. Evangeline T. Paz

Submitted by:
Chumacera, Jaela Ruella
Cordero, Jayson E.
12 STEM – B

SY
2019-2020
 Banana (Musa Acuminate) Fiber
as Paper Alternative for Art Craft Material
1. Fiber

1.1. Description

1.2. Types of Fiber

1.3. Uses and Benefits

2. Banana

2.2. Description

2.2.1. Nature/Climate

2.2.2. Type of Soil

2.2.3. Types of Banana

3. Chemical Composition

3.1. Fruit

3.2. Trunk/Bark

3.3. Leaves

3.4. Roots

3.5. Flowers

3.6. Seeds

4. Paper

4.1. Description

4.2. Origin

4.3. Types

4.4. Uses
 Chapter II

Review of Related Literature

Fiber

Fibers and fabrics play a large role in everyday applications. A

fiber is a hair-like strand of material. They are the smallest visible unit

of a fabric and are denoted by being extremely long in relation to their

width (at least 100 times longer than it is wide). Fibers can be spun

into yarn and made into fabrics.

Synthetic fibers are a subset of the larger area of textiles. Textiles can

be natural or synthetic. Natural fibers include cotton, fur, wool, etc.

Regenerated fibers are natural materials that have been processed

into a fiber structure. Regenerated fibers such as cellulose and wood

pulp are used to make materials such as rayon and acetate. Synthetic

fibers are man-made from chemicals. They are generally based on

polymers and are stronger than natural and regenerated fibers.

It is often easy to identify what type of fiber or fabric a material is by

look or touch alone. A variety of tests have been developed to aid in

identifying materials.
Advantages Disadvantages

Strong Melt when hot

Thermoplastic Use petrol

Resistant to moths and fungi Non-renewable

Abrasion-resistant Can be an allergenic

Easy to care for

Low absorbency

Inexpensive

Easily available
How Synthetic Fibers and Fabrics are Made:

Most synthetic fibers go through a similar production process which

includes four steps.

1. A chemical process usually polymerization, prepares and

combines the components for the fiber. Polymerization is the formation

of macromolecules through repetition of basic units. Initially, the

various components are solids and first must be converted to a liquid

state to be extruded into fibers. The materials are chemically

converted, dissolved, or melted, turning into a thick liquid.

2. A spinning process produces the fiber by passing the thick liquid

through a spinneret. A spinneret is a device with hundreds of holes of

a specified diameter. The liquid is forced through the spinneret holes

and comes out a string liquid filament. The hole

in the spinneret determines the diameter of the

filament, which is set by the application. The

extrusion is dried to a continuous filament fiber.

3. A twisting process twists the filament fiber into a yarn. The

filament falls vertically from the spinneret and is caught in a large

vacuum nozzle. The vacuum force keeps tension on the line as it is

wound around a bobbin.

4. The twisted yarn is packaged and sent to a textile mill.

End-Product Types:

Synthetic fibers and synthetic fabrics consist of bulk fibers, yarns,

woven cloth or other textile products manufactured from polymer-

based materials such as polyamide (nylon), polyester, aramid, or other

spun thermoplastics. The end-product is the form of the fiber/fabric

when manufacturing is complete. Basic product types include:

Fibers and monofilaments -- Single fibers are called filaments and a

monofilament is when a single continuous filament is rolled on a spool.

A filament bunch is called a strand or end. Bulk chopped fibers or thin,

continuous fiber filaments are used typically in composite

reinforcement applications, flow-able insulation, or as the key

component in woven fabrics, braids, knits, rope roving, or other

specialty fabrics.

Roving -- Roving is made of parallel filaments. Graphite rovings are

referred to as tows. Rovings are marked by the number of filaments

they contain. Tows are marked by the number of filaments with the

most common graphite tows being 3K, 6K and 12K.

Yarn -- Yarn is made of continuous, often plied strands of natural or

man-made fibers or filaments. The filament is then twisted to hold

fibers together.
Carded and needle punched, non-woven -- Carded yarn has been

through the card machine but has not been combed. Because they

contain a range of fiber lengths they are low strength, low density, and

low cost.

Braided products -- Braided fabrics are made by crossing a number

of strands diagonally so each strand passed alternating over or under

one or more of the other strands. These products are used for tubular

composite structures, thermal insulation, and in other applications.

Rope and cordage -- Cord is formed by twisting together two or

more plied yarns. It can also be defined as a rib on the surface of a

fabric. Rope is a heavier and stronger cord. It is made from either

natural or synthetic fibers and is available in a wide range of

diameters. Rope is made in a two step process; first the yarns are

twisted together to form strands and then the strands are twisted

together in the opposite direction to form the rope. The alternating

direction of the twist at different stages of the rope assembly makes

the rope twist stable and resistance to kinks.

Webbing -- Webbing is strong, narrow fabric that has been closely

woven. They are available in a variety of weaves and often found in

straps that have to withstand strain (belt, seat belts, suspenders, etc.)

Webbing includes ribbons, strapping, and tape.

 Blankets or batts -- Blankets or batts (batting) are made of thick

layers of woven and/or non-woven fabric sheets. Battings are webs of

loose fibers that have usually been carded. Battings are sold in sheets

or rolls and used for warm linings and comforter stuffings.

Sleeves or wraps -- Sleeves or wraps (sleeving) are flexible, fibrous

refractory products for insulating pipes, tubes, ducts, and other

process components.

Thread- Synthetic thread includes both monofilaments and multi-fiber

filament; a slender, strong strand or cord. Most threads are made by

plying and twisting yarns. There is a large variety of yarns available for

many different industrial applications.

Material Specifications:

Material Properties

In order to determine the polymer to use, key properties of polymer

should be identified. These properties include:

 Composition and structure- The type of polymer, the

amount/length of side chains, and the shape of the polymer. The

shape and amount/length of side chains plays an important role in

the strength of the polymer.

 Melting point- The temperature at which the polymer begins to

melt. Melt strength is a property which indicates the polymer's

 ability to withstand drawing without breaking. This is improved with

the presence of high molecular weight tail or long chain branches.

 Modulus- The ability of a material to resist deformation. The

property is usually expressed as the ratio of stress exerted on the

sample to the amount of deformation.

 Elasticity and recovery from strain- The elastic limit is the

stress at which the uniaxial stress-strain curve becomes nonlinear

due to shear yielding or crazing. Shear yielding is the irreversible

slipping of molecule chairs and crazing is the formation of low

density, crack-like volumes which scatter light (this makes the

polymer look white).

 Tensile- These properties are the most important indication of

strength and stiffness of the material. They determine the force

necessary to pull the specimen apart, and the deformation before

breaking. The tensile modulus is a measure of stiffness calculated

based on measured force.

 Density- The weight per unit volume. Density affects physical

properties like stiffness, impact strength, and optical properties.

 Moisture absorption- The amount of moisture a fiber will absorb

from the air at a standard condition of 70°F and a relative humidity

of 65%.
 Dye-ability- The ability of the polymer to absorb and hold on to a

dye.

 Comfort- How the material feels to the user. If the fiber or fabric is

going to be used in apparel then the comfort stretch (freedom of

movement when wearing the fabric), phase change ability, and

hydrophobic nature should be considered.

Types of Fiber

Synthetic fibers and fabrics are all made from a type of polymer but

they each have unique properties and characteristics making them

useful for specific applications. The fibers and fabrics may include a

variety of materials and may feature a blended, fibrous structure

produced by copolymerization. Synthetic fibers that are made of

elastomers, fluoropolymers, glass, and fiberglass are also commonly

available. Material types for synthetic fibers and synthetic fabrics

include:

Fiber Name Description Application

This type of fiber is The largest volume

known as a application for
Acetate and regenerated man acetate fiber is
triacetate made material. cigarette filters, but it
fibers Acetate is derived is also widely used in
from cellulose by women's wear. The
reacting purified luxurious fibers are
cellulose from wood available in a wide
 pulp with acetic acid range of colors and
and acetic anhydride lusters.
in the presence of
sulfuric acid. Both
materials are heat
resistant below their
melting point.

These fibers are

Acrylic fibers can be
unique among
artificial wool
synthetic fibers
because it has the
because they have an
warmth and softness
Acrylic and uneven surface. The
of wool but does not
modacrylic fibers are formed by
absorb water. It is
fibers additional
often used as cold
polymerization of at
weather fiber for
least 85% by weight
blankets and
of acrylonitrile or
sweaters.
vinyl chanide.

Polyimide fiber is
spun from the
Polyimide fabric is
Aramid and polymer by wet or dry
flame retardant and
polyimide processing
can be used in high-
fibers techniques. This is
temp applications.
done using a polar
organic solvent.

These fibers are The material is used

strong, light, and can to produce high-
be mixed with other quality devices such
Carbon and materials. Carbon as golf-clubs and
graphite fiber technology fishing rods and can
converts carbon to be used for
graphite to form composites for air
tightly packed fibers. crafts and autos.

They are cross linked The term elastomer

natural and synthetic is derived from
Elastomeric rubbers, spandex elastic polymer,
fibers fibers (segmented which is also known
polyurethanes), as rubber.
anidex fibers (cross
 linked polyacrylates)
and the side-by-side
biconstituent fiber of
nylon and spandex.
The fibers can have
elongations (400-
800%) at break and
recover fully and
rapidly.

Spandex is a
lightweight
manufactured
material that can be It is used when a
Spandex or
stretched over 500% stretch fiber is
elastoester
without breaking. needed.
Elastoester is a
substitute for
spandex.

It is a high-
performance material
that has high
strength and They are used in
Fluropolymer durability. nonstick cook and
Fluoropolymers are bake ware.
resistant to many
chemicals and high
heat.

It is an artificial fiber
made of polyamide
which contains Nylon can be used in
carbon, oxygen, carpet. High-filament
nitrogen, and nylon yarns are often
Nylon hydrogen. The blended with spandex
material is also and used in athletic
resistant to wrinkling, apparel, swimwear,
does not absorb and hosiery.
water, and it dries
quickly.
 Polyolefin fibers are
They are produced by resistant to stains,
chain growth sunlight, odor and
polymerization of chemicals, mildew,
Polyolefin olefins (alkenes) and rot, and weather.
fibers contain greater than They are fast drying
85% polymerized and have a high
ethylene, propylene, wick-ability making
or other olefin units. them useful for spill
cleanup.

The most important

synthetic fiber. They
contain at least 85%
of polymericester of a
It is utilized in all
substituted aromatic
types of clothing,
carboxylic acid
home furnishings,
including, but not
and as a reinforcing
restricted to,
fiber in tires, belts,
Polyester terephthalic acid and
and hoses. New
f-hydroxybenzoic
insulating polyester
acid. The
fiberfill are used in
manufacturing
high-performance
process uses melt-
outdoor wear.
spinning so the size
and shape can be
adjusted for specific
applications.

It is produced by the Polyethylene fibers

formation of an ester are used in police
bond between and military ballistic
terephthalic acid and vests, helmets and
ethylene glycol. The armored vehicles,
Polyethylene
material floats, resists sailcloth, fishing lines
chemicals and water, and lifting slings, cut-
and exhibits superior resistant gloves, and
fiber-to-fiber a wide range of
abrasion. safety apparel.

It is a vinyl polymer, Polypropylene is used

Polypropylene similar to for indoor-outdoor
polyethylene. The carpeting because it
 structure has a doesn’t absorb water.
methyl group
attached to every
other carbon in the
backbone chain./p>

It is a specialty fiber
PPS can be used for
characterized with
home interior,
high resistance to
automobile, filter bag
thermal and chemical
Polyphenylene cloth for a coal-fired
attack as well as
sulfide (PPS) boiler, electrical
resistance to heat,
insulation, and as
solvents, acids and
filter material for
alkalis, mildew, UV
liquid and gas.
light, and abrasion.

These fibers have a

polyethylene
hydrocarbon PVC fibers have low
Polyvinyl backbone with a success in the textile
chloride substituted functional industry because of
(PVC)/ Vinyl group to determine their low softening
the physical and point.
chemical properties of
the fiber.

Vinyon is composed
of 85% vinyl chloride Application of vinyon
is limited because it
polymerize monomer dissolves easily in
units. Vinal fibers are organic solvents.
Vinyon fiber at least 50% vinyl Vinal resembles
or Vinal alcohol units in which cotton and high
at least 85% of the strength and
units are combined abrasion resistance
vinyl alcohol and making it useful in
acetyl cross linked many applications.
units.

This includes textile Rayon is used in

Rayon/Lyocell fibers and filaments fashion, furnishings,
composed of sanitary products,
regenerated cellulose, diapers, and medical
 excluding acetate. It supplies.
is produced from
naturally occurring
polymers. The fiber is
sold as artificial silk
and it has a serrated
round shape with a
smooth surface.

Blended Fiber Structure

Blended fibers are manufactured from a mixture of two or more

different type of fibers. Mixing fibers allows manufactures to form new

textile yarns with distinct advantages. Each fiber retains its separate

set of physical and aesthetic characteristics inherent in its design but

the fabric acquires new characteristics depending on the type and

percent of fibers used. Blends utilize the advantages of all the fibers to

counteract the disadvantages of a single fiber. Synthetic fibers can be

blended with natural fibers to create a material that is stronger, but

more comfortable.

Coated or Sized Fabric

Coated fibers are tightly woven or knit-based fabric that is

coated on one or both sides with a synthetic or natural elastomer. The

selection of fiber and fabric for coating depends on the application.

Coating is used to enhance the strength, abrasion resistance, stiffness,

thermal stability, water repellency and air permeability of the fabric.

This technique is often seen in applications such as in life rafts and

diving suits. Woven, knit, tufted, and non-woven fabrics are used in

coating. There are many materials that can be used for the coating

and there are several options available for applying the coating.

Sized fibers have been treated to reduce the hairiness around the

fiber. It is part of a slashing process and reduces the hairiness that

would interfere with the weaving process. This protects the yarn from

yarn-to-yarn and yarn-to-loom abrasion as well as increasing the

strength of the yarn so it can make it through the loom without

breaking. If the process is done incorrectly, the long hair fibers around

the yarn will be glued to the adjacent yarns and the strands will be

damaged when they put through the loom. Proper sizing requires the

size film, which can be a variety of polymers, to coat the yarn surface

without excessive penetration into the body of the yarn bundle.

Fiber Specifications

Fibers are extremely long individual strands of material. When many

fibers are combined they create a fabric.

There are different requirements based on the fiber's application. Two

general application categories are apparel/domestic and industrial. For

industrial applications the fiber must have a tenacity of 7-8

graddenier, have 8-15% elongation at break, a modulus of elasticity of

80 graddenier or more conditioned and 50 graddenier when wet, as

well as a zero strength temperature of 250°C or above.

Fibers have their own set of specifications which should be considered

in order to produce a fabric for an application. These specifications

include thickness, width, length, and weight.

Thickness -- Synthetic fibers can be extruded to different thicknesses

called a denier. Thickness of a fiber also refers to its diameter or

distance across the fiber's cross section. Synthetic fibers have a

uniform diameter because it can be controlled during the

manufacturing process. The opening in the spinneret is responsible for

the diameter of the fiber. Very small openings produce fine filament

fibers. Denier relates to the fineness of the fiber. For example a (12) -

denier monofilament is used for sheer pantyhose, and a circular

double-knit fiber is 140-denier. Thickness can also be calculated by

taking the square root of the ratio of ply/count.

Width -- The overall width refers to the outer diameter or cut width of

a roll of fabric of textile material.

Length -- Fabrics and textiles are sold in roll form at varying lengths,

many in excess of one mile.

Break Load (Rope/Fiber) -- Breaking strength is the maximum tensile

load or force that a rope, cord, webbing, or fabric will hold before

breaking. Breaking strength is multiplied by a safety factor to

determine the actual operating or working load of the rope or textile

product.

Fabric Specifications

Selecting synthetic fibers and synthetic fabrics requires an analysis of

dimensions, properties, structural features, and applications.

Operating Temperature -- Operating temperature is the maximum

temperature at which fibers can be used continuously, without the

degradation of structural or other required end-use properties.

Fabric Strength -- Fabric strength is the load per inch-width that a

fabric can withstand before breaking.

Weight -- Fabric weight is the weight per unit area of woven or non-

woven fabric, textile or cloth.

Thermal Characteristics -- Fibers and fabrics have unique responses in

the presence of heat. Heat can hurt or help the fiber or fabric, but

when used correctly, heat can help fiber soften, melt, or decompose.

Heat can also give fiber the ability to heat set, function properly at
elevated temperatures, and function at room temperature after

exposure to high temperatures.

Thermal Conductivity is the linear heat transfer per unit area

through a material for a given applied temperature gradient. Heat flux

(h) = [thermal conductivity (k)] x [temperature gradient (ΔT)]

Electrical Resistivity -- Resistivity is the longitudinal

electrical resistance (ohm-cm) of a uniform rod of unit

length and unit cross-sectional area. Resistivity is the inverse of

conductivity.

Uses and Benefits

Synthetic Fiber and Fabric Features

In terms of structural features, some synthetic fibers and synthetic

fabrics include:

Chemical/fuel resistant -- Materials are designed to resist damage

caused by acids, alkalis, general chemicals, fuel and oils.These

materials are used to seal fuel or oil tanks.

Electrically conductive -- Textiles or fabrics include fibers with high

electrical conductivity or low electrical resistivity. Often, conductive

filler is added to increase conductivity. Products are used in electronic,

anti-staticor electrostatic discharge (ESD) applications.

Electrical insulation/dielectric -- Dielectricfibers, fabrics, and textiles

are electrically insulating. Dielectric materials are used to form a

barrier or isolator between electrical or electronic components.

Flame retardant fabrics -- Flame retardant products reduce the spread

of flames or resist ignition when exposed to high temperature, or

insulate the substrate and delay damage. A UL 94 rating indicates that

the material is flame retardant in accordance with Underwriters

Laboratories, Inc.(UL) Flame Class 94V-0 or other equivalent ISO

standards.

Hydrophilic/absorbent -- The surfaces of hydrophilic materials absorb

water. They are often used when high absorbency (many times the

basis weight of the material) is important.

Sound proofing/insulation -- Sound proofing or acoustic insulation

materials are used to form a barrier or isolator between components

and sources of noise or vibration.This category includes foam material

products used for diffusing sound without causing a large degree of

attenuation.

Thermal insulation/fireproofing -- Thermal insulation materials provide

a barrier between a component and a heat source.

 UL approved/listed -- Materials meet applicable standards from

Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL).

Hydrophobic/waterproof -- Waterproof materials do not dissolve or

degrade when exposed to water. The fabric may still absorb water if

the product is hydrophilic and has open porosity.

Weather/UV resistant -- Plastic or elastomer foams are resistant to

ultraviolet (UV) light or sunlight. Some non-UV resistant foam will

crack, yellow, or degrade on exposure to UV light.Weather resistant

materials can withstand exposure to the elements, such as wind, rain,

snow dust, humidity, heat, cold, and other weather conditions.

Applications:

Synthetic fibers and synthetic fabrics are used in a variety of industries

and applications, including:

 Aerospace

 Apparel or clothing

 Architecture and construction

 Automotive and transportation

 Chemical processing

 Electrical

 Electronics

 Filtration
 Marine

 Medical

 Safety

 Welding

Banana

Banana is the most important fruit crop in the Philippines. It ranks

first in production (>5.63 million metric tonnes) and area harvested

(415 000 has) (BAS 2005) among other fruit crops. Save for the

export banana, which is a significant source of foreign exchange,

banana is grown largely by small-holder farmers, traded by local

entrepreneurs and consumed locally. Thus, it plays a major role in

food security and income generation of the rural poor. Over the years,

Musa researchers worldwide have developed a number of new, high

yielding and disease-resistant cultivars of banana. Today, these

improved cultivars are being made available for testing and

distribution to small-holder farmers by Bioversity International. The

availability to the local banana industry of these improved cultivars

and superior landraces from foreign sources is a shortcut to a long,

tedious and expensive banana breeding programme. It is believed that

the introduction of these new cultivars as a component of an

integrated crop management strategy involving the use clean planting

materials, could have a rapid and significant impact on levels of

production of banana in the Philippines.

Banana is one of the oldest and most popular fruit. Banana is

otherwise called ‘Apple of Paradise’. The Indo-Malayan region is

believed to be the place of origin. It is widely used as a fresh fruit. The

central core of the pseudostem is used as a vegetable. The banana

pseudostem is also used for manufacturing paper and boards.

 Cavendish is grown in plantation scale in Mindanao. ‰

 Lakatan and latundan are grown commercially alos intended for

the Luzon and Visayas markets ‰

 Cardaba is known mainly for the banana chips industry ‰

 Balangon oor bongolan is grown organically in Tupi, South

Cotabato ‰

 Organic Cavendish is being grown by the multinational

corporations

Botany

The banana plant is the largest herbaceous flowering plant. The

main or upright stem is actually a pseudostem, growing from a corm,

to a height of 6 to 7.6 meters. Leaves are spirally arranged, as long as

2.7 meters and 60 centimeters wide, fragile and easily torn by wind,

with the familiar frond look. Each pseudostem produces a single bunch
of bananas; the pseudostem dies after fruiting, as offshoots usually

develop from the base of the plant. Each pseudostem produces a

single inflorescence, the banana heart, containing many bracts

between rows of flowers. The banana fruits develop from the heart, in

a hanging cluster made up of tiers (hands), up to 20 fruit to a tier.

Nature/Climate

Latitude and Altitude

Banana is a tropical plant requiring a warm and humid climate.

 Tamil Nadu : Bananas can be grown from sea level to an altitude

of 1200 metres. The latitude for banana is 10° N to 12° N.

 Kerala : Bananas can be grown from sea level to an altitude

of 1200 metres. The latitude for banana is 10° N to 14° N.

 Karnataka : Bananas can be grown from sea level to an altitude

of 1200 metres. The latitude for banana is 14° N to 28° N for

Coastal, South and North region.

Temperature

 The problems which result in a banana plantation from low

winter temperatures serve to only emphasize the importance of

adequate heat as a factor, in banana production.

  In coastal areas of Tamil Nadu the cyclonic wind damages the

plantations. Hence it is advisable to select areas where mean

temperature is around 25°C -30°C with a mean annual rainfall of

100 mm per month.

Rainfall

 Banana requires on an average, 1700mm rainfall distributed

throughout the year for its satisfactory growth.

 Stagnation of water is injurious and may cause diseases like

panama wilt.

Wind

 Wind exerts profound influence on growth and production of

banana and it is considered as the scourge in banana plantation

worldwide.

 Wind velocity more than 50 km/hour causes serious damage to

banana plantation.

 Pseudo stems at reflowed initiation stage are sometimes cut

above ground level to avoid severe wind damage.

 However, this practice is adopted only in cyclone prone areas.

 A wind velocity of 18-30 km/h is sufficient to spilt the leaf

lamina.
  Winds at 54-72 km/h can upturn and blow down large plantation

while winds at 90-100 km/h completely destroy banana

plantations.

Humidity

 When growing banana tree, the humidity must be taken into

consideration.

 A humidity of at least 50%, preferably higher, is recommended

since the banana plant is native to hot and humid parts of the

world.

 Dry air will damage the banana leaves.

Sunshine and Light

 Part shade, particularly the edges of forests and along roadways;

too much shade can impair the development of the fruit while

too much sun necessitates lots of watering . The banana plant is

native to parts of the world where the sunshine is very strong

and bright light is therefore a good idea if you want to be

successful when growing banana tree. Approximately 12 hours of

strong light is recommended for most types of banana.

Soil

 Banana can grow from the poorest to the richest type of soil with

varying success.

 The soil should be tested before banana cultivation

 The soil should have good drainage, adequate fertility and

moisture.

 Deep, rich loamy and salty clay loam soil with pH between 6-7.5

is most preferred for banana cultivation.

 Ill drained, poorly aerated and nutritionally deficient soils are not

suitable for banana.

 Extreme clayey, Sandy soil, Saline soil and Calcareous soil is not

suitable for Banana cultivation.

 Avoided soil of low lying areas, very sandy & heavy black cotton

with ill drainage.

 A soil that is not too acidic & not too alkaline, rich in organic

material with high nitrogen content, adequate phosphorus level

and plenty of potash are good for banana.

Types of Banana

1. Cavendish Banana

The Cavendish banana is your “typical” banana found at the local

grocery store or farmer’s market. They are slightly sweet and have a

creamy texture. They have various stages of ripening, from green to

yellow, to yellow with brown spots. They’re grown all across Central

America, and their production is essential to the economies in these

areas.

2. Pisang Raja

Pisang Raja bananas are popular in Indonesia. Featuring a yellow to

orange color, they taste like honey-flavored custard with a smooth and

creamy consistency. They’re slightly smaller than Cavendish Bananas,

averaging four to six inches in length.

3. Red Banana

As their name suggests, red bananas have a reddish-purple skin.

They have light pink colored flesh and are much sweeter and softer

than Cavendish bananas. They also have a slight raspberry flavor that

makes them absolutely irresistible.

4. Lady Finger Banana

Lady Finger bananas, also known as baby bananas, are sweeter and

smaller than Cavendish bananas. They’re usually around three inches

in length and feature a creamy texture and sweet flavor with notes of

honey.

5. Blue Java Banana

Blue Java bananas are also known as the ice cream banana due to

their sweet vanilla flavor and extreme creaminess. They feature a

beautiful blue peel and a white flesh. They’re actually pretty hardy and

can grow in colder regions.

6. Plantain

Plantains are a subgroup of bananas that are referred to as cooking

bananas. They have a high starch content and are typically used in

savory dishes. They aren’t typically consumed raw. They’re a food

staple in West and Central Africa, the Caribbean islands, and Central

America.
7. Manzano Banana

The Manzano Banana is sweeter than Cadvendish bananas with a

hint of crunchy apple-strawberry flavor. They’re grown in Central and

South America, the Caribbean, and Mexico. They’re short and chubby

with think yellow skins that turn black when fully ripe.

8. Burro Banana

Burro bananas have a lemony and tangy taste, which makes them

one of the most unique types of bananas. They have a flatter, smaller

and more square shape than Cavendish bananas. The flesh is creamy

white or yellow and is soft with some firmness in the center.

9. Barangan Banana

Yellow with small black dots, the Barangan banana has a sweet,

mild taste. The flesh is white with no seeds. It’s a popular variety and

is eaten as a dessert in many regions across the tropics.

10. Goldfinger Banana

The Goldfinger banana was first grown in Honduras by a team of

scientists as a pest-resistant banana. It can be cooked when green and

eaten raw once fully ripe. It’s similar to the Cavendish banana, with its

eventual aim to replace the more susceptible-to-disease variety.

Chemical Composition

- Juice of the flower-stem contains potash, soda, lime, magnesia,

alumina, chlorine, sulfuric anhydride, silica and carbon anhydride.

- High potassium content - a medium banana contains about 450 mg

of potassium. (Because of potassium homeostasis in the body, 40K

ingested is balanced by 40K potassium excreted. The net dose of a

banana is zero.)

- Preliminary phytochemical screening of fresh stem juice yielded

vitamin B, oxalic acid, sulphate, vitamin C, starch, tannin, glycosides,

phenolic compounds, gum mucilage.

- Study yielded 6 triterpenes: 6 triterpenes: cyclomusalenol,

cyclomusalenone, 24-methylenecycloartanol, stigmast-7-

methylenecycloartanol, stigmast-7-en-3-ol, lanosterol, and a-amyrin

and eight flavonoids.

- Mineral content and nutritional value of varieties (lakatan, latundan,

saba, and bungalan) showed the carbohydrate content to exceed 25%.

- Stems yielded tannins and glycosides in abundance, with moderate

amounts of saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, polyphenols and reducing

sugars. Phlobatannins was absent.

- Proximate analysis of roasted plantain showed high crude protein of

7.1.7% followed by fat content of 4.35% while boiled plantain showed

crude protein of 6.01% and fat content of 3.69%. Musa paradisiaca

both roasted and boiled are good sources of protein and carbohydrate.

- Phytochemical analysis of flowers yielded alkaloids, saponins,

glycosides, tannins, flavanoids, and steroids.

- Nutrient analysis of one medium Musa sapientum fruit yields 1.29 g

protein, 105 calories, 3.1 g of dietary fiber, 422 mg potassium, 26 mg

phosphorus, 32 mg magnesium, 6 mg of calcium, 1 mg sodium, 0.3

mg iron, 1.2 mcg selenium, 0.319 mg manganese, 0.092 mg copper,

0.18 mg zinc. Vitamin analysis yields 76 IU vitamin A, 0.037 mg

vitamin B1 (thiamin), 0.086 mg vitamin B2 (riboflavin), 0.785 mg

niacin, 24 mcg folate, 0.394 mg pantothenic acid, 0.433 mg vitamin

B6, 10.3 mg vitamin C, 012 mg vitamin E, 0.6 mg vitamin K. (Deborah

et al, 2011)

- Phytochemical analysis of peel and fruit yielded alkaloid, flavonoids,

saponins, tannins, phlobatannins, glycosides, and terpenoids.

- Study of leaf for secondary metabolites suggested the presence of

alkaloid, flavanoid, tannin, steroid, cardiac glycosides. Phenolic content

in the crude methanolic extract of leaf was 8.564 ± 0.716 mg of gallic

acid (GAE) per gm of dried extract. Total flavonoid content was 1431

± 65.57 mg of rutin per gram of dried extract.

Paper

Paper is a thin material produced by pressing together

moist fibres of cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and

drying them into flexible sheets. It is a versatile material with many

uses, including writing, printing, packaging, cleaning, decorating, and

a number of industrial and construction processes. Papers are essential

in legal or non-legal documentation.

Although humans had used other flat substances upon which to

write, clay tablets, hide parchment, and papyrus, from which we get

the word paper, none of these are truly paper. Paper is made of

randomly oriented (a felt) plant fibers. According to contemporary

records of AD 105, "Under the reign of Emperor Hi-Ti, Ts'ai Lun of Lei-

Yang conceived of the idea of making paper from the bark of

trees....The paper was then used throughout the entire Universe." The

tree was the paper mulberry, Broussonetia papyrifera. Although

today the vast majority of all our paper is made from wood fibers, this

paper was made from the bark, or bast, fibers. While not as cheap or

as plentiful, bast fibers are much easier to process.

The bark is striped from young branches and boiled until soft. The

soggy bark is then pounded to separate the fibers and remove softer
tissues. The fibers are then suspended in water. A layer of felted

fibers is picked up on a screen and dried to produce a sheet of paper.

In many places in Asia paper craftsmen continue to produce paper

using these centuries’ old techniques.

Origin

Papermaking has traditionally been traced to China when Cai

Lun, an official attached to the Imperial court during the Han Dynasty

(202 BC-AD 220), created a sheet of paper using mulberry and other

bast fibers along with fishnets, old rags, and hemp waste, though the

earliest piece of paper found, at Fangmatan in Gansu province

inscribed with a map, dates from 179-41 BC.

Types

Paper may be classified into seven categories:

 Printing papers of wide variety.

 Wrapping papers for the protection of goods and merchandise. This

includes wax and kraft papers.

 Writing paper suitable for stationery requirements. This includes

ledger, bank, and bond paper.

 Blotting papers containing little or no size.

 Drawing papers usually with rough surfaces used by artists and

designers, including cartridge paper.

 Handmade papers including most decorative papers, Ingres

papers, Japanese paper and tissues, all characterized by lack of

grain direction.

 Specialty papers including cigarette paper, toilet tissue, and other

industrial papers.

Some paper types include:

 Bank paper  Laid paper

 Banana paper  Leather paper

 Bond paper  Mummy paper

 Book paper  Oak tag paper

 Coated paper: glossy and  Sandpaper

matte surface  Tyvek paper

 Construction paper/sugar  Wallpaper

paper  Washi

 Cotton paper  Waterproof paper

 Fish paper (vulcanized fibres  Wax paper

for electrical insulation)  Wove paper

 Inkjet paper  Xuan paper

 Kraft paper
Uses

We can see few major uses of paper in our surrounding in the

following areas  Agriculture: Paper sacks, seed packets, animal

bedding etc.  Building: Wallpaper, damp-proof courses, roofing,

flooring, flame resistant papers, plasterboard and decorative laminates

for furniture.  Business: Receipts, circulars, catalogues, filing

systems, sales and service manuals, brochures, letter heading, notes,

posters, advertisements etc.  Cars: Fascia boards, door and roof

liners, filters, the Highway Code, driving licenses.  Communications:

Writing pads, envelopes, newspapers, magazines, greeting cards,

calendars, diaries, telephone directories, labels, visiting cards and

passports.  Domestic Products: Tissues, paper plates and cups, toilet

paper, kitchen towels, table napkins, wallpaper and lampshades. 

Education: Books, exercise books, maps, wall charts, flip charts and

report cards.  Electrical: Special insulating boards, electrolytic

condenser paper, wrapping and identification for electrical cables,

printed circuits and battery separators.  Entertainment: Menu cards,

paper hats, crackers, fireworks, wrapping paper, programs, playing

cards, board games, kites, model aircraft, and race cards.  Filtration:

Filters for water, air, coffee, tea bags, medicine, beer, oil, and

mechanical uses.  Impregnated Papers: Polishing, waxing, and

cleaning.  Industry: Protection for manufactured goods, Packaging, in

transport, transfer sheets for decorating chinaware, display boards,

point of sale materials and in storage.  Medical: Wrapping to keep

instruments and equipment sterile, bandages, first aid bands, clothing

for nurses, face masks, surgeon’s caps, disposable bedpans, sheets

and pillowcases, medicine packaging, prescriptions, medical history. 

Money; Finance; Security: Bank notes, insurance forms, cheque

books, ledgers, stamps, cash bags and security papers that contain

special markings which are only visible when subjected to ultra-violet

light etc.
References:

 IEEE Global Spec (n.d.) Synthetic Fibers and Fabrics

Information. Retrieved from

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/ap

a_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html

 Nayar, Nm. (2010). The Bananas: Botany, Origin, Dispersal.

10.1002/9780470527238.ch2.

 FS dela Cruz Jr., LS Gueco, OP Damasco, VC Huelgas, FM dela

Cueva, TO Dizon, MLJ Sison, IG Banasihan, VO Sinohin, and AB

Molina, Jr. (n.d.) Farmers’ Handbook on Introduced and Local

Banana Cultivars in the Philippines

 Edible (2019) 10 Different Types of Bananas. Retrieved from

https://blog.ediblearrangements.com/different-types-of-

bananas/

 TNAU (n.d.) Expert System for Banana. Retrieved from

http://www.agritech.tnau.ac.in/expert_system/banana/cli.html

 StuartxChange (n.d.) Philippine Medicinal Plant. Retrieved from

http://www.stuartxchange.org/Saging.html

 Aithal, Sreeramana. (2016). A Study on History of Paper and

possible Paper Free World. International Journal of Management,

IT and Engineering (IJMIE). 6. 337-355.

10.5281/zenodo.161141.