Research
Activities
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In-house Projects
I. “Collection and Interpretation of Database
on Coir Sector of Kerala”
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Create
database on the raw material availability and Technology
refinement so far made in the coir industry and also
its impacts on labour intensiveness of the industry.
Study includes the development of defibering and decorticating
machines, their performance, the problems they face
in the state, how they can be eliminated and the technology
refinement needed for the existing machines to make
it more viable. Analyse the properties of coir pith
obtained from various parts of Kerala and its availability
at each districts. To collect the information about
the industry, detailed personnel interviews were conducted
with medium and small-scale manufacturers, workers
at each district. |
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II.
“Innovative Product Development in coir based
on market research” |
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The
main objectives of the project are
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Conduct market research on natural products
and possible areas where synthetic products could
be replaced by coir.
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Introduce blended yarns in finer runnages using
existing technology. (finer than the yarn available
in the market today) in coir spinning to at least
20 coir spinners initially.
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Design and development of one or two innovative
marketable products in coir based on market research.
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List of
Products Developed in the Project |
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Sponsored
Projects |
I.
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“Creation
of a Database on Physico-Chemical and Structural Characteristics
of Coir Fibre” by CIRCOT, Mumbai. |
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Objective
is the determination of Physical and Mechanical properties
of Coir fibre and then creating a database on few
popular varieties. This data can be used as guide
to technology utilization of coconut fibres for manufacturing
of value added products from coir and coir composites. |
II.
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“Development
of appropriate technology of spinning jute-coconut
fibre blended yarn and production of diversified jute-coconut
fibre in rural sector” by NIRJAFT, Calcutta. |
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One of the main objective is to develop and standardize
practicable spinning technology of jute-coir blends
and to identify suitable machinery for processing
and spinning of jute-coir blended yarns suitable
for both decentralized and corporate sectors. Expected
out come includes to positioning of Coir in the
commercial & industrial textile field comparable
with jute and cotton. And also to reduce the strain
exerted by the weavers through introduction of jute-coir
blended yarn in coir weaving industry.
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III.
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Production
of Reinforcing Fillers from Coir pith and its utilization
for the manufacturing of value added rubber products
by Common Facility Service Centre, Changanacherry |
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Object
of the project is the utilization of coir pith as
reinforcing fillers for the production of new value
added eco-friendly natural rubber products after modifying
it with suitable surface treatments. Eventually leads
to the Development of substitute filler material using
coir pith, which is being considered as a waste. Facilitate
manufacturing of value added product like doormats,
lightweight footwear’s etc. The project is successfully
completed and applied for Patent. |
Products
developed |
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1. Coir pith Reinforced
Chappels
2. Coir pith Reinforced Door Mat |
IV.
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Pilot Project on Production of Ayurvedic
Coir using Coconut fibre dyed with Ayurvedic Herbal
Dyes through Eco-friendly process.
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The main object is to provide an eco-friendly
and ayurvedic ramification and effectiveness to
coir and coir products and thereby paving a path
for the new marketing possibility for the coir and
coir products in the national and international
markets, so as to exploit the opportunities created
by the globalization and post-WTO economic scenario
and explore the medicinal applications.
The Ayurvedic impact of medicine/medicinal plant
through the medium of coir spiced with ayurvedic
medicines. A new system of treatment called Medicinally
Effective Environment Creation Technique (MEEC)
is developed to accelerate the recovery rate of
generic diseases like asthma, hyper tension, skin
diseases.
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Patient under treatment in Ayurvedic coir clinical
room
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V. |
Development of process for the extraction
of fibre from Tender Coconut Husks by RRL, Trivandrum
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Tender coconut husk after the soft drink and refresher
purposes can be collected and subjected to close
retting in tanks. It is highly advantageous for
coir industry which is in great crisis because of
unavailability of coconut husk for extraction of
fibre.
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VI.
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“Standardization of Engineering
Properties and Providing Technical Data for the
Techno-Marketing of Coir Geotextiles”-NIT,
Calicut
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In order to develop simplified standardization
techniques depending on the type of yarn used, runnage
of the yarn, type of weaving pattern, whether conventionally
spun or mechanically spun yarn etc., a detailed
research has to be carried out.The Project includes
the determination of the tensile behaviour of
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Different types of yarns that exist in the
industry.
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The existing mesh mattings with different
combinations of yarns.
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The existing floor coverings.
In-soil tensile strength behavior of the mesh mattings
and floor coverings has to be evaluated for use
of these materials as a separation and reinforcement
material in soil structures. The possibility of
improving stiffness has to be explored. Durability
with respect to repeated loadings has to be analysed.
Once the project is successfully completed, the
guidelines can be given to manufacturers/exporters.
The manufacturers/exporters can develop the values
of technical parameters depending on the type of
yarn used, runnage of yarn as well as the type of
weaving adopted and will be able to provide the
type of coir geotextile as per the client’s
requirement
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