Milkweed floss

So far, mats of some polymers, such as poly(propylene) and poly(urethane), have been used for the sorption of spilled oil. Their maximum sorption capacity is about 10-30 g of heavy oil per 1 g of polymer [35]. However, they sorb water, as well as heavy oil, and show no special selectivity for heavy oils. Therefore, the effective sorption capacity of the polymer mats for heavy oils floating on water must be lower than the figures mentioned above. Some natural sorbents prepared from cotton fibers, milkweed flosses, and kenaf plants were reported to have rather high sorption capacity and certain potential for oil recovery and sorbent reusability [35—41]. The sorption capacity of macroporous carbon materials, exfoliated graphite, and carbonized fir fibers, is very high in comparison with these materials. Preferential sorption of oils is an advantage of carbon materials in addition to their high sorption capacity. 

Fiber, vegetable Different vegetable fibers are used in RPs, etc. They include (1) seed-hair-cotton, kapok, milkweed floss (2) bast-flax, hemp, jute, ramie and (3) leaf-abaca, sisal. 

Crews et al. evaluated the use of milkweed floss as an insulative fill material and compared its performance to other insulators. Seven identical jackets were constructed using different fill materials matched on a per unit weight basis. The insulation (clo) values for the jackets were measured using a standing, heated manikin as an environmental chamber. Thickness (loft), compression, resiliency and hand were also measured. The results show (Table 4.10) that milkweed floss blended with down has insulative properties similar to down. Down is superior to milkweed floss in loftiness and compressibility, which influence product performance, but the properties of milkweed floss can be enhanced by blending it with down. 

Prob. also from white elm (Ulmus americana), milkweed (Asclepias sysiaca) floss and oat hull hemicelluloses. Cryst. 

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