Appendix One Flax Glossary of Terms with Illustrations Reintroduction of Fibre Flax in Midwestern Ontario from Field to Finished Product| 2012 Flax Glossary of Terms with Illustrations ABACA: Etymology: Spanish abacá, from Tagalog abaká 1: a fiber obtained from the leafstalk of a banana (Musa textilis) native to the Philippines -- called also Manila hemp 2: the plant that yields abaca ANNUAL: Completing the life cycle in one growing season: lasting one year. AEROBIC: Living or active only in the presence of oxygen. Relating to, involving, or requiring free oxygen: in dew retting the presence of air and moisture from dew or rain or snow certain simple aerobic fungi gradually devour the pectins and lignins in the flax plant. Photo credit: Helmut Becker. Caroline and Christie hand pulling fibre flax and spreading evenly on field in preparation for dew retting.dew retting, Caroline Rasenberg (Assistant Manager of Western University Canada Environmental Sciences Western Field Station) and Christie Stewart, Agronomist for field trials, research project Reintroduction of Fibre Flax from Field to Finished Product in Midwestern Ontario. Photo credit: Helmut Becker. Aerobic microorganisms living or active only in the presence of oxygen, dew ret 12 varieties of fibre flax: Electra, Agatha, Caesar Augustus, Alizee, Drakkar, Eden, Marilyn, Sofie, Suzanne, Chantal, Melina & Vesta and 1 variety of seed flax, Bethune. Helmut Becker, Research Information Coordinator Reintroduction of Fibre Flax from Field to Finished Product in Midwestern Ontario Labour Market Partnerships Project AEROPLANE LINEN CANVAS: Havallind Tiger Moth aircraft wings, tail and fuselage were covered with doped aeroplane linen canvas. Toronto Star ANAEROBIC: Living or active in the absence of free oxygen. In water retting flax plants the presence of anaerobic microscopic organisms gradually devour the pectins and lignins. a b (Akin) (Akin) “…Scanning electron microscopy of unretted and retted flax stems. (a) Unretted stem showing the cuticle on the epidermis, fibers, and woody core cells. (b) Similar but dew-retted stem showing the separation of fibers from the cuticularized epidermis and woody core. Fiber bundles have also been subdivided into smaller bundles and ultimate fibers…” (Akin) Helmut Becker, Research Information Coordinator Reintroduction of Fibre Flax from Field to Finished Product in Midwestern Ontario Labour Market Partnerships Project Photo credit: Helmut Becker. Running water retted fibre Natasja and Belinka fibre flax through an activation of anaerobic microscopic organisms. A trickle of water runs constantly over the top of tank and also from valve at bottom of tank. “…Water-retting depends on fermentation by anaerobic bacteria, such as Clostridium felsinium, to degrade pectins and other matrix substances (14). In early times, bundled flax stalks were submerged in natural bodies of running or still water (e.g., lakes, rivers, dams) for 5–7 days…” Photo credit: Helmut Becker Draining retted water out of stainless steel tank. Helmut Becker, Research Information Coordinator Reintroduction of Fibre Flax from Field to Finished Product in Midwestern Ontario Labour Market Partnerships Project BALING: After the retting is completed special baling machines evenly roll and press the dry retted fibre flax plants into round-coiled bales. These bales can be stored at a humidity of less than 15% for a long time without spoiling. Photo credit: Helmut Becker. Fibre flax balers at work near Brugge, Belgium. Photo credit: Helmut Becker. Over-head loader in process of loading bales of dew retted fibre flax onto a flat bed transport truck on a field near Brugge, Belgium. Helmut Becker, Research Information Coordinator Reintroduction of Fibre Flax from Field to Finished Product in Midwestern Ontario Labour Market Partnerships Project Photo credit: Helmut Becker. Flat bed truck being loaded with bales of dew retted fibre flax and about to be transported from near Brugge to the Debruyn flax factory near Kortirjk, Belgium. Alvin Ulrich. “Growing for the Market”: Quality Feedstock for Fibre Helmut Becker, Research Information Coordinator Reintroduction of Fibre Flax from Field to Finished Product in Midwestern Ontario Labour Market Partnerships Project Dehondt baler Photo credit: Helmut Becker. Baling heated water retted fibre flax BAST FIBRES: Any of certain strong woody fibres obtained chiefly from the phloem but also sometimes from the pericycle or cortex of various plants and used especially in the manufacture of ropes, cordage, matting, and fabrics. BEETS: When put into the water to ret, the pulled flax plants are tied up in beets, or small sheaves. Photo credit: Helmut Becker. Beets of Electra and Agatha varieties of fibre flax formed into chapels after completing a running water retting process. David Stinson, Barry Cleave and Gary Eagleson, consultants for project Reintroduction of Fibre Flax from Field to Finished Product in Midwestern Ontario BEETLING: A process applied to linen fabrics and to cotton fabrics made to resemble linen to produce a hard, flat surface with high lustre and also to make texture less porous. In this process, the fabric, dampened and wound around an iron cylinder, is passed through a machine in which it is pounded with heavy wooden mallets. Helmut Becker, Research Information Coordinator Reintroduction of Fibre Flax from Field to Finished Product in Midwestern Ontario Labour Market Partnerships Project Wellbrook Beetling Mill, Photo credit: Helmut Becker. Cookstown, County Tyrone. United Kingdom Beech wood stampers, Beetling Mill in Ireland. Photo credit: Helmut Becker. Beech wood stampers, Beetling Mill in Ireland. Woven natural line cloth is dampened and wound around an iron cylinder, and is passed through a beetling machine in which it is pounded with heavy beech wood mallets. Helmut Becker, Research Information Coordinator Reintroduction of Fibre Flax from Field to Finished Product in Midwestern Ontario Labour Market Partnerships Project BEETLING MILL: Working water-powered mill used in the manufacture of linen. Beetling was the last stage in the manufacturing of linen - and Wellbrook is the last working Beetling Mill in Ireland. Photo credit: Helmut Becker. Wellbrook Beetling Mill, Northern Ireland. Water Wheel to drive the beetling mill stampers. BIO: Bio- is a prefix derived from the Greek word, bios, which means life. James Lovelock Gaia Hypothesis – Earth System Science – “What does the prefix bio- mean in biosphere?” ... living things, for example biology means the study of living things BIOCOMPOSITE: Bio-composite materials consist of natural fibres (e.g. flax, industrial hemp, jute and wood fibres) as reinforcement in a synthetic polymer matrix. They sometimes crossover with biofibre reinforced plastics. Biocomposites are characterized by the fact that the petrochemical resin is replaced by a vegetable or animal resin, and/or the bolsters (fiberglass, carbon fibre or talc) are replaced by natural fibre (wood fibres, hemp, flax, sisal, jute...). BIOFIBRES: Typically, “biofibres” are defined as fibrous material derived from plant, tree or shrub sources. This could include the fibres often described as natural fibres - cotton, hemp, flax, kenaf, jute, sisal, bamboo, wood and other similar fibres. BIOFIBRE REINFORCED PLASTICS: These are plastics reinforced with natural fibres such as cotton, hemp and jute. They are similar to biocomposites. Developments are concentrated in composite laminating for automotive applications. BIOMASONRY: Use of biofibres as part of a masonry mix (hence biomasonry) BIOMASS: Flax shives ... flax shives vs. other biomass sources. Biomass waste in the form of biomass flax fibre, produced as a by-product of the textile industry. Fire logs made from 100% natural flax straw biomass material. Efficiency of an herbivore–plant interaction: conversion of biomass from flax (Linaceae) to aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Utilization of annual fibrous plant biomass (flax and hemp) for different industries. Sustainable agriculture for food, energy and industry. E.G. CULTIVATING ALBERT’S FUTURE Alberta Biomaterials Development Centre (ABDC) helps industry create new products from wood, agricultural fibre and other bio-based feedstock. As one of the largest, Helmut Becker, Research Information Coordinator Reintroduction of Fibre Flax from Field to Finished Product in Midwestern Ontario Labour Market Partnerships Project most comprehensive biofibre development programs in the world, ABDC provides a single window to access all the biomaterial expertise Alberta has to offer. http://www.albertabiomaterials.com/ BIOPLASTICS: Natural polymers that are made without petrochemicals. Bioplastics (also called organic plastics) are a form of plastics derived from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable oil, cornstarch, pea starch or microbiota, rather than fossil-fuel plastics which are derived from petroleum. Because of their biological degradability, the use of bioplastics is especially popular for disposable items. BLEACHING: To remove the color or stains from (as natural fibers, cellulosic pulp,) especially by chemical means (as by oxidizing agents or less often by reducing agents) traditionally using sun and even moonlight. Today 90% of bleaching of flax fibre is carried out with hydrogen peroxide. Remaining 10% with sodium hypochloride. Chlorine is no longer used. BLEACHING GREENS: Older methods of bleaching linen involved various lengthy treatments of washing and boiling the cloth and included the