COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF YARN BLENDS CONTAINING A NEW FIBER OF ANIMAL ORIGIN WITH COTTON AND POLYESTER
Fibra natural, Hirundichthys affinis, sustentabilidade, Engenharia da fiação, reaproveitamento de resíduos.
This study investigates the use of flying fish (Hirundichthys affinis) fishing waste, specifically the filaments from the production of roe, called Tobiko, as a new textile fiber of animal origin—referred to in this work as Sea's Silk (SS fiber). The research presents comparative analyses between yarns produced 100% with the new fiber and their respective blends with cotton (CO), polyester (PES), and their respective blends in different proportions. Morphological, physical, and mechanical analyses were performed, highlighting twist, tensile strength, elongation, and yarn count, in order to compare the performance of yarns produced from the new fiber with already consolidated fibers, as well as with fiber blends. The results showed that, although pure SS fiber presents lower strength and uniformity, its blends, especially with polyester, revealed significant improvements in mechanical properties, in addition to good elasticity performance. The study concludes that SS fiber is a viable and sustainable alternative for the textile industry, with the potential to add value to a currently underutilized production chain. Furthermore, the use of the fiber offers a sustainable alternative to what was previously an important fishing waste product, with no added value.