Kapok
Kapok fiber
is a silky cotton-like substance that surrounds the seeds in the pods
of the ceiba tree. The ceiba tree belongs to the Bombacacae family and
is primarily found in Asia in tropical and semi-tropical climates at an
altitude less than 1000 feet, in porous volcanic soil.
The
silky kapok fiber, or floss, is a tiny cellulose tube with air
sealed inside
and it is ideal for stuffing life preservers and other water-safety
equipment because of its excellent buoyancy. It can support as much as
30 times its own weight in water and loses only 10 percent of buoyancy
over a 30-day period. It is eight times lighter than cotton and, thanks
to its vacuum fibers, extremely thermal-insulator. Kapok fiber is also
lightweight, non-allergic, non-toxic, resistant to rot and odorless.
Unfortunately, due the fact that it is inelasic and too fragile, it
can't be spun but its outstandig characteristics of lightness,
impermeability, thermal-isolation and eco-naturality are used as
stuffing in some garments of an italian fashion line.
Moreover
there's yet another plusvalence involving the use of kapok
fibers: since the ceiba trees grow only naturally and there aren't
coltivations of this plant, the use of the kapok silk stimulates the
safeguard of these secular plants which are ecologic patrimony of our
planet.
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Kapok
stuffing
Kapok-garment
and particular.
The ceiba tree (courtesy
from www.ceiba.org)
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