Abaca: Cultivation, obtaining fibre and potential uses

Abaca is a herbaceous plant, originally from the Philippines, whose fibre has a high content of lignin and cellulose that provide a big resistance to traction, putrefaction, abrasion, and UV rays and salt water degradation. It is used in the textile industry to make ropes, strings, threads and fabric that will later become clothing, curtains, tapestries; it is also used for different artistic or craft expressions. It is highly valued in the paper industry for the elaboration of paper of different types. Known as the 'Queen of natural fibres', Abaca has been lately used for the development of nanomaterials, biodegradable materials and composite materials that are utilized by the automotive industry, aeronautics, shipping, construction and furniture.