Defining application areas of corn husk fibre by studying its characteristics

Natural fibres have attracted more attention compared with synthetic fibre because they exhibit several benefits over synthetic fibre, such as being cost-effective, readily available, and lightweight apart from offering better mechanical properties. Corn husk fibres being a natural crop fibre have attracted more attention due to their renewability and biodegradability. Corn husk is an outer protective layer of maize which is generally discarded as waste. However, this agro-waste can be utilized exclusively for various applications with a sustainable approach by extracting fibres out of them. This paper aims to revolutionize the usage of corn husk fibres in conventional as well as technical textile industries by enlisting various application areas. A comprehensive understanding of corn husk fibre extraction techniques and their effect on various fibre properties are also discussed. These properties are compared with properties of other natural fibres, to enable the possibility of converting corn husk fibres into different textile forms such as yarn, woven and nonwoven fabric, and composites. This will fulfill the increasing demand for natural fibre along with biodegradability and reduced petroleum dependency while contributing to the purpose-driven use of agro waste.