*2.1.3. Flax*

Flax is the one of the oldest cultivated plants with a cultural importance dating to prehistorical periods. Linseed was first found in the former Mesopotamia. Fragments, linseed, and capsules are estimated to be from the eighth millennium. Flax was discovered during the excavation of Ali Kosh in Iran. In old Egyptian graves and seaside settlements in Switzerland, linen fabrics and mummification bandages were found. They originated around 5000-3000 B.C. The oldest fabric fragment found to date is from a settlement in ancient Egypt [9,11,16].

Flax belongs to the family Linaceae, and the type considered here is from the genus Linum. There are wild-growing, small herbaceous perennials and cultivated annual flax plants. Flax is cultivated worldwide in tropical and cold climate zones. Fiber flax grows in humid, moderate climates, whereas oil flax grows in dry, warm areas. The harvest reaps approxi‐ mately 4000 kg/ha. The fibers are embedded in the parenchyma of the stem in a high concen‐ tration and are freed by retting. Then the flax is washed, dried, and broken to loosen the brittle wood from the bast and to separate the fibers from each other. The wooden parts are removed by means of scotches [6]. Finally, the fibers are combed by means of hackles. The properties of technical fibers and single fibers have to be distinguished. The technical fiber is 200-800 mm in length and composed of a fiber bundle. It has a fineness of about 10-40 dtex. The single fiber has a length of 7-42 mm depending on its location in the stem, its diameter is about 15-37 µm, and the density lies between 1.43 (raw) and 1.52 g/cm3 (bleached). The maturity of the fiber is determined by harvesting time. Good fiber profit with good fiber quality may be obtained at the time of yellow maturity. The relative strength fluctuates between 30 and 55 cN/tex. For all these properties, flax fiber is used for nonwoven bonded fabrics, mostly for the fabrication of filling pieces [11,16].
