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Coir (Cocos nucifera) fibre is obtained from the husk of the nut which is the fruit of the coconut plant.
The fibre is removed from the husk either by hand or mechanical processes. In the former, the coconut husks are softened in water and then pounded with stones to remove the woody portions, after which the fibres are hackled with a steel comb and dried. In the mechanical system, the husks are quartered and placed in large water tanks to soften the husks. They are then passed through a breaker which crushes them before passing them into the next machine, the drum, where the woody part is torn out by a series of spikes leaving the long coarse fibres.
The fibres are then washed, cleaned and dried and hackled before being spun into a yarn suitable for use in a variety of products including floorcoverings.
It is not usual to dye coir fibre although it can be bleached
to produce a creamy yellow shade.
All coir products in the Crucial Trading range are produced by an authentic natural route. The hand-processed fibre, which is considered to be superior in quality to mechanical processed fibre, is spun into yarn and then woven on hand operated looms.
Crucial Trading’s coir range features basic hand woven designs in natural coconut colour, bleached cream colour and a combination of the two.
As with all natural fibres there will be product inconsistencies, however Crucial Trading’s policy is to minimise these by regular product inspection for quality.
Floorcoverings made with coir are as hard wearing as sisal and can be used in a variety of both domestic and light contract areas.
It should be noted that bleached Coir can revert to its natural colour when exposed to bright sunlight.
Coir is a hygroscopic fibre and can absorb water under humid conditions so it is advisable to avoid areas of high moisture.
Coir reacts to moisture by expanding which can lead to the floorcovering wrinkling and buckling. When discharging moisture coir shrinks.
Coir floorcoverings should be conditioned in the area in which they are to be laid for at least 48 hours. It is recommended that the floorcovering is unrolled, laid out and cut to shape but oversize by about 60mm to allow for any change in dimensions during the conditioning period.
