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The mechanical and comfort properties of polyester/bamboo and polyester/cotton knitted fabrics were studied. Four different ratios, P/B 65/35, P/B 50/50, P/B 35/65, P/B 20/80, P/C 65/35, P/C 50/50, P/C 35/65, P/C 20/80 of both blends were produced by mixing at the blow room stage. Then yarns of equal count Ne 20 were made on a ring spinning machine, and a knitted fabric was produced on a single jersey weft knitting machine. It was observed that by increasing bamboo and cotton fiber content in the blends, yarn breaking force and tenacity were decreased. Bursting strength, bending rigidity, and thermal resistance of the blended fabrics decreased by increasing bamboo and cotton fiber content in the blends, while air permeability and moisture management capability was found to increase with the increase in bamboo and cotton fiber content. No antimicrobial activity was shown by any of the P/B blended fabric, but to some extent, 100% bamboo fiber showed antibacterial activity against gram negative bacteria while against gram positive bacteria, no activity was observed.

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The paper reports experimental research regarding the mechanical characteristics of concrete reinforced with natural cellulosic fibers like jute, sisal, sugarcane, and coconut. Each type of natural fiber, with an average of 30 mm length, was mixed with a concrete matrix in varying proportions of 0.5% to 3% mass. The tensile and compressive strength of the developed concrete samples with cellulosic fiber reinforcement gradually increased with the increasing proportion of natural cellulosic fibers up to 2%. A further increase in fiber loading fraction results in deterioration of the mechanical properties. By using jute and sisal fiber reinforcement, about 11.6% to 20.2% improvement in tensile and compressive strength, respectively, was observed compared to plain concrete, just by adding 2% of fibers in the concrete mix. Bending strength increased for the natural fiber-based concrete with up to 1.5% fiber loading. However, a decrease in bending strength was observed beyond 1.5% loading due to cracks at fiber−concrete interface. The impact performance showed gradual improvement with natural fiber loading of up to 2%. The water absorption capacity of natural cellulosic fiber reinforced concrete decreased substantially; however, it increased with the loading percent of fibers. The natural fiber reinforced concrete can be commercially used for interior or exterior pavements and flooring slabs as a sustainable construction material for the future.