Souban cloth

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/souban-cloth

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific classification?Musa textilis (abaca)
2. What is the fiber composition?Primarily cellulose, with hemicellulose and lignin
3. Why is Souban cloth stronger than cotton?The fibers of abaca have a special structure with lots of cellulose and a unique angle of the fibers. This gives Souban cloth a higher tensile strength, so it can hold more weight than cotton or linen.
4. How is Souban cloth made from abaca?First, people carefully separate the long fibers called 'tuxy' from the abaca plant. These fibers are then spun into threads and woven together using traditional techniques to create the final cloth.

Cellulose Microfibrils: Tiny, thread-like structures of cellulose that form the backbone of plant fibers.
Hydrophobic: Tending to repel water.
Tensile Strength: The maximum stress a material can withstand before breaking when stretched.