WILLOW BARK

Willows or trees in general are mostly used for their inner parts, for timber. The bark is a by-product which is either used for energy production (burned) or sometimes used for products. Willow bark is a very firm and hard bark. It only becomes soft after soaking it in water. Lignin and pectine are the ‘glue’ between these fibers. The addition of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) degrades the pectines, which make it possible to seperate the fibers.

​

Willow by it self is really firm, it needs some additional processing, but then it becomes a strong and flexible material to work with. In this case it is soaked in biochemicals to make it a non-woven construction. 

​

1. Remove dark outer bark;

2. Cut over the length of the stem;

3. Peel the inner bark off (like peeling a banana);

4. Add baking soda (1/10 of the collected bark's weight) and boil for 60 minutes;

5. Rinse the bark;

6. Separate the fibres by hand;

7. Soak in a mixture of glycerol and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC);

8. Drape over the mould and press firmly.

​

Willow by it self is really firm, it needs some additional processing, but then it becomes a strong and flexible material to work with. In this case it is soaked in biochemicals to make it a non-woven construction.