Editing Sisal (section)

===Fiber extraction===
Fiber is extracted by a process known as [[Decorticator|decortication]], where leaves are crushed, beaten, and brushed away by a rotating wheel set with blunt knives, so that only fibers remain. Alternatively, in [[East Africa]], where production is typically on large estates,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Yuko Ikeda|first=Shinzo Kohjiya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1-eiAgAAQBAJ&dq=Sisal+fibre+is+extracted+by+a+process+known+as+decortication,+where+leaves+are+crushed,+beaten,+and+brushed+away+by+a+rotating+wheel+set+with+blunt+knives,&pg=PA262|title=Chemistry, Manufacture and Applications of Natural Rubber|publisher=Elsevier Science|year=2014|isbn=9780857096913|pages=262}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Witucki|first=Lawrence A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NXpTmBPOgfAC&dq=Sisal+in+East+Africa,+where+production+is+typically+on+large+estates.&pg=PA3|title=Agricultural Development in Kenya Since 1967|publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service|year=1976|location=University of Minnesota|pages=3}}</ref> the leaves are transported to a central decortication plant, where water is used to wash away the waste parts of the leaves.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gutierrez|first1=Jerry|title=What is Sisal?|url=http://www.naturalarearugs.com/blogs/what-is-sisal-material.php|website=www.naturalarearugs.com|access-date=29 May 2016|date=26 May 2015|archive-date=7 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807043654/http://www.naturalarearugs.com/blogs/what-is-sisal-material.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The fiber is then dried, brushed, and baled for export. Proper drying is important, as fiber quality depends largely on moisture content. Artificial drying has been found to result in generally better grades of fiber than sun drying, but is not always feasible in the less industrialized countries where sisal is produced. In the drier climate of northeast Brazil, sisal is mainly grown by [[smallholder]]s and the fiber is extracted by teams using portable ''raspadors'', which do not use water.<ref name=IENICA/>

Fiber is subsequently cleaned by brushing. Dry fibers are machine combed and sorted into various grades, largely on the basis of the previous in-field separation of leaves into size groups.<ref name=IENICA/>

<gallery mode="packed">
Image:Pacas de sisal.jpg|Baled Brazilian sisal fiber 
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM De droger is het laatste onderdeel in het proces van vezelbewerking op vezelonderneming Lho Soekon in Atjeh Noord-Sumatra TMnr 10011421.jpg|Sisal fiber drying machine in Java
File:Mt Uluguru and Sisal plantations.jpg|A sisal plantation in [[Morogoro]], [[Tanzania]]: The [[Uluguru Mountains]] can be seen in the background.
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Kleine aanplant van bloeiende sisal agaven in de cultuurtuin te Salatiga Midden-Java TMnr 10011536.jpg|Historical image showing a sisal plantation on Java
File:Photo Some men select the sisal fibers before they are immersed in the washing tubs 1959 - Touring Club Italiano BBU 120.jpg|Manual selection of sisal fibers before washing
File:Photo A cargo of sisal fibres on a ship in the port of Tanga 1959 - Touring Club Italiano BBU 122.jpg|A cargo of sisal fibers on a ship in the port of [[Tanga, Tanzania|Tanga]] in 1959
</gallery>