Filling Materials
We are able to supply the fibres described below and we can also make special mixtures if required.
For more information regarding dressing raw materials supplied to the brush industry worldwide, please see our other website by clicking on the logo below.
All of the vegetable fibres are harvested, and with the exception of the dyed fibres, are therefore environmentally friendly.
Vegetable Fibres
BAHIA PIASSAVA (BASS) from Brazil has unique wearing and sweeping qualities, is very resilient, holds water well, does not rot when damp and is very resistant to distortion. It is used in top quality dairy, industrial and platform brooms, and stiffer hand brushes.
BASSINE (PALMYRA) from India has fair sweeping qualities, but is not resilient and may distort in use, especially when wet. It is mainly used in cheaper warehouse brooms, in mixtures for scrubbing brushes and in cheaper household brushes and brooms.
CANE (PALMYRA STALKS) from India has average wearing and poor sweeping qualities, losing much of its stiffness when wet. It is largely used in Sherbro or Polypropylene mixtures for road and yard brooms.
CANE AND BASSINE MIXTURE from India is generally used where price is the main consideration, as it sweeps rather poorly, wears quickly and is unsatisfactory in wet conditions. It is sometimes referred to as "GRAPE" or "APPLE" mixture. This mixture is cheap, and is in no way comparable with Piassava Bass which is superior in every way.
GUMATI (ARENGA) from Indonesia is softer and finer than Bahia Bass, but has similar excellent wearing and sweeping qualities. It does not crush easily or rot, and is very hard wearing and resilient. Excellent for sweeping dry concrete and smoother floors, it is ideal in brooms for warehouses.
SHERBRO PIASSAVA (BASS) from Sierra Leone has average wearing and sweeping qualities and does not crush or distort easily. It is mainly used in farm, road sweeping and factory brooms, and is often mixed with other materials to improve its wearing properties.
NATURAL COCO FIBRE (COIR) from Sri Lanka is a low cost material with average wearing and sweeping qualities. It is liable to crush and distort and tends to flatten. It is largely used in cheaper household and platform brooms. Sometimes it is mixed with Gumati or plastic fibres to improve its resilience. All Salmon Products natural coco is unbleached. From an environmental point of view we disapprove of the sulphur bleaching process which is only used to give the fibre a more golden colour.
BLACK COCO FIBRE (DYED COCO) from Sri Lanka has exactly the same properties as natural coco, but is more expensive. It is unpleasant both to produce and handle, and we therefore recommend that customers purchase brushes and brooms filled with natural coco where possible.
FLAGGED BLACK FIBRE is specially treated dyed coco fibre where the ends have been flagged or split. It sweeps better than plain coco fibre, especially in drier dusty conditions, looks much more attractive and has a softer feel. The fibre is flagged at our factory.
MEXICAN (TAMPICO) FIBRE has good wearing and reasonable sweeping qualities, but is liable to crush. It holds water very well and is used in better quality vehicle cleaning and wall brushes and equestrian brushes.
MEXICAN WHISK (RICE ROOT) is a stiff naturally crimped fibre with good wearing qualities used in grooming brushes. This fibre tends to become brittle, and therefore it is advisable to soak the fibres before use.
ORINOCO FIBRE from South America possesses most of the excellent qualities of Bahia (see above), although it is not as stiff. It is therefore very good for use in platform brooms and smaller bass brooms.
Vegetable/Synthetic Mixture
UNION MIXTURE is a Polypropylene-Bassine mixture, which has the water retaining properties of the Bassine and the wear and resilience of the Polypropylene. It is used in sink, deck, and scrubbing brushes.
Animal Fibres
BRISTLE from various areas of China has excellent durability and water resistance. The softer fibre is used for shoe polishing brushes, grooming brushes and paint brushes, and the stiffer fibre for clothes, hair and toothbrushes.
HORSEHAIR from Uruguay and China is durable and resilient, and is ideal for use in brushes for cleaning smooth floors and windows, and in cobweb brushes.
GOAT HAIR from China is durable, resilient and very soft. It is almost exclusively used in high quality equestrian brushes for bringing the final gloss to horses’ coats.
Synthetic Monofilaments
POLYPROPYLENE is very light and has good wearing properties. However, it is a little "dead" in use and has poor recovery from crushing. It is used in many bass and platform brooms and household brushes. Polypropylene can be used in hot water, but it must not be left in boiling water for more than a few seconds.
PVC has excellent wearing and sweeping properties, but has a tendency to "flick" in use. It can be used in a similar manner to Polypropylene, but should never be used in temperatures greater than 65°C.
NYLON has excellent sweeping and wearing qualities and is used in a considerable number of household brushes, platform brooms, and dairy brushes. Type 6 and type 66 can be used in boiling water and type 612 can be autoclaved at 130°C. Nylon tends to feel softer when used in wet conditions.
POLYESTER has excellent wearing and sweeping qualities and is now used in many of our hygiene brooms and brushes, particularly where they have to be autoclaved. Brushes filled in polyester are used in hospitals, food factories, dairies and all areas where hygiene is of primary concern. It can be autoclaved at 134°C.
