Metal Content in Textile and (Nano)Textile Products

Metals, metallic compounds, and, recently, metallic nanoparticles appear in textiles due to impurities from raw materials, contamination during the manufacturing process, and/or their deliberate addition. However, the presence of lead, cadmium, chromium (VI), arsenic, mercury, and dioctyltin in textile products is regulated in Europe (Regulation 1907/2006). Metal determination in fabrics was performed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The ICP-MS procedure has been successfully validated; relative standard deviations were up to 3% and analytical recoveries were within the 90–107% range. The developed method was applied to several commercial textiles, and special attention has been focused on textiles with nanofinishing (fabrics prepared with metallic nanoparticles for providing certain functionalities). Arsenic content (in textile T4) and lead content (in subsamples T1-1, T1-2, and T3-3) were found to exceed the maximum limits established by the European Regulation 1907/2006. Although impregnation of yarns with mercury compounds is not allowed, mercury was quantified in fabrics T1-2, T5, and T6. Further speciation studies for determining hexavalent chromium species in sample T9 are necessary (hexavalent chromium is the only species of chromium regulated). Some textile products commercialised in Europe included in this study do not comply with European regulation 1907/2006.

Study of the optimization of embroidery design parameters for the Technical Embroidery Machine: derivation of the correlation between thread consumption and electrical resistance

The smart textile industry has become increasingly interested in textile products with electronic functions. In these smart textile products, sensing and data communication are conducted through conductive circuits by conductive threads. In embroidery technology that uses conductive threads as the material for the conductive line as a circuit, their resistance is an important factor when designing a product. The main purpose of this study was to derive an equivalent circuit model and a calculation equation for the consumption of conductive threads according to the embroidery design parameters. The effects of the embroidery design parameters on the appearance and electrical characteristics of the conductive line were also analyzed. The appearance and electrical characteristics of the embroidered conductive line were different when the embroidery design parameters were not the same. The calculation equation for the consumption of conductive threads could establish a quantitative system that could indicate the line resistance of an embroidered conductive line using the embroidery design parameters and the given thread resistance.

A Study on the Woven Construction of Fabric Dyed With Natural Indigo Dye and Finishing for Applying to Product Design for Home Textile Products

This research aims to study woven fabric construction with natural indigo dyeing with finishing for home textile applications. The physical and mechanical properties, including color fastness tests, of these woven fabrics according to ISO standards for home textiles exported to the European Union were characterized. Tensile strength, tear strength, and pilling resistance of these woven fabrics were appropriate to design, and had enough strength for bed linens, duvet covers, and pillowcases. The color fastness to washing, water, and light of these woven fabrics passed the requirements for bed linens and pillowcases, except for color fastness to wet rubbing, due to the low performance of natural dyestuff. Thus, a finishing technique of water repellency was applied to improve these properties. This design of natural fiber fabrics dyed with natural indigo was developed for home textile products whose fabrics were produced by community enterprise. These home textile products can be used as a collection prototype for a spa room in a hotel.

PECULIARITIES OF DIFFERENTIATED TEACHING OF STUDENTS OF DESIGN OF TEXTILE PRODUCTS

The paper reveales difficulties in the process of teaching the disciplines of garment production in higher educational establishment. The problem of introduction of differentiated training of future teachers of technologies at classes of design and manufacturing of textile products has been analyzed. The research substantiates the necessity of teacher`s readiness to implement a differentiated approach and suggests recommendations for its application. The conditions for successful differentiation have been determined. The development of multilevel tasks, which are an effective and most common method of differentiated learning, has been proposed. The fact that it is necessary to compare their purpose and content with the level of knowledge and skills, individual and educational capabilities of students for the development of multilevel tasks is proven. The study explores the ways to differentiate practical tasks for future teachers of labor training and technology. The peculiarities of frontal, individual and group activities of students during the classes on design, modeling and technology of textile products are revealed. The advantages and disadvantages of the above mentioned activities are identified. Considering the individual characteristics of students, it is recommended to combine them into three typological groups. The authors argue on implementation of a differentiated approach to the development of creative projects, to control the acquired knowledge of future teachers of labor training and technology, as well as the ability to apply them when solving technical problems and completing practical tasks. An experimental survey of the method of differentiated teaching of students in the process of design and manufacturing textile products has been carried out and its effectiveness has been proved.

Interior vs. Exterior Incorporation of Silver Nanoparticles in Cotton Fiber and Washing Durability

The popular use of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in commercial textile products that inhibit odor- and/or infection-causing bacteria has continuously raised concerns about their washing durability. The poor durability not only deteriorates the antibacterial performance, but also results in unwanted leaching of NPs into washing solutions. In this study, we showed how the incorporation location of Ag NPs—interior vs. exterior of cotton fiber—governs their durability against consecutive simulated home launderings. The superior washing durability of interior NPs was confirmed. The Ag losses after 50 laundering cycles for interior and exterior systems were 16% and 63% in water and 24% and 78% in detergent solution, respectively. The cotton fabric containing interior NPs predominantly released ionic Ag, whereas the fabric containing exterior NPs released particulate Ag.

UNIFICATION OF THE CODING SYSTEM TEXTILE PRODUCTS

One of the ways to achieve the required level of quality of industrial products and, consequently, to increase the competitiveness of Russian manufacturers is to implement the task of optimising and unifying the nomenclature of products produced by enterprises. However, at present, due to the differences in the classification and coding systems of consumer products at the corresponding stages of its life cycle, there are problems with the unification of the nomenclature of industrial products, including textiles, since textile and light industry enterprises, trade organisations and customs authorities each use their own classification of these types of products. The paper analyses the functional capabilities of the currently existing coding systems for textile products, and also proposes and implements a method for matrix coding of textile products on the range of geosynthetic materials produced. In addition, the possibility of combining matrix coding of products with information about its manufacturer and quality in the framework of a two-dimensional barcode is shown.

Development of a Consumer-Based Quality Scale for Artisan Textiles: A Study with Scarves/Shawls

Modern textile consumers are increasingly becoming more watchful of the quality of the textiles that they purchase. This has increased the need for textile producers, especially artisan textile makers (e.g., knitters, tailors, dressmakers, seamstresses, and quilters), to improve the quality of their textile products. Information on several analytical tools that are commonly used for assessing the quality of textiles is abundant, but consumer-based tools for evaluating the quality of textiles remain limited. A consumer-based artisan textile-quality scale was developed using data collected from two focus groups (Phase 1) and a consumer quantitative study, n = 196 (Phase 2). Ten scarves and shawls were evaluated in the quantitative study and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the differences between the mean textile ratings for all the statements. Coefficient alpha (final raw alpha = 0.87) was also used to assess if the statements were consistent in the way they measured the quality of the textiles. Pearson correlation tests were used to validate the six-statement quality scale that included statements such as overall attention to detail, the fabric is durable, and stitching is even and consistent. Artisan textile makers in the USA can use this scale to better meet the functional needs of their customers. Additionally, the process that was employed in the development of the six-statement quality scale can be used by researchers in other countries to understand better the key quality characteristics of artisan as well other textile products.