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.

Nanofibrous Substrate For Tissue Engineering Applications—A Review

Nanofiber substrates have been used for various biomedical applications, including tissue regeneration, drug delivery, and in-vitro cell culture. However, despite the high volume of studies in this field, current clinical applications remain minimal. Innovations for their applications continuously generate exciting prospects. In this review, we discuss some of these novel innovations and identify critical factors to consider before their adoption for biomedical applications.

Photochromic Microcapsules for Textile Materials by Spray Drying—Part 1: Production and Characterization of Photochromic Microcapsules

This study, which is the first in a three-part series, deals with the encapsulation of photochromic dyes by spray drying. An aqueous ethyl cellulose dispersion and a spirooxazine-based photochromic dye were used as a shell and core material, respectively. The effects of main encapsulation parameters, such as solvent type, inlet temperature, feed rate, solid content, and aspirator rate were investigated. The encapsulation results were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, particle size measurements, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The microcapsules obtained from a water-ethanol mixture exhibited photochromic properties. For microcapsule production, the optimum feed rate, total solid content, and aspirator rate were determined. Capsule formation improved with increased inlet air temperature. Spray drying to produce photochromic microcapsules could be a practical method for production of photochromic smart textiles.

Investigation of Dimensional and Physical Properties of Eri Silk Bi-Layer Knit Fabrics for Active Wear Applications

The knitwear industry caters to the needs of the modern youth, whose preferences vary according to the trends and tastes of the modern age. This paper endeavors to demonstrate that active wear fabrics made of eri silk have very good physical properties. The main objective of this research is to investigate dimensional and physical properties of plated interlock, mini-flatback rib, and flatback rib structures developed with two different yarn counts (30s and 40s). The dimensional and physical properties of those samples are investigated in terms of dimensional stability, spirality, bursting strength, elongation percentage, fabric areal density, and fabric thickness. Variables such as yarn count and knit structure play a significant role on the dimensional and physical properties of the fabric.

Effects of Monomer Compatibility on Sizing Performance of Chitosan-g-P(MA-co-AM)

To impart good application performance to chitosan (CS) sizes for high polyester content warp yarns, methyl acrylate (MA) and acrylamide (AM) monomers, with a variation in feed molar ratio from 1:9 to 4:6, were grafted onto the molecular chains of native CS to obtain CS-g-P(MA-co-AM) products, with similar grafting ratios through a K2S2O8-NaHSO3 redox system. Effects of monomer compatibility of MA and AM on sizing performance of the CS-g-P(MA-co-AM) for high polyester content warp were studied. Grafting MA and AM with rational compatibility onto the molecular chains of CS is an effective method to improve the application performance of CS sizes. In view of the overall performance of the CS-g-P(MA-co-AM) sizes, the appropriate feed molar ratio of MA/AM should be 3:7.

Assessment of Carbon Footprint of Various Cotton Knitwear Production Processes in Bangladesh

Carbon footprint is defined as the amount of greenhouse gases generated during the whole lifetime or within a specific boundary of a product. This study measured the average carbon footprint of some common cotton knitwear T-shirts, polo shirts, and fleece jackets during production using CCalC2 software. Energy and water consumption data were taken as the study's input, while direct and indirect emissions were not specified. The results show the amount of carbon dioxide emitted at different stages of knitwear production. Cotton processing and yarn spinning resulted in relatively high carbon dioxide emissions, while wet treatment gave similar results. Fleece jacket production gave high amounts of emitted carbon dioxide due to its complex fabric structure and high fabric weight, while T-shirts gave the lowest amount of the fabrics tested.

Dyeing of Cotton Knit Fabric with Natural Dyes Extracted from Java Plum

Natural dyes extracted from natural sources are likely to be less harmful and more eco-friendly than synthetic dyes. In this study, cotton fabric was dyed with natural dyes extracted from Java plum fruit (Syzygium cumini). Dyeing was accomplished with or without mordanting agents using simultaneous and post-mordanting methods. The color of the treated substrates was investigated in terms K/S and CIELAB values. In addition, the attenuation co-efficient and solubility in organic solvents of the extracted dyes were determined. The wash and rubbing fastness of the dyed fabrics were good to excellent. Deep shades were obtained by post mordanting method with ferrous sulfate, whereas alum treated fabrics produced brighter shades with excellent fastness. Java plum fruit is available in many countries and offers a possible substitute for synthetic dyes.

Study on Thermal, Thermo-Mechanical, and Flexural Properties of Jute Fiber Surface Modification and Its Reinforced Composite

In recent years, reinforced composites from biodegradable and natural fibers have a worldwide scope for advanced applications. However, the core limitation of natural fiber reinforced composites are poor consistency among supporting fibers and the matrix. Therefore, optimal structural performance of fibers and matrix is desirable. In this study, chemical treatments (i.e., alkali pretreatment, acid pretreatment, and scouring) were applied to jute fibers for improvement of composite properties. Thermal, thermo-mechanical, and flexural properties, and surface morphology, of untreated and treated jute fibers were studied on the treated fibers. Jute fiber/epoxy composite properties were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), flexural strength and modulus, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The chemical treatments had a significant impact on the properties of jute fiber composites.

Yhe Compression Meso-Mechanics Theoretical Model and Experimental Verification of Polyurethane-Based Warp-Knit Spacer Fabric Composites

In this research, a new type of binary material, a polyurethane-based warp-knitted spacer fabric composite (PWSF), having a unique three-dimensional structure, high strength, and a variety of surface structures was prepared. The compression meso-mechanics theoretical model based on the Winkler elastic foundation beam theory and structural parameters of PWSF were used to predict the compression performance of PWSF. To verify the validity of compression model, the compression stress-strain curves of theoretical simulation were compared with the quasi-static compression test results. The deviation between these two compression moduli was less than 7%. The compression meso-mechanics model established in this study can effectively simulate the actual compression behaviors for different PWSF specimens. A regular pattern of compression properties of this novel composite from the theoretical research on meso-mechanics perspectives can be proposed.

Effect of Pretreatments on Wettability and Dyeing Property of Cotton Fibers in an Environmentally Friendly Dyeing System

To investigate the influence of cotton wettability on its dyeing properties in a silicone non-aqueous dyeing system, alkali pretreatment was performed before dyeing. The dyeing properties and dyeing kinetics of reactive dyes in the non-aqueous system and a conventional dyeing system were compared. Alkali pretreatment significantly improved the wettability of cotton fiber by removing wax and pectin. The adsorption rate of dye increased with increased cotton fiber wettability using the non-aqueous system, while it barely changed using the conventional system. Pseudo-second-order kinetics fit well with dye adsorption for both systems. Dye fixation improved by 30% at a concentration of 2% owf, along with better levelness and color depth of the dyed cotton fiber, using the silicone non-aqueous system without salts and dispersants.