Advanced Materials Research Vol. 441

Abstract: In recent years, the use of low-environmental impact biotechnology giving rises to new types of treatment in the textile industry. From the environmental point of view, particularly the textile dyeing process constitutes a major pollution problem due to the variety and complexity of chemicals employed. In most industrial vat and indigo, sulphur dyeing processes, all of them are reduced mainly using sodium dithionite. This process produces large amounts of hazardous by-products which increase the costs for waste water treatment. Hence, many attempts are being made to replace the environmentally unfavorable sodium dithionite by ecologically more attractive alternatives, such as organic reducing agents or catalytic hydrogenation and natural reducing agent. In this paper ,a natural reducing agent is introduced that comes from a plant and have been studied on the substance for comparison it with sodium dithionite on vat, indigo and sulphur dyeing on cotton fabrics. The color strength of the samples was analyzed by Reflective Spectrophotometer and the color fastness of them was investigated. The results show that, the use of natural reducing agent in natural indigo dye and sulphur dye is better and for the rest of them has almost good advantage, but it cannot reduce synthetic indigo as well as sodium dithionite. Therefore, with introducing the substance, consumption of chemicals is minimized and vat, indigo and sulphur dyeing should be environmental.

Abstract: Biquaternary ammonium salt CY and cationic surfactant DAB were investigated as pretreating agents for surface modification of cotton fibers. The measurement of zeta potential was used to indicate the effectiveness of the pretreatment. It was found that CY and DAB both largely enhanced the positive charge on cotton fibers following an increase in the pH. Adsorption studies of gardenia yellow dye on these pretreated cotton fibers showed that both CY and DAB enhance adsorption capacity of gardenia yellow dye on cotton fibers. The zeta potential results and adsorption studies revealed that the uptake of gardenia yellow dye on treated cotton fibers occurs via electrostatic attractions between the anion of the dye and cationic segments of the treated cotton fibers. The washing fastness and crocking fastness of the dyeings were improved after the pretreatments.

Abstract: A process has been developed to impart permanent paper press finish to wool fabric using the pressure decatiser. This involves developing a new wrapper fabric with appropriate smoothness, strength and steam permeability. The processing time is similar to that normally used in the pressure decatiser, thus in comparison with the conventional Paper Press finish, the processing and labour costs are significantly reduced.

Abstract: We have studied a variety of methods to determine reactive beta-cyclodextrin fixed on wool and cotton fabrics: these include Kjeldahl analysis, weight-gain measurements, UV-Vis spectroscopy, hydrolysis of the ester linkage, hydrolysis of β-CD, fluorescence detection, titration of volatile amines, visual detection, and FT-IR.

Abstract: A temperature-sensitive N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) grafted cotton fabric was prepared by the plasma-induced graft polymerization technique. The surface morphology of the grafted fabric was observed from field scanning electron microscopy (FSEM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and DSC were used to characterize the structure and thermal property of the grafted fabric. The results showed that the PNIPAAm was grafted onto cotton fabrics. The DSC analysis results indicated that LCST value of the grafted fabric was around 32 °C. The water permeation flux of the grafted fabric varied dramatically with a slight change at temperature around the LCST, which showed that the grafted PNIPAAm could act effectively as a chemical valve to control the on-off behavior of cotton fabrics.

Abstract: Research and development in textiles have gone beyond the conventional applications as clothing and furnishing materials; for example, the convergence of textiles, nanotechnologies, and energy science opens up the opportunity to take on one of the major challenges in the 21st century energy. This presentation addresses the development of high-energy lithium-ion batteries using electrospun nanofibers.

Abstract: Shape memory finishing is suitable to wool knitted and woven fabric. The chemical is water soluble and environment friendly. The shape memory treated wool knitted fabric and garments achieve good dimensional stability, pill resistance, pattern design, crease retention, wrinkle recovery and bagging recovery effects. The finishing process is simple, saving water and can be done using the normal common washing machine. Shape memory chemical is also used on cashmere finishing increasing the piling rates.

Abstract: Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) has been found feasible to improve wrinkle resistant property of cotton fiber. In this study, the performance of TiO₂ wrinkle resistant treatment was further enhanced by plasma pre-treatment compared with the conventional wet treatment. Different plasma pre-treatment process parameters (treatment speed, i.e. treatment time; oxygen flow rate; and jet-to-substrate distance) were used for determining the optimum conditions (of plasma pre-treatment) for the subsequent wrinkle resistant treatment with TiO₂. The optimum conditions for plasma pre-treatment of cotton fabrics before TiO₂ treatment were obtained through the orthogonal array testing strategy (OATS): 10mm/s treatment speed, 0.3L/min oxygen flow rate and 6mm jet-to-substrate distance. This was found to be the most effective combination of plasma pre-treatment conditions for improving wrinkle resistant property of cotton fiber. After plasma, if the cotton fiber was treated with 0.1% TiO₂, the wrinkle resistant property was further enhanced. Based on the OATS analysis, not only the optimum conditions for plasma pre-treatment could be obtained, but the level of relative importance of the three process parameters could also be obtained.

Abstract: The acquisition of hydrophobic surface offering liquid repellency is exploitable for diverse applications. This study examined the possibility of developing hydrophobic cotton fiber by employing atmospheric pressure plasma technique which is an environmentally friendly approach. We seek to determine a controlled hydrophobic modification of textile materials through the optimization of the fabrication process. A hydrophobic surface modification of cotton fabric was conducted with atmospheric pressure plasma using tetrafluoromethane (CF₄) as the reactive gas. The resultant hydrophobic behavior was quantified macroscopically by a wetted area measurement. To control the degree of modification of the substrate, an orthogonal experimental design technique was utilized. The optimum process conditions were established based on the reduction of the wetted area of the plasma-modified fabrics.

Abstract: Wool was treated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) under alkaline conditions to remove the lipid layer from the fibre surface. A reduction in lipid content of 88% could be achieved resulting in a very hydrophilic fibre. The efficiency of dyeing with reactive dyes was improved. When treated with proteolytic enzymes (protease) a loss of enzyme activity occurred due to residual CTAB on the fibre surface. Residual CTAB could be removed from the fibre using solvent or anionic surfactant in acid conditions ensuring enzyme activity. Hydrophilic wool could promote a more efficient proteolytic enzyme treatment process.