Fluid Flow in Cotton Textile: Effects of Wollastonite Nanosuspension and Aspergillus Niger Fungus

Ayoub Esmailpour,Hamid R Taghiyari,Amin Kalantari,Reza Majidi Najafabadi,Antonios N Papadopoulos

doi:10.3390/pr7120901

Abstract

Aspergillus niger is a common contaminant in food industry, laboratories, and also a potential threat to biological works of art in museums. Cotton textiles have frequently been used in museums for canvas paintings. In the present project, the effect of Aspergillus niger on fluid flow rate of nanowollastonite-impregnated cotton textile specimens was investigated. Cotton specimens were impregnated with nanowollastonite (NW) suspension at four concentrations of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% to be further compared with control specimens. Results showed that fluid flow in cotton textile was as high as 361.3 cm3·s−1 due to its high porous structure and very low compactness of fibers (low density). Impregnation with NW did not have a significant effect on fluid flow in cotton textile. Exposure to Aspergillus niger increased fluid flow in control specimens as a result of deterioration of cotton fibers. Exposure of NW-impregnated specimens at concentrations more than 20% to Aspergillus niger did not have any significant effect on fluid flow. In control specimens, fungus mycelium penetrated deep into the texture of textile. However, in NW-impregnated specimens, the fungus could not penetrate into the texture and deteriorate the specimens. It was concluded that NW can be recommended for textile industry and also works of art as they protect cotton textiles against Aspergillus niger while, do not diminishi its dying and paintability properties.

Highlights

Fungi spores can move even by air movement, landing on precious materials such as papers and textiles in museums
Results of the flow rate measurement demonstrated that the permeability in cotton textile was high compared to other cellulosic materials such as paper, wood, and wood-composites; flow rate in the control specimens of cotton textile was 361.3 cm3·s−1 (Figure 6)
Cotton textile specimens were first dried at 103 ± 2 ◦ C for 24 h in a hot air Results of the flow rate measurement demonstrated that the permeability in cotton textile was oven

Summary

Introduction

Fungi spores can move even by air movement, landing on precious materials such as papers and textiles in museums. Exposure of historical objects in museums to fungi is inevitable. Textiles made from ligno-cellulose and biomaterials can be degraded by different deteriorating agents such as fungi [1,2,3,4,5]. Cotton textiles are basically cellulose fibers woven together; this makes them vulnerable to a variety of fungi species, including Aspergillus, Penicillium, Chaetomium, Trichoderms, and Alternaria species [3]. As a common fungus species, it is a troublesome fungus that causes a disease called black mold, is contaminant of different edible materials (such as fruits and vegetables), and it grows on cellulosic materials too. The easy access of this fungus to artistic objects in museums makes them at constant risk of being destroyed

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