Physical Properties Of Fibers Research Articles

Exploring the Nutritional Impact of Sourdough Fermentation: Its Mechanisms and Functional Potential.

Sourdough fermentation is one of the oldest traditional methods in food technology and occurs as a result of fermentation of flour prepared from grains. The nutritional role of sourdough is related to the final composition of fermented foods prepared through sourdough fermentation, and recently, sourdough has become an important application to improve nutrition characteristics of bread. Thanks to lactic acid bacteria (LAB) presented in sourdough microflora and metabolites partially produced by yeasts, technological and important nutritional features of the bread improve and an increase in shelf life is achieved. In addition, sourdough bread has a low glycemic index value, high protein digestibility, high mineral and antioxidant content, and improved dietary fiber composition, making it more attractive for human nutrition compared to regular bread. When the sourdough process is applied, the chemical and physical properties of fibers vary according to the degree of fermentation, revealing the physiological importance of dietary fiber and its importance to humans' large intestine microbiota. Therefore, taking these approach frameworks into consideration, this review highlights the benefits of sourdough fermentation in increasing nutrient availability and contributing positively to support human health.

Cotton Fiber Strength Measurement and Its Relation to Structural Properties from Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic Characterization

There has been an interest in understanding the relationship between textile cotton fiber strength (or tenacity) and structure for better fiber quality measurement and enhancement. This study utilized coupled Stelometer and high volume instrument (HVI) measurements with attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy methods to relate fiber strength and associated properties (Stelometer elongation and HVI micronaire) with structure properties on six Upland (as A, B, C, D, E, and F) and one Pima cultivar. Although Stelometer tenacity agreed with HVI strength in general, the Upland D cultivar (immature) was observed to show the lowest HVI strength value, while the Upland F cultivar (larger infrared crystallinity index) was found to possess the smallest Stelometer tenacity value. A few strong and significant correlations were noted, for example, between infrared crystallinity and Stelometer elongation for the Upland A fibers, between infrared maturity and Stelometer tenacity for the Upland C fibers, and between infrared maturity and HVI strength for the Upland D fibers. Furthermore, there were apparent distinctions in regressions and statistics of examined correlations between each Upland cultivar and their combined fiber set, addressing the challenge of understanding the unique response between fiber physical and structure properties from different measurements even within one cotton cultivar.

Experimental Study on the Addition of Date palm Fibers as a Reinforcement in Gypsum Mortar

Libya is considered one of the major Arab countries in the cultivation of palm trees, as it holds the fifth place in the Arab world in the number of palm trees with about 8 million of them planted on estimated area of 70 thousand hectares. The present paper aims to characterize date-palm fiber-reinforced gypsum mortar, where different percentages of palm fibers were added by substituting with various percentages of gypsum weight. Untreated date palm fibers have been used after extraction process from date tree as (leaf, root, sheath, trunk…). Physical properties of fibers have been measured as volumetric density, coefficient of absorption and water content. Natural date palm fibers have been used without treatment. For mortar cured up to 28 days, its composition which report W/G = 0.6. The present work consists of studying the effect of gypsum mortar reinforcing with different types of date palm fibers, with different lengths (0.53-19 cm) and different percentages (0-6%) on compression behavior in the hardened state. Cubic specimens' compressive strength was (7x7x7 cm), are removed after 24 hours and then conserved in dry air at 28 days for mechanical testing. The mechanical property of composites such as compressive strength of natural fiber composite was reported and compare with the data for control mix. It has been seen form compression test that palm composite has never been higher compressive strength than the control mix.

Fracture behaviour assessment of high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete at high strain rates using interpretable modelling approaches

High-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (HPFRC), a type of cementitious composite material known for its exceptional mechanical performance, has widespread applications in structures exposed to severe dynamic loading conditions. However, understanding nonlinear HPFRC fracture behaviour, particularly under high strain rates, remains challenging given the complexities of assessment procedures and cost-intensive nature of experiments. This study presents an interpretable framework for modelling and analysing HPFRC fracture strength at high strain rates. A wide range of machine learning methods, including ensemble techniques, were employed to capture multivariate effects of eight essential input features (e.g., mortar compressive strength, fibre physical and mechanical properties, cross-sectional area, and strain rate) on fracture strength response. To assess the derived models, a novel evaluation procedure was proposed involving a data-based analysis, employing established metrics (i.e., coefficient of determination, root mean squared error, and mean absolute error via K-fold cross-validation) and a domain experts-involved evaluation utilising global sensitivity analysis to discern first-order and higher-order interactions among input factors. The proposed approach efficiently yielded both quantitative and qualitative insights into crucial input factors governing HPFRC fracture strength with limited experimental data. The obtained findings highlight the significance of multivariate effects, such as the interaction between strain rate and fibre tensile strength, and between fibre volume and fibre diameter, on fracture behaviour. The proposed interpretable framework aims to provide a powerful tool for proactive material failure analysis by understanding fracture behaviour and identifying potential weak and strong interactions among input factors of HPFRC-based samples. Moreover, the utilisation of the proposed approach enables researchers and civil engineers to efficiently focus on the most critical input parameters during the early design stage and ensuring the structural integrity and safety of HPFRC-based constructions.

Characterization of goat fiber physical properties from indigenous Ethiopian goat breeds

This study aimed to characterize the physical properties of goat fibers from some indigenous Ethiopian goat breeds. Ethiopia has different indigenous goat breeds, which are the livelihood of Ethiopian farmers and are mainly used as a source of meat, milk, fiber, hides, etc. The fiber samples were collected from Abergelle, Central Highland, and Western Lowland indigenous Ethiopian goat breeds. After shearing, scouring was applied for the removal of some impurities using ionic and non-ionic detergents and chemicals. In this study, fiber length, fineness, tensile strength and elongation, and fiber diameter were evaluated using scientific test-standard methods. The study results showed that the average tensile strengths of goat fibers obtained from Abergelle, Central Highland, and Western Lowland were 13.38, 13.31, and 13.26 cN/Tex, respectively. Similarly, the elongation percentage values were found between 22% and 24% and 32% and 34% in dry and wet conditions, respectively. The moisture regain and moisture content values ranged from 14.04% to 14.10% and 12.61% to 12.68%, respectively. The fiber length values were between 38 and 43 mm, with a diameter ranging from 18 to 21 μm. Even though there was a slight difference in some values of physical properties, the fibers obtained from each goat breed have satisfactory mechanical properties: good strength, fineness, elongation, moisture regain, and low density. Generally, this study proved that the goat fiber obtained from some indigenous Ethiopian goat breeds is a potential source of raw material for textile manufacturers and researchers.

Scalable wet-spinning of wearable chitosan-silica textile for all-day radiative cooling

Passive radiative cooling for cost-effective personal thermal management (PTM) has received tremendous attention as it permits continuous subambient temperatures without energy consumption. Enhancing emission in the mid-infrared wavelength range and minimizing solar heat absorption are two independent processes that impart materials with effective radiative cooling performance. However, scalable all-day subambient cooling for PTM has been limited for wide applications due to the compromise between complex manufacturing and effective broadband radiative cooling. Herein, this work reports spectrally selective fabrics consisting of chitosan (CS) fibers and silica microparticles (SiO2) for all-day PTM using a scabble and easy wet-spinning technique. Along with the porosity of the fiber, woven CS/SiO2 textiles provide high reflectivity (82.3 %) in the solar window (wavelength λ, 0.3–2.5 µm) and high infrared emissivity (95.6 %) within the atmospheric transparency window (wavelength λ, 8–13 µm). Additionally, the textiles exhibit great cloth comfort due to the physical properties of fibers including flexibility, breathability, and strength. The cooling power of wearable textiles during daytime and nighttime is 95.7 W m−2 and 103.3 W m−2. Comparing the outdoor thermal test results of nylon and cotton all day, the temperature difference of 11.2 °C and 5.4 °C proved the passive radiation cooling ability of the material. This effective radiative property arises from the chemical bond vibrations of the CS fabric matrix and phonon polarization resonance of SiO2 microparticles. Our scalable and inexpensive radiative cooler could be an excellent wearable textile for practical all-day PTM.

Analytical and numerical investigation of water diffusion through Raffia vinifera pith

ABSTRACT This work aims to develop analytical and numerical approaches for predicting the water diffusion through raffia vinifera pith using Fick’s law. A representative elementary volume consisting of a fiber surrounded by a layer of natural matrix is considered. Assuming that the physical properties of fiber and matrix are constant, the resulting equations are solved analytically by the separation of variables method and numerically by finite difference method. A constant water concentration is imposed at the external surface of material while the continuity of the moisture and flux is applied at the fiber/matrix interface. To test the computational results, physical properties of the two layers are set equal. The experimental solutions in this case are used as the reference results, and the present computational method results are compared. Results demonstrate that the maximum value of the relative error is less than 6.5% for numerical and 11% for analytical methods. The case of two layers with different physical properties is examined. Results indicate that the heterogeneity of raffia vinifera pith reduces considerably the water absorption in the fiber. This study can be applied to composite materials where the polymers are combined to natural fibers to achieve high mechanical properties of materials.

A Facile Method to Manufacture the Sesamum Indicum Fibers by Glycolic Acid Assisted with Microwave

ABSTRACT The Sesamum indicum bast contains more hemicellulose, lignin, and flaky parenchymal cells than the commonly used ramie bast, which are rigid for the degumming process. We explored a facile and greener method by using glycolic acid microwave-assisted treatment combined with alkaline treatment to effectively and low-cost prepare the high-quality Sesamum indicum single fibers. The chemical and physical properties of fibers were analyzed by chemical composition analysis, SEM, FTIR, XRD, TG, and GPC analysis. The residual gum content was decreased from 34.4% to 4.2%, resulting in a cleaner micro-surface of the Sesamum indicum fibers with increased cellulose crystallinity (75.2%–82.5%) and thermal stability (357°C–365°C). The fiber fineness (2.5 dtex) and breaking tenacity (4.9 cN/dtex) of the fibers produced by the novel treatment method exhibited the same level compared with the traditional two-step alkaline fibers. Besides, both the consumption of water and the chemicals was decreased compared with traditional degumming. This work provided a novel green and facile degumming method for processing the natural bast fibers.

A General Strategy to Electrospin Nanofibers with Ultrahigh Molecular Chain Orientation

The degree of polymer chain orientation is a key structural parameter that determines the mechanical and physical properties of fibers. However, understanding and significantly tuning the orientation of fiber macromolecular chains remain elusive. Herein, we propose a novel electrospinning technique that can efficiently modulate molecular chain orientation by controlling the electric field. In contrast to the typical electrospinning method, this technique can piecewise control the electric field by applying high voltage to the metal ring instead of the needle. Benefiting from this change, a new electric field distribution can be realized, leading to a non-monotonic change in the drafting force. As a result, the macromolecular chain orientation of polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofibers was significantly improved with a record-high infrared dichroic ratio. This was further confirmed by the sharp decrease in the PEO jet fineness of approximately 80% and the nanofiber diameter from 298 to 114 nm. Interestingly, the crystallinity can also be adjusted, with an obvious drop from 74.9% to 31.7%, which is different from the high crystallinity caused by oriented chains in common materials. This work guides a new perspective for the preparation of advanced electrospun nanofibers with optimal orientation–crystallinity properties, a merited feature for various applications.

Antimicrobial Fibrous Bandage-like Scaffolds Using Clove Bud Oil.

Wounds are characterised by an anatomical disruption of the skin; this leaves the body exposed to opportunistic pathogens which contribute to infections. Current wound healing bandages do little to protect against this and when they do, they can often utilise harmful additions. Historically, plant-based constituents have been extensively used for wound treatment and are proven beneficial in such environments. In this work, the essential oil of clove bud (Syzygium aromaticum) was incorporated in a polycaprolactone (PCL) solution, and 44.4% (v/v) oil-containing fibres were produced through pressurised gyration. The antimicrobial activity of these bandage-like fibres was analysed using in vitro disk diffusion and the physical fibre properties were also assessed. The work showed that advantageous fibre morphologies were achieved with diameters of 10.90 ± 4.99 μm. The clove bud oil fibres demonstrated good antimicrobial properties. They exhibited inhibition zone diameters of 30, 18, 11, and 20 mm against microbial colonies of C. albicans, E. coli, S. aureus, and S. pyogenes, respectively. These microbial species are commonly problematic in environments where the skin barrier is compromised. The outcomes of this study are thus very promising and suggest that clove bud oil is highly suitable to be applied as a natural sustainable alternative to modern medicine.

Prediction on compressive strength of Engineered Cementitious composites using Machine learning approach

In recent times, Machine Learning Techniques are emerging continuously as an affordable and efficient in predicting how the property of the materials influences the properties, cost and time of the proposed mixes. In Civil engineering domain, the utilization of ML techniques are need to be strengthened with respect to the incorporation of Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCM) to the conventional proportioning of mix. Hence to increase the sustainability and thereby reduce the environmental pollution that occurs due to disposal of the Industrial wastes which also holds the pozzolanic property. In this study one of the ML techniques namely Artificial Neural Network (ANN) are used to determine the 28 days compressive strength of the Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) incorporated with industrial pozzolans like Fly ash and Ground Granulated Blast Slag (GGBS) with respect to mix proportions and physical properties of polyvinyl alcohol fibres (PVA). The physical properties of fibre and mix proportions such as the ratio of cement, fly ash or GGBS, fine aggregate, water to binder (W/B) ratio, high range water reducer to binder (HRWR/B) ratio, length of fibres, diameter, tensile strength, density, modulus of elasticity and elongation were used to predict the compressive strength of ECC. Furthermore, the experimental investigations were conducted on the compressive strength of ECC with fly ash and GGBS separately and also verified with the ANN outputs. Hence, the present model (Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm) is validated by considering the standard benchmark with respect to the coefficient of determination (R2) which is highly correlated.

Mechanical properties and microstructures of Steel-basalt hybrid fibers reinforced Cement-based composites exposed to high temperatures

Steel-basalt hybrid fibers reinforced cement-based composites (SBFRCC) have excellent mechanical properties at ambient temperature. Conducting research on the behavior of SBFRCC at high temperatures is beneficial for applications in structures which may be exposed to fires. In this study, the physical properties of fibers and mechanical properties of SBFRCC exposed to high temperatures were assessed through appearance, mass loss, and compressive, flexural, and splitting tensile strength tests. The deterioration mechanism was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), simultaneous thermal analysis (STA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the color and mass of steel and basalt fiber change significantly with temperature. The addition of steel fiber and basalt fiber can improve residual flexural strength and splitting tensile strength. High basalt fiber content is harmful for compressive strength. The compressive, flexural, and splitting tensile strength of SBFRCC essentially decreases with temperature. Models were established to describe the quantitative relationship between relative strength and fiber content, temperature. The addition of steel fiber and basalt fiber can effectively inhibit cracks generation and propagation by multi-stage cracking resistance. High temperature deterioration of hybrid fibers can only reduce the reinforcement, but steel fiber and basalt fiber can still play a role in bridging cracks at 900°C.

Yarn quality analysis in non-cellulosic and metal contents of cotton fibre of various locations

The fibre physical properties can be influenced by non-cellulosic and metal contents present in it which ultimately may impact the quality and spinning performance of resultant yarn. The concentration of these materials largely depends upon cotton variety, growing area and atmospheric conditions. In this back drop the present research study was planned to investigate the impact of various varieties and locations on non-cellulosic and metal contents of raw cotton and their eventual effects on subsequent yarn quality. So four varieties of single-season upland cottons from four different cotton-growing locations in Pakistan were selected for the study. The collected cotton samples were subjected to chemical and physical testing to know the concentrations of non-cellulosic and metal contents present in them along with other physical parameters. Then they were subjected to yarn manufacturing by conventional ring spinning method. At the end the yarn quality testing was carried in respect of its tensile and imperfections characteristics. The results disclosed significant impacts of selected variables on yarn quality. The reduction in non-cellulosic contents and metal contents put negative impact on Count Lea Strength Product (CLSP), yarn lea strength, single yarn strength, breaking length, evenness, thin spots, and neps count of resultant yarn.

Influence of flock coating on the thermophysiological comfort properties of woven cotton fabric

In flock coating, the fabric surface is coated with an adhesive, and flock fibers of a certain length and fineness are impinged and embedded on the adhesive. Embedded fibers form a pile structure on the surface, causing the process to find a wide range of applications. However, there has been no study on the comfort properties of the flock coated fabrics due to the inevitable decrease of the fabric permeability after adhesive coating. This study evaluates the flock fiber physical properties, adhesive coating ratio, and flocking duration on the comfort properties of flock-coated fabrics. Three different coating ratios, two different flocking durations, and four different flock fibers with different fineness and length were studied. Fabric samples were produced by electrostatic flock coating of the woven cotton base fabric. In addition to the experimental study, a mathematical model has been set up to predict the flock-coated fabric thermal resistance. Short (0.4 mm) and long (1.0 mm) flock fibers have assured 82% and 204% higher thermal resistance, respectively, compared to the base fabric thermal resistance of 7.37 (10−3 m2 K/W). The thermal resistance mathematical model results have been found to agree with the actual values with a correlation coefficient of 0.95. Compared to the base fabric, long flock fiber has provided a 249% increase in thermal resistance, with at most a 20% fabric mass increment and 24% relative water vapor permeability decrease. The findings indicate that flock coating can be utilized in cold-weather clothing.

Polyester Fibres Enhanced with Phase Change Material (PCM) to Maintain Thermal Stability

Polyester is one of the textile materials that are widely used, with different forms as textile or yarns or fibres. This depends on the properties of the polyester polymer and the final application that is used in it. Staple and crimps polyester fibres (poly-fil®) have also been used for comfort applications in addition to the durability property. The general use of crimps polyester fibres as alternatives of fillings for pillows and mattresses. This research is aiming to enhance the staple and crimpy polyester fibres with Phase Change Material (PCM) to give the ability to change their thermal state in a large range to use it as a filling or compressed sheet for thermal protection of different purposes, regardless of ambient temperatures. So, short and crimps polyester fibres treated in a simple way using Octadecane as (PCM material) loaded on Pectin/Stearic acid and Alginate/Stearic acid to form PCM composite treatment materials. The properties of the fibres were evaluated after treatment with Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), in addition to the Physico-mechanical properties. It can conclude that; the polyester fibres can be covered with PCM composites and the covered one has a preferable result over its uncovered. Also, after the evaluation of blank/uncovered and covered polyester fibres properties, it was these treatments enhanced the mechanical and physical properties of fibres, and they kept and maintain the fibres crimps shape to achieve the air changing. Additionally, acquisition of the required thermal properties to reach the state of thermal stability.

Improving the physical properties of fibers from banana leaf sheath using coating for handicraft

Improving the physical properties of fibers from banana leaf sheath using coating for handicraft

The Power of Fiber Twist.

Nature's evolution over billions of years has led to the development of different kinds of twisted structures in a variety of biological species. Twisted fibers from nanoscale- to micrometer-scale diameter have been prepared by mimicking natural twisted structures. Mechanically inserting twist in a yarn is an efficient and important method, which generates internal stress, changes the macromolecular orientation, and increases compactness. Recently, twist insertion has been found to produce interesting fiber properties, including chemical, mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. This Account summarizes recent progress in how twist insertion affects the chemical and physical properties of fibers and describes their applications in artificial spider silk, artificial muscles, refrigeration, and electricity generation.Twist and associated chirality widely arise in nature from molecules to nano- and microscale materials to macroscopic objects such as DNA, RNA, peptides, and chromosomes. Such twisted architectures play an important role in improving the mechanical properties and enabling biological functions. Inspired by the beauty and interesting properties of twisted structures, a wide range of artificial chiral materials with twisted or coiled structures have been prepared, from organic and inorganic nanorods, nanotubes, and nanobelts to macroscopic architectures and buildings.An efficient way to prepare twisted materials is by inserting twist in fibers or yarns, which is an ancient technique used to make yarns or ropes (Wang, R., et al. Science 2019, 366, 216-221. Mu, J., et al. Science 2019, 365, 150-155). During the twisting process, torque is generated in fibers or yarns, the structure of the polymer chains becomes helically oriented, and the fibers in a yarn become more compact. Therefore, the twisting of fibers and yarns can produce novel chemical, mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties (Dou, Y., et al. Nat. Commun. 2019, 10, 1-10. Kim, S. H., et al. Science 2017, 357, 773-778). This Account focuses on the novel properties generated by twist insertion. The mechanical stress and strain can be optimized in a yarn by twist insertion, and different types of fibers exhibit rather different mechanisms.In the first section, we will focus on recent progress in improving the mechanical properties of twisted fibers, including carbon nanotube yarns, single-filament fibers, and hydrogel fibers. Torque was generated by twist insertion in a fiber or a yarn, and the balance of internal torsional stress can be changed by causing a change in yarn volume. This will result in twist release and torsional and tensile actuations of the yarn, which will be described in the second section. Twisting a yarn generally makes it more compact, which will result in a mechanically induced change in capacitance, supercapacitance, and other useful electrochemical properties when a conducting yarn is in an electrolyte. Such processes were used to develop novel devices for twist-based electricity generation, called twistrons, which will be discussed in the third section. Twist insertion or release also changes the polymer chain orientation or crystal structure, resulting in changes in entropy. This is called the twistocaloric effect, which was used to develop a new cooling method, and will be discussed in the last section.

Extraction and Characterization of Inherently Antimicrobial Fibres from Aerial Roots of Banyan Tree

ABSTRACT Aerial roots of the Banyan tree were utilized to extract completely biodegradable natural fibers with inherent antimicrobial properties which can be used as potential raw material for health and hygiene products. Fiber extraction conditions were optimized for biological, chemical and enzymatic treatments. Bleaching and softening treatments were given for improving color, further individualization and enhancing handle of extracted fibers. The change in chemical composition due to alkali treatment was determined using FTIR. SEM was used to compare the change in surface morphology of fibers with the use of different treatment. Various physical and biological properties of the fibers were tested and compared with other lignocellulosic fibers. It was observed that the physical properties of fibers extracted from aerial roots of banyan tree were comparable to other natural cellulosic fibers like sisal, coir, jute. The fibers have a combination of properties such as low strength, moderate elongation along with good moisture regain and retention. Additionally, they exhibit excellent resistance against bacterial and fungal growth, which is quite rare in case of natural cellulosic fibers, making them suitable for potential usage, especially in hygiene products. Other applications in terms of fiber composites with suitable materials can also be envisaged.

Mass-production of high-yield and high-strength thermomechanical pulp fibers from plant residues enabled by ozone pretreatment

Thermomechanical pulp (TMP) has great potential in packaging paper production. However, the lack of raw materials and relatively low physical performance of TMP due to the high lignin content limit its large-scale application. In this study, we use thermomechanical pulping of plant residues combined with ozone treatment to cut costs and improve the physical performance of TMP. During TMP pulping, the effects of the ozone on the structure and physical properties of fibers were investigated. Changing the ozone dosage showed a distinct effect on the surface lignin content and morphology of fibers. In the oxidation process, the structure of lignin was damaged and the physical properties were improved significantly. Moreover, it also proved the feasibility of the mass production of this approach. The fibers of this type have a great future as complementary raw material to recycled fibers to produce packaging paper in applications of paper products of higher quality.

Alternative Tanning Agent for Leather Industry from a Sustainable Source

Dialdehyde starches with different aldehyde content from native corn starch were prepared by sodium periodate oxidation to be used as a tanning agent in leather making. For this purpose, native corn starch was oxidized with sodium metaperiodate in different molar ratios. After oxidation processes, the yields, solubility in water and aldehyde contents of the obtained dialdehyde starches were determined as well as structure characterizations by Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Gel Permeation Chromatography. Evaluating the gel permeation chromatography data, the dialdehyde starch samples which were thought to be in appropriate molecular weight/size to penetrate into skin fibers were selected to be used in the tanning process. Their tanning abilities were evaluated by investigating hydrothermal stabilities, filling and fiber isolation characteristics and physical properties determined by mechanical tests and organoleptically. From the evaluation of the results, it was revealed that sodium metaperiodate oxidized starches which have appropriate molecular weight and adequate aldehyde content has a remarkable tanning effect and can be utilized as a tanning agent with the advantages of not necessitating pickling process which means saving time and simplifying the production but more importantly offering an important advantage from an environmental point of view.