Cloth Research Articles

Genome-wide analysis of HACD family genes and functional characterization of GhHACD2 for very long chain fatty acids biosynthesis in Gossypium hirsutum

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) not only serves as a primary textile fiber crop but also as a vital oilseed crop. It stands as the world’s fifth-largest oil crop and is rich in essential fatty acids. At present, the mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis of cottonseed oil have been extensively studied in cotton. 3-Hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydratase (HACD) is the third rate-limiting enzyme in the elongase complex, which plays a critical role in the biosynthesis of Very Long Chain Fatty Acids (VLCFA). However, the members of the HACD family and their roles in cottonseed oil remain uncharacterized in cotton. This study identified that G. arboreum and G. raimondii have two HACD genes, while four HACD genes exists in G. hirsutum, and G. barbadense. The phylogenetic relationships of the 12 HACD genes from the four cotton species further divided them into two subfamilies. Gene structure and conserved motif analysis revealed that members of the HACD family were relatively conserved during the evolution of cotton, but members within the same subfamily exhibited more similar structures. Homology and collinearity analysis suggest whole-genome duplication/segmental duplication may be a key factor in the amplification of the cotton HACD gene family. The qRT-PCR analysis of high-oil and low-oil genotype found significant differences in the expression levels of GhHACD1-4, which indicates GhHACD1-4 is expected to participate in the lipid oil biosynthesis process. Subcellular localization experiments confirmed the presence of the GhHACD2 inendoplasmic reticulum. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of co-expressed genes of GhHACD1 and GhHACD2 genes were conducted to confirm their potential involvement in fatty acid elongation and oil biosynthesis. Furthermore, transgenic overexpression analysis of GhHACD2 caused a 5.02% decrease in oil content compared with the control in yeast, while the levels of C28:0, C30:0, and VLCFAs were significantly improved. This study characterizes HACD gene family members in cotton and provides rich genetic resources for increasing cottonseed oil content and improving the nutritional value of cottonseed oil.

Asymmetrical surface-modified polyester/cotton fabrics for temperature-adaptive moisture and thermal management of human body

Personal moisture and thermal management fabrics that can regulate skin temperature are highly desired for improving human comfort and performance. Here, a symmetric surface modified polyester/cotton fabric (Janus T/C fabric) exhibiting exceptional temperature-adaptive personal moisture and thermal managements was developed. This was achieved by integrating two distinct temperature-sensitive hydrophobic/hydrophilic transition materials through single-sided spray coating technique and in-situ ultraviolet-induced free radical polymerization in 60/40 polyester/cotton blend fabric (T/C fabric, composed of 60 % cotton and 40 % polyester fibers). 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethoxyethyl-methacrylate (MEO2MA) was utilized to create lower critical solution temperature (LCST) polymer, while N, N-dimethyl (methacryloylethyl) ammonium propane sulfonate (DMAPS) formed an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) polymer on T/C fabric surface. Fabric’s surface demonstrated a reversible transition in hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity in response to environmental temperature changes. The distinct hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces configuration resulted in a remarkable wettability gradient, significantly increased moisture permeability to 6792.5 g/m2·24 h—an increase of 1132.1 g/m2·24 h compared to the 60/40 T/C fabric at 40 °C. Moreover, the Janus T/C fabric provided practical temperature adaptation benefits, offering a cooling effect of approximately 1.2 °C in hot environments and a warming effect of approximately 1.0 °C in cold conditions. These thermal responsive properties make the asymmetric surface-modified polyester/cotton fabric an ideal choice for personalized moisture and thermal management, ensuring optimal comfort across varying temperatures.

ZnO Nanoparticles Enhance the Antimicrobial Properties of Two-Sided-Coated Cotton Textile.

Cotton textiles improved with metal oxide nanoparticles acquire additional features that may enhance their action against antimicrobial-resistant pathogens due to the unique properties and characteristics of the nanoparticles. The main objective of this work is to evaluate the antimicrobial features of two-sided-coated cotton textiles with ZnO nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were deposited using green chemistry technology with low-temperature oxygen plasma. ZnO particles formed stable structures on textile fibers. The optimal deposition parameters (150 W plasma power, 120 min immersion time) achieved the best effects against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and microscopic fungi. Two-sided-coated cotton with ZnO nanoparticles showed high antibacterial action on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Modification with zinc oxide inhibited the growth of Candida albicans by more than half.

A study on sustainable foam concrete with waste polyester and ceramic powder: Properties and durability

The textile and apparel sectors currently produce millions of tons of textile waste annually on a global scale. Textile waste fibers are a viable option for sustainability as they can be utilized to reinforce cement-based composites internally by improving ductility and reducing the development of cracks. The issue of ceramic waste accumulation can be effectively resolved by using ceramic waste as supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), for sustainable construction, which also lowers energy use and CO2 emissions during the cement manufacturing process. This study evaluated the fresh, physico-mechanical, durability, and thermal characteristics of foam concrete (FC) reinforced with waste polyester (WP) incorporating waste ceramic powder (CP) as a replacement of cement in the rates of 0, 10 and 20 %. Twelve mixtures with a 0.3 water/binder (w/b) ratio were fabricated using a sodium lauryl sulfate foaming agent. The WP used in this study have four percentages of 0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 % by volume. Durability performance of the mixtures for dry shrinkage, sulfate attack, high temperatures, alkali silica reaction and freeze-thaw cycles was also carried out. Microstructure of the mixtures was analyzed by SEM. Cost investigation and environmental impact of FC mixtures were also investigated. The findings indicated that the mixture with 10 % CP and 0.6 % WP had the largest 28-day compressive strength of 8.78 MPa, representing a 47 % decrease over the reference mixture (without CP and WP). The same mixture also exhibited the lowest dry shrinkage after the reference mixture. The mixture containing 0%CP and 0.2WP had the lowest thermal conductivity with a reduction of 74.0 % as per the reference mixture. The 0.4 % WP and 0%CP incorporated mixture exhibited the best thermal and F-T performance.

Dyeing of Mixed Cotton and Polyester Fabrics with New Dyes—Complexes of Collagen with Transition Metal Ions

Uniform, stable, one-step dyeing of textile fabrics made from a mixture of natural and synthetic fibers using traditional methods remains problematic to this day. As an alternative to traditional methods, a one-step method for dyeing mixed cotton and polyester fabrics with a new natural dye—a complex of collagen and [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] ions—was proposed for the first time. Dyeing of pre-prepared cotton, polyester, and cotton–polyester fabrics is carried out by dipping in an aqueous dye solution, squeezing, drying, and heat setting. The influence of the mass ratio of dye components, fixation temperature, and pH of the solution on the degree of dye fixation was determined. A degree of sorption of dyes (14–25%) from the solution onto the surface of fabrics was established, which after heat fixation decreases slightly (1–3%). During washing processes, the copper complex is almost completely washed out from polyester and blended fabrics and remains in small quantities (2.4–3.8%) on the surface of cotton fabrics. After water washing, the degree of fixation of the collagen–chrome complex in fabrics is as follows: in cotton—8–10%, in polyester—10–12%, and in cotton–polyester—8–9%. The color coordinates of cotton and cotton–polyester fabrics hardly change before and after washing, but for polyester fabric, the changes are significant. The mechanism of interaction of the complex dye with the fibers was studied using the Fourier transform infrared method, and the morphology and distribution of the dye on the surface of the samples using the SEM-EDS method. The dye binds to cellulose through ionic and coordination bonds, and to polyester through joint melting. Therefore, unlike pure polyester fabric, cotton and cotton–polyester fabrics demonstrated high color fastness to washing and light fastness. The use of production waste, the exclusion of synthetic dyes and harmful chemicals, and single-stage dyeing of the material reduce the environmental burden.

Waste Tyre Textile Fibre Composite Material: Acoustic Performance and Life Cycle Assessment

The development of new sound absorbing materials and the transition to net zero emissions production have become inseparable. This paper investigates a new type of composite sound absorbing material made of waste tyre textile fibre (WTTF) and different binders: polyurethane resin (PU), polyvinyl acetate (PVA), and starch (POS). Non-acoustic and acoustic parameters were studied, and life cycle assessment was performed for the considered composite sound absorbing materials. The airflow resistivity was determined according to the ISO 9053-1 standard, while the sound absorption coefficient was determined according to the ISO 10534-2 standard, and the LCA was performed based on the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. Composite sound absorbing materials subjected to sound absorption coefficient tests showed results in the range of 0.04 to 0.99 and peaking in the frequency range of 800 to 2000 Hz, while airflow resistivity varied between 17.4 and 83.6 kPa⋅s/m2. The combination that gave the highest sound absorption coefficient was experimentally found to be PU composite material. Life cycle assessment results revealed that the lowest potential impact on the environment is obtained when composite materials are produced using starch as a binder and its total potential impact on the environment varied between 0.27 and 0.55 Pt, while the highest potential impact was observed by PU composites (0.33 ÷ 0.64 Pt). The results obtained experimentally and by LCA modelling revealed great attractiveness and promising development of composites using WTTF and different binders’ potential for sound absorbing applications.

Recycling of Blended Fabrics for a Circular Economy of Textiles: Separation of Cotton, Polyester, and Elastane Fibers

The growing textile industry is polluting the environment and producing waste at an alarming rate. The wasteful consumption of fast fashion has made the problem worse. The waste management of textiles has been ineffective. Spurred by the urgency of reducing the environmental footprint of textiles, this review examines advances and challenges to separate important textile constituents such as cotton (which is mostly cellulose), polyester (polyethylene terephthalate), and elastane, also known as spandex (polyurethane), from blended textiles. Once separated, the individual fiber types can meet the demand for sustainable strategies in textile recycling. The concepts of mechanical, chemical, and biological recycling of textiles are introduced first. Blended or mixed textiles pose challenges for mechanical recycling which cannot separate fibers from the blend. However, the separation of fiber blends can be achieved by molecular recycling, i.e., selectively dissolving or depolymerizing specific polymers in the blend. Specifically, the separation of cotton and polyester through dissolution, acidic hydrolysis, acid-catalyzed hydrothermal treatment, and enzymatic hydrolysis is discussed here, followed by the separation of elastane from other fibers by selective degradation or dissolution of elastane. The information synthesized and analyzed in this review can assist stakeholders in the textile and waste management sectors in mapping out strategies for achieving sustainable practices and promoting the shift towards a circular economy.

Development of Eco-Efficient Composite from Textile Waste with Polyamide Matrix.

The main aim of the present work is to evaluate and characterize the mechanical, morphological and thermal properties of wastes coming from the textile industry, mainly composed of cotton and polyester. These wastes will be thereafter implemented in commodity plastic such as polyamide, in order to develop new formulations of environmentally friendly materials. The composites were produced by extrusion and injection-molded processes in amounts between 15 wt.% and 60 wt.% of textile waste. With the objective of improving the properties of the materials, silanes were used as a compatibilizer between the textile fibers and the polymeric matrix. The effect of the compatibilizer in the composites was studied together with the effect of the amount of textile fiber added to the composites. Mechanical, thermal, morphological and wettability properties were analyzed for each composite. The results show that the use of silanes improves the interaction especially in those composites with a higher amount of textile waste, offering a balanced mechanical behavior with significantly high quantities. On the other hand, the melting temperature does not vary significantly with the introduction of silanes and textile waste content, although the incorporation of textile waste slightly reduces up to 23% the degradation temperature of the resulting composites. The wettability of the composites is also increased up to 16% with the incorporation of textile waste. Finally, the appearance of the composites with textile waste is strongly influenced by the incorporation of the reinforcement, offering shades close to dark brown in the whole range of compositions.

Product classes characterization at micro-scale level applied to granular wastes fractions < 20 mm: a case-study

A product class characterization was requested on some plastic granular waste samples, already reduced in fine form with particles < 20 mm, derived from waste electrical wires and PC cables. The product class discrimination was worked out by visual characterization with the aid of optical stereomicroscopy and confirmation by electron scanning microscopy (SEM) and microanalysis. Characterization at a micro-scale level evidenced predominance of plastic materials with presence of metal wires, paper, textile and glass fibres at residual levels in the main fraction (0.5–4 mm). The fractions < 0.5 mm, when present, cannot easily be distinguished at sight and only approximate qualitative information can be extracted by SEM analysis. The described approach has been carried out effectively due to major shape and material differences between plastic particles and metal wires and other materials. However, this approach may not work in every case, or it may not lead to usable results with every type of waste.

A Systematic Literature Review for Addressing Microplastic Fibre Pollution: Urgency and Opportunities

Microplastic fibre (MPF) pollution is a pressing concern that demands urgent attention. These tiny synthetic textile fibres can be found in various ecosystems, including water and air, and pose significant environmental risks. Despite their size (less than 5 mm), they can harm aquatic and terrestrial organisms and human health. Studies have demonstrated that these imperceptible pollutants can contaminate marine environments, thereby putting marine life at risk through ingestion and entanglement. Additionally, microplastic fibres can absorb toxins from the surrounding water, heightening their danger when consumed by aquatic organisms. Traces of MPFs have been identified in human food chains and organs. To effectively combat MPF pollution, it is crucial to understand how these fibres enter ecosystems and their sources. Primary sources include domestic laundry, where synthetic textile fibres are released into wastewater during washing. Other significant sources include industrial effluents, breakdown of plastic materials, and atmospheric deposition. Additionally, MPFs can be directly released into the environment by improperly disposing of consumer products containing these fibres, such as non-woven hygienic products. A comprehensive approach is necessary to address this pressing issue, including understanding the sources, pathways, and potential risks of MPFs. Immediate action is required to manage contamination and mitigate MPF pollution. This review paper provides a systematic literature analysis to help stakeholders prioritise efforts towards reducing MPFs. The key knowledge gaps identified include a lack of information regarding non-standardised test methodology and reporting units, and a lack of information on manufacturing processes and products, to increase understanding of life cycle impacts and real hotspots. Stakeholders urgently need collaborative efforts to address the systematic changes required to tackle this issue and address the proposed opportunities, including targeted government interventions and viable strategies for the industry sector to lead action.

Effectiveness of hybrid textile bars in tensile and bond stresses as an alternative to concrete reinforcement

Development for low and/or middle-income countries is not an option anymore. Therefore, developing Egyptian society must create its own sustainable model based on the ability to leverage the existing resources. Hybrid Textile Fiber Reinforced Polymers (HTFRP) introduce an innovative and/or alternative approach to replace traditional steel bar. Our study aims to introduce HTFRP to overcome the poor elastic modulus of existing FRP bars when utilized as a structural element in reinforced concrete constructions. In the proposed hybrid rebar, the steel core is protected through winding of various textile materials as an out layer. Thus, the relatively cheap cost of steel improves the viability of utilizing HTFRP. In addition, the behavior of HTFRP with varied volume fractions under uniaxial tensile load is investigated. Moreover, the bond stress of various HTFRP texture treatments is assessed. During the experimental investigation of the study, four groups were involved: Group A contains ten samples of natural and synthetic ropes which were used either before treatment or after being immersed in polyester resin to form the matrix. Group B contains five samples of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars made of glass fiber and matrix with variable volume fractions. Group C contains seven samples of hybrid/core-steel bars. The types of steel include wires steel, threaded steel, and mild steel. Finally, group D contains two samples of hybrid/powder bars. To assess the bond stress, four groups with various surface treatments of hybrid GFRP bars, including rib yarn, rib knotted yarn, braided yarn, and uniform sand-coated, are considered. The results showed that increasing the volume fraction of the GFRP rods increases the number of fibers, which leads to a significant improvement in the properties of the GFRP rods. In addition, the hybridized bars have more balanced tensile behavior that not only enhanced the ultimate tensile strength compared to steel reinforcement but also overcame the limitation of GFRP bars’ low elastic modulus by introducing a 220% improvement. The results showed also that braided yarn treatment has the highest pullout strength of 15.03 MPa, while the rib knitted treatment showed the lowest pullout test of 10.61 MPa. Moreover, the braided, rib yearn, and sand samples showed increased pullout results of 41.65%, 16.68%, and 12.06% respectively, compared to the rib-knotted sample. Finally, the rib-knotted and sand-coated samples illustrated sudden failure, whereas the rib knotted and rib sample had a ductile failure.

Comprehensive Analysis of the Preparation of Regenerated ε-Caprolactam Based on Solvent-Free Alkali-Catalyzed Depolymerization of Colored Waste Polyamide 6/Polyurethane Blended Textiles

Comprehensive Analysis of the Preparation of Regenerated ε-Caprolactam Based on Solvent-Free Alkali-Catalyzed Depolymerization of Colored Waste Polyamide 6/Polyurethane Blended Textiles

Natural Fibers: Why Are They Still the Missing Thread in the Textile Fiber Pollution Story?

Natural Fibers: Why Are They Still the Missing Thread in the Textile Fiber Pollution Story?

Emerging Role of Ionic Liquids in the Fabric Industry

Abstract: Profitable interest in the pervasive packaging of ionic liquids has continued to increase due to its several advantages and environmentally pleasant nature. Fabric enterprise is stated to be the most important enterprise as a result of a rapid increase in the populace across the globe. Certain ionic beverages can dissolve textile fibers. Therefore, ionic liquids are doubtlessly appropriate for material production and recycling. The dyeing of fabric substances involves numerous financial and ecological risks, resulting in an excessive intake of water, power, and chemicals. Ionic liquids surpass through their extraordinarily low vapor pressure, which enables them to deal with commonly used natural solvents. Moreover, ionic liquids display excessive temperature-associated dielectric constants, consequently displaying top-notch solvent strength for distinct fabric-associated substances, inclusive of silicones, keratin, and cellulose. This article provides a brief review of the pertinent literature that focuses on historical patterns and practical commercial applications of ionic liquids before moving on to current developments in ionic liquids and the fabric industry.

Analysis of the flame retardancy effect of boron-containing compound on polyester-cotton blended fabric

Flame-retardant finishing of textile materials is crucial for ensuring human safety and mitigating fire hazards. Though various textile fibers have inherent flame-resistant properties, cotton fiber has a higher affinity to burn. This research focused on developing non-durable FR treatments for cotton-rich polyester-cotton (T/C) blended products economically, using boron-containing compounds. Because of the high melting point use of borax on T/C fabric reduces the fabric's flammability. Boric acid was also used as an auxiliary substrate and Di-sodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate was used for its cleaning and softening properties. Borax and boric acid create a layer of char when burned and stop the flame. We used the impregnation method for this finishing process. After the chemical finish on different types of T/C fabric, we completed different types of tests like 450 flame retardant, LOI, SEM, breaking strength, drapability, crease recovery, and water vapor transmission tests, and found the desired properties. It increased the flame retardancy and crease recovery properties but the slight reduction of the fabric strength was noticed in case of excessive coating. Water vapor transmission property also reduced gradually with the increase of chemical concentration. Since the chemicals are available in the local market and lower in cost than common FR chemicals, it is more economical.

Testing relationship of bending rigidity with drape coefficient for silk viscose blended knitted fabrics

Testing relationship of bending rigidity with drape coefficient for silk viscose blended knitted fabrics

Phyco-biosynthesis of Chlorella-CuO-NPs and its Immobilization on Polyester/Cotton Blended Textile Waste Activated by Cellulase Enzymes for Application as Wastewater Disinfection Filter

Phyco-biosynthesis of Chlorella-CuO-NPs and its Immobilization on Polyester/Cotton Blended Textile Waste Activated by Cellulase Enzymes for Application as Wastewater Disinfection Filter

A data-enhanced approach for early-age drying induced moisture transport analysis on in-situ casted textile fibre reinforced concrete

With the addition of textile fibres that alters pore structure, the novel Textile Fibre Reinforced Concrete (TFRC) exhibits great potential in reducing drying shrinkage and enhancing long-term durability. To advance material design, this study aims at developing a coupled experimental-numerical framework with a data-enhanced approach to identify the essential material properties that govern the moisture transportation in TFRC. The scope of analysis covers the TFRC manufactured with various fibre types and different fibre volumes, where the time-dependent effect associated with early age is investigated. An inverse analysis framework, coupling Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) and extended support vector regression (XSVR), is developed and validated against experimentation by monitoring moisture distribution. Results reveals that the incorporation of textile fibres leads to a substantial reduction in the moisture diffusivity of TFRC, as opposed to conventional concrete of identical w/b and aggregate content. Notably, TFRC mixtures with 0.4 % Nylon twist and PTT600 fibres showed a 95 % reduction in moisture diffusivity compared to the conventional concrete. This discovery illustrates the capability of textile fibres, when optimally introduced, to mitigate moisture loss from cementitious materials, reducing drying shrinkage of concrete building. The proposed approach is demonstrated to be able to robustly quantify the early-age moisture transportation in TFRC, which is of potential to guide future concrete design of using textile fibre reinforcement towards controlling early-age shrinkage in building industry.

EVALUATION OF THE GRAPHENE DISPERSIONS FOR KEVLAR FABRICS FUNCTIONALIZATION OBTAINED BY THE LIQUID-EXFOLIATION OF GRAPHITE

The process where pristine graphite is subjected to a solvent treatment seems simple and scalable and has attracted the attention of researchers over many years. However, for successful exfoliation, overcoming the van der Waals attractions between the adjacent layers of graphite is necessary. Over time, several methods have been created to overcome the attraction between layers. Graphene’s liquid phase exfoliation (LPE) occurs due to the strong interactions between the solvent molecules and the basal planes of graphite, overcoming the energetic resistance to exfoliation and subsequent dispersion. Ultra sonication used for exfoliation can produce single or few layered graphene flakes. During sonication the sound waves propagate through liquid medium in alternating high- and low-pressure cycles, strong mechanical and thermal energy released by acoustic cavitation results in splitting up large particles into fine ones and dispersing them. Simultaneous insertion of solvent and/or intercalation molecules in between the graphite layers takes place supporting graphite separation into graphene layers. ; The dispersion capacity of graphene flakes depends on how appropriate the solvent properties are to the corresponding properties of graphene, such as surface tension, Hildebrand, and Hansen solubility parameters. Only certain solvents can disperse graphene well and form a dispersion appropriate for specific future applications. In addition, after exfoliation by ultra sonication graphene flakes aggregation due to the van der Waals attractions must be overcome to prepare in long-term stable dispersions of nanometres-size graphene sheets. ; The research has focused on the preparation of stable dispersion ready for transfer without intermediate processes to the Kevlar fabrics. An experimental comparison of the potentials of the 4 solvents for the application resulted in three corresponding to the intended use, two of them examined in detail, supplementing the composition of the LPE liquid medium with triethanolamine to obtain sufficient performance graphene coverage on Kevlar textile fibres.

Effect of abrasion level on surface handling and thermal conductivity of blended suit fabrics

The tactile comfort of garments is of great interest for researchers to achieve their performance efficiently. This research aims to study the ability of blended worsted fabrics to be used as men’s suits by checking the thermal conductivity (k) and surface handling properties that are represented in surface roughness deviation (SMD), surface mean friction (MIU), and electrostatic properties before and after abrasion actions. Different levels of weft yarn counts (16 Ne and 24), weft density (19 and 21 per cm) and fabric weave structures (stripped twill 2/2 and stripped satin 4) were used. Abrasion weight loss percentage, thermal conductivity, surface roughness, and friction in warp and weft directions, and electrostatic properties were measured. Results showed that all the fabric factors studied are significant to affect abrasion weight loss percentages, thermal conductivity, and fabric roughness in the weft and warp directions. Fabric friction behavior follows the fabric roughness, but there is a difference between weft direction and warp direction. In addition, the fabrics achieved a reasonable resistance to form static charges after abrasion actions, and the fabric factors studied are not significant to affect the electrostatic properties except for abrasion cycles as P-value equals 0.03.