Wool Materials Research Articles

Investigation of the Possibilities of Using Rhaponticoides Iconiensis in Wool Dyeing

Recently, many scientists have been struggling to identify natural dyestuff sources from different plants, especially for dyeing of textile materials such as wool and cotton. One of these struggles was carried out in this paper. The aim of this study was made to reveal R. iconiensis (hub.-mor.) M.V.Agab. & Greuter plant used as a source of natural dyes. In this study, both plant’s flowers and stems have been used separately for the dyeing of wool fabrics. These parts of plants were collected in the summer and separately dried, then milled and powdered and then used as a dyeing material in the dyeing of woollen fabrics via five (Fe, Cu, Al, Cr, Sn) different metal salts. All the dyeing processes were carried out for one hour at boiling temperature. Subsequently, CIE L*a*b* and K/S values of dyed wool fabrics were examined for colour strength. Various colour fastness tests, such as rubbing, washing and light fastness of dyed fabrics, have also been made. In the light of the obtained data, it was seen that R. iconiensis plant could be a natural dyestuff for wool materials.

Numerical investigation of the thermal protection mechanisms of phase change capsules with orderly stacked layouts applied to pulse power sources in deep wells

<p indent="0mm">Currently, the reliance of oil and gas consumption on imported resources in China is indicative of a serious energy supply concern. The mainland of China has been found to contain abundant medium- and low-maturity shale oil resources that represent substantial exploitable reserves of energy supply. The exploitation of medium- and low-maturity shale oil resources, which are comparable to conventional oil and gas resources, can alleviate the problem of energy import dependence. However, low-maturity shale oil resources are mainly enriched in the deep crust, with temperatures reaching 150°C at a 2-km depth. This high-temperature environment might severely limit the operation of electronic equipment. This paper focuses on the thermal protection of pulsed power source equipment in the harsh thermal environment of deep wells. The performance of phase change materials (PCMs) with capsule-like structures having various orderly stacked orientations is numerically investigated. By calculating the inner wall temperature and heat flow, the influence of phase change capsule size and stacked layout on the thermal protection efficiency is analyzed, and the evaluation criteria considering the heat flux density as well as the prediction model for the inner wall temperature are proposed. The results show that the case of phase change microcapsule-glass wool composite structures exhibits improved thermal protection performance, with the inner wall temperature rising rate reduced by 13.8% and 2.35% compared to the case of the glass wool material and microcapsule, respectively. However, the small packed volume of PCMs in the microcapsules restricts further improvement of the thermal insulation. Consequently, PCM capsules of larger size are applied, increasing the PCM proportion and natural formation of closed porous material. Compared to the case of microcapsule-glass wool composite structures, for the case of larger PCM capsules, the temperature at the inner wall is further reduced by 19.3%, and the total heat flow during heating is reduced by <sc>373.7 W/m².</sc> By changing the stacked structure of the capsules, the case of single-layer orientation with large-scale PCM capsules illustrates the best thermal protection performance. The temperature rise rate during the heating period decreases by 1.25% and 5.84% compared to that of the staggered and double stacking structures, respectively, and the total inflow heat flux is also 1.09% and 4.19% lower compared to that of the staggered and double stacking structures, respectively. Based on the results, the prediction model for the inner wall temperature is proposed when applying the single-layer stacked PCM capsules. Note that the average deviation between the prediction model and numerical simulations is &lt; 7%. The maximum temperature difference can be controlled to within ±6°C during 84% of the operating time.

HAKKÂRİ’DE TESPİT EDİLEN 20. YÜZYILA AİT NAMAZLIKLAR

Hakkâri, dokuma bakımından Anadolu’nun zengin illerinden biridir. Dokumanın bu kadar gelişmesinde ve çeşitlenmesinde yaşam koşulları, iklim ve geçim kaynakları etkili olmuştur. Hakkâri yöresinin coğrafi özelliğinden dolayı küçükbaş hayvan yetiştiriciliği daha çok tercih edilmektedir. Bu hayvanlardan elde edilen yün malzemeyle; halı, kilim, mêzer, yolluk ve namazlık gibi gündelik hayatta kullanacakları eserler üretmişlerdir. Dünyaca bilinen Hakkâri dokumaları, geçmişi günümüze hatta geleceğe bağlayan önemli birer somut kültür varlıklarıdır. Bu çalışmada ise dokuma namazlıklar ele alınmıştır. Hakkâri merkezi olmak üzere; Çukurca, Yüksekova, Derecik ve Şemdinli ilçeleri ve köylerinde saha çalışması yapılmıştır. Saha çalışması sonucunda otuz üç örneğe ulaşılmıştır. Söz konusu çalışmada ise on dört namazlık katalog bölümünde ele alınarak; teknik, desen, renk ve kompozisyon özelliklerine göre değerlendirilmiştir. Geleneksel Türk el sanatları içerisinde önemli bir yeri olan ve daha önce çalışılmamış, mistik anlamlar içeren namazlıkların tasnif ve belgeleme çalışmaları yapılmıştır.

Cost Optimized Building Energy Retrofit Measures and Primary Energy Savings under Different Retrofitting Materials, Economic Scenarios, and Energy Supply

We analyze conventional retrofit building materials, aluminum, rock, and glass wool materials and compared such materials with wood-based materials to understand the lifecycle primary energy implications of moving from non-renewable to wood-based materials. We calculate cost optimum retrofit measures for a multi-apartment building in a lifecycle perspective, and lifecycle primary energy savings of each optimized measure. The retrofit measures consist of the thermal improvement of windows with varied frame materials, as well as extra insulation of attic floor, basement walls, and external walls with varied insulation materials. The most renewable-based heat supply is from a bioenergy-based district heating (DH) system. We use the marginal cost difference method to calculate cost-optimized retrofit measures. The net present value of energy cost savings of each measure with a varied energy performance is calculated and then compared with the calculated retrofit cost to identify the cost optimum of each measure. In a sensitivity analysis, we analyze the cost optimum retrofit measures under different economic and DH supply scenarios. The retrofit costs and primary energy savings vary somewhat between non-renewable and wood-based retrofit measures but do not influence the cost optimum levels significantly, as the economic parameters do. The lifecycle primary use of wood fiber insulation is about 76% and 80% less than for glass wool and rock wool, respectively. A small-scale DH system gives higher primary energy and cost savings compared to larger DH systems. The optimum final energy savings, in one of the economic scenarios, are close to meeting the requirements in one of the Swedish passive house standards.

Assembly mechanism and antistatic properties of wool fabrics with superfine graphene oxide

Wool fabrics are preferred over synthetic and cellulosic fibers by consumers because of their good elasticity, warmth, and high moisture sorption. How to use new materials and new methods to break the bottleneck of high pollution and high energy consumption in wool dyeing and finishing, and develop new functional wool materials has become an urgent need of wool development. In this paper, wool is colored and functionalized with antistatic properties using one-step ecofriendly process by superfine graphene oxide (GO). The results of the assembly mechanism show that the adsorption thermodynamic behavior of GO on wool is more consistent with Langmuir model and the process is exothermic similar to the adsorption of conventional acid dyes on wool fibers. The kinetic behavior results indicated that adsorption behavior of GO on wool was identified, and the phenomenon was more in line with the quasi-secondary dynamics model. The antistatic test results showed that the antistatic performance of the wool fabric that was colored by GO was obviously improved and the half-life of the GO colored wool fabric could be as low as 0.17. The strategy of colored fabrics with GO and imparting additional functionality can provide a basis for the ecological processing and formation of wool fabrics with designed functions.

Influence of protective and decorative coatings based on sol-silicate paints on the moisture regime of external walls of buildings

The object of research is the humidity regime in external enclosing structures coated with paints with different vapor permeability: ash-silicate, silicate, acrylic and silicone. The purpose of the research is to evaluate the effect of a paint-and-varnish coating based on the developed sol-silicate paint on the change in the moisture regime of the wall, depending on the type of construction. Comparison of the effectiveness of the use of various paints and varnishes is carried out. The properties of the developed sol-silicate paint for finishing the walls of buildings are described. The results of calculating the influence of paints and varnishes on the humidity regime in the walls are carried out. To assess the humidity regime, a technique was used based on the determination of the outside air temperature, with a decrease to which condensation begins to fall out in the walls. This technique makes it possible to compare with high accuracy the humidity conditions in various enclosing structures. Comparison of the humidity regime in the walls of various designs is presented: aerated concrete (from blocks of grades D400, D600), brick, expanded clay concrete. In brick and expanded clay enclosing structures, the influence of the type of insulation (mineral wool mats, expanded polystyrene) on the humidity regime in the walls was also assessed. In the course of research, the thickness of the paint layer varied from 0.2 to 0.6 mm. According to the results of the research carried out in the article, it is shown that when using sol-silicate paint in enclosing structures, the temperature of the onset of condensation and the likelihood of condensation are reduced in comparison with acrylic, silicate and silicone paints. Recommendations are given on the choice of the type of facade paint, taking into account the humidity regime inside the fences of various designs.

Gelatin-Tannin-Based Greener Binder Technology for Stone Shot and Stone Wool Materials: A Detailed Study.

The detailed study presented herein of gelatins modified with tannins as greener binder systems for stone wool and related materials has unveiled a versatile technology that offers a wide range of possibilities for tailor-making properties toward various application areas. Thus, high unaged and aged mechanical strengths in combination with low water solubilities may generally be obtained from the use of gelatins with higher gel strength (and hence, generally, higher molecular weights), low-to-mid range tannin addition levels (3–20%), alkali metal hydroxides for pH adjustment, and final pH in the range 8–9. Comparatively low water uptake properties may be obtained using higher gel strength type A gelatins, lower tannin addition levels, alkali metal hydroxides for pH adjustment, and lower final pH. Even lower water uptake properties may then be obtained using Ca(OH)2 in place of alkali metal hydroxides. If desired, higher water uptakes may be obtained using type B gelatins (or lower gel strength gelatins in general), higher tannin addition levels, and higher final pH. Mechanistic studies indicated that the optimal modification of gelatin with the tannin component occurs via several pathways.

Grafting of Poly(tyrosine) by Laccase Improves the Tensile Strength and Anti-shrinkage of Wool

ABSTRACT The laccase-assisted grafting of poly(tyrosine) is performed aiming to impart shrink-resistant properties to the wool materials. Laccase is able to catalyze the oxidation of tyrosine into dityrosine efficiently. When the reaction is performed using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as the template, the tyrosine oxidation gives rise to differentiated oxidation products, including di-, tri-, and tetra-tyrosine, promoting a higher grafting onto the wool fibers. The characterization of the grafted wool fibers and fabrics reveals some loss of crystallinity (about 4% of crystallization index) and thermal resistance (decreasing from 232°C to 224°C) resulting from the grafting process. However, the new bonds established between the new oxidation products and the amino groups of the wool promote an improvement, not only of the shrinkage properties (1.87% of area shrinkage) but also of their mechanical behavior (increasing by 45.28%). The strategy herein presented demonstrates the potentiality to be applied as a “green” process for wool anti-shrinkage without compromising the fibers’ performance.

Green Chemistry in the Extraction of Natural Dyes from Colored Food Waste, for Dyeing Protein Textile Materials.

The beetroot peels can be a sustainable source of betalains that can dye the wool materials through green processes based on low water and energy consumption. Green chemistry in the extraction of betalains from colored food waste/peels from red beetroot involved the use of water as a solvent, without other additives. In order for the extract obtained to be able to dye the wool, it was necessary to functionalize betalains or even the wool. Three types of sustainable functionalizations were performed, with (1) acetic acid; (2) ethanol; and (3) arginine. For each functionalization, the mechanism that can justify dyeing the wool in intense colors was elucidated. The characterization of the extract was performed with the data provided by UV-VIS and HPLC-MS analyses. The characterization of the wool dyed with the extract obtained from the red beetroot peels was possible due to the information resulting from the FTIR and CIELab analyses. The functionalizations of betalains and wool in acid environments lead to the most intense red colors. The color varies depending on the pH and the concentration of betalains.

Photosynthetic Efficiency and Yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Grown under HPS and LED Lighting in Autumn-Winter Cultivation.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the supplemental lighting of cucumber with sodium pressure lamps (HPSs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on photosynthetic efficiency and yield in autumn–winter cultivation. Cucumber plants of the ‘Svyatogor’ F1 midi-cucumber parthenocarpic type cultivar were grown on mineral wool mats in three compartments, differing only in the type of light, i.e., (1) HPS top lighting (HPS) in the first compartment, (2) HPS top lighting and LED panel interlighting (HPS + LED) in the second compartment and (3) LED top lighting and inter-row LED panels (LED) in the third compartment. The photosynthetically active radiation was the same in each compartment. The study showed that the highest commercial yields of cucumber could be achieved under LED light (top and inter-row). The chlorophyll content in the leaf blade of younger leaves was higher in plants under LED lighting. This type of lighting also had a positive effect on the gas exchange of plants (net carbon assimilation, stomatal conductance, transpiration). LED and HPS + LED lighting increased the chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters, such as Fs, Fm’ and vitality index (PI), in both younger and older leaves, which also increased the fruit yield in the tested combinations.

Design and Experimental Investigations of Shape and Attitude Carding System for the Wires of Micro Coreless Motor Winding.

The shape and attitude (S&A) of the electrode wire are important characteristics of micro coreless motor winding. The purpose of this paper is to present the design of a robotic micro-manipulation system for micro wire carding with arbitrary S&A, which can be used as the pretreatment system for wire micro-gripper systems. The system is based on the principle of flexible carding, and uses nylon, bristle, nanometer-silk and wool as materials for the brushing micro-manipulator. The trajectory of the brushing micro-manipulator is designed, and the S&A of the electrode wires are straightened through the combined motion mode of horizontal and vertical brushing micro-manipulators. The experimental results show that the material of the brushing micro-manipulator has a great impact on the carding quality. Nanometer-silk material is more suitable for horizontal brushing micro-manipulators, and wool material is more suitable for vertical brushing micro-manipulators. The geometric dimension of the brushing micro-manipulator also affects the carding quality. When the diameter is in the range of 1 mm, the carding effect of the horizontal brushing micro-manipulator with a length of 4.9–8 mm is better. The system can realize the automatic carding of flexible electrode wires with arbitrary S&A, and it will not damage the structure of wires in the process.

Experimental investigation of heat conduction characteristics of density-layered stone wool materials

This work presents an experimental study to investigate the heat conduction coefficient of the density-layered stone wool plates insulation materials used in heat insulation applications. The stone wools, which have 70, 100, and 150 kg/m3 of densities, have been combined in different thicknesses to 60 mm. The aim of this layer combination is to benefit from lower heat conductivity and lightness of the lower density stone wools and the better strength of higher density stone wools. First, the single-layer stone wools with 60 mm of thickness, which is in the insulation market, have been tested. Then, they have been combined in different thicknesses, with a total thickness of 60 mm. A total of 18 samples have been produced, and the thermal conductivity of samples has been measured experimentally. Consequently, the heat conduction coefficient of density-layered stone wools and their weights have been compared experimentally. At the end of the present study, it is observed that density-layered stone wool plates play a critical role in improving the heat conductivity and lowering the weight of high-density plates. When combining 10 mm thick 150 kg/m3 density stone wool with 50 mm thick 70 kg/m3 density stone wool, the heat conductivity has been improved by 3.52% and the weight of the 1 m2 plate has reduced by 4 kg (44%) according to the stone wool with 150 kg/m3 of density.

Wool Materials Application History in Kyrgyz Traditional Medicine

The relevance of this article is related to the Kyrgyz people’s skills in using natural wool for the treatment of various diseases in nomadic life. As a source of natural resources, sheep and goat wool with mineral substances were used. Sheep’s wool is the main source of wool in the Kyrgyz people’s nomadic life. Sheep wool is also widely used in traditional Kyrgyz medicine. The Kyrgyz people knew from their nomadic experience, and scientists determined that the physical properties and chemical composition of wool had a very positive effect on human health. Theoretical methods were based on the scholarly and scientific article’s analysis in historical aspect. Empirical method is a popular and important research method in ethnology, which was implemented through surveys, participation in the process, observations and interviews of informants who are familiar with traditional medicine and wool products’ health effects. Research results were obtained using the comparative-historical method through a scientific cycle and a hypothesis. The article describes how the Kyrgyz people were able to work in a variety of ways in nomadic life, as well as promoting good health.

Electrochemical performance of supercapacitor with glass wool separator under TEABF4 electrolyte

The paper presents the electrochemical performance of supercapacitor with glass wool separator under organic electrolyte of tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TEABF4). The performance was evaluated using symmetrical two-electrode system and compared to an identical supercapacitor with commercially available cellulose paper separator under 1 M TEABF4. The application of glass wool separator reduces the bulk resistance of supercapacitor by 19.6%, promotes more efficient ions transfer across active surface of electrode and significantly improves specific capacitance by 19.1% compared to cellulose paper. The application of higher concentration TEABF4 (1.5 M) even improves the overall performance of glass wool-based supercapacitor by 32.2% reduction of bulk resistance and 61.9% increment in specific capacitance compared to 1 M TEABF4. In addition, the energy and power densities are significantly improved by 64% and 165%, respectively for the one with 1.5 M TEABF4. In general, the low-cost material glass wool material has great potential to replace commercially available cellulose paper as separator in developing much better supercapacitor.

Wool and Leather Waste Materials with Thermo-Insulating Properties

Seven new different thermo-insulating materials based on wool and /or skin wastes were obtained. To emphasize this capability, the effective thermal diffusivities were determined at a material moisture content of 10%, in a temperature range of 10 to 40oC. Depending on the material composition, the results showed that the effective thermal diffusivity varies between the limits of 6E-8 and 8.5E-8 m2/s. The smallest values were obtained for the untreated wool and for the material obtained from both untreated wool and finished leather powder. The obtained values underline the fact that the investigated materials can be used to obtain composites with good thermo-insulating properties.

Multi-Modal Contractive Forces of Wools as Actuator.

Wool has a long history of use in textiles throughout human civilization. Many smart functions such as reversible shape changes to various stimuli have been demonstrated in the last few years. However, the force-related characteristics are still imperfectly recognized, although they are expected to be used as actuators due to their biological origins and broad applications. Herein, we investigated the feasibility of wools in performing actuating ability through its intrinsic structures and fabrication methods. The diverse modes of contractive forces were obtained in wool materials including platform-like, double-peak, and slope-like shapes, where a molecular model was also presented to trace the origins of stress evolution. After that, a polymeric blend was created to modify the wool materials and a dissimilar performance of stress production was achieved, a square stress mode with stable manner and maintenance, for broad applications in a more efficient way. It is believed that these actuating properties extracted from natural hairs have a large potential in current smart applications and lay down new inspiration in designing actuators.

Steel Wool for Water Treatment: Intrinsic Reactivity and Defluoridation Efficiency

Studies were undertaken to characterize the intrinsic reactivity of Fe0-bearing steel wool (Fe0 SW) materials using the ethylenediaminetetraacetate method (EDTA test). A 2 mM Na2-EDTA solution was used in batch and column leaching experiments. A total of 15 Fe0 SW specimens and one granular iron (GI) were tested in batch experiments. Column experiments were performed with four Fe0 SW of the same grade but from various suppliers and the GI. The conventional EDTA test (0.100 g Fe0, 50 mL EDTA, 96 h) protocol was modified in two manners: (i) Decreasing the experimental duration (down to 24 h) and (ii) decreasing the Fe0 mass (down to 0.01 g). Column leaching studies involved glass columns filled to 1/4 with sand, on top of which 0.50 g of Fe0 was placed. Columns were daily gravity fed with EDTA and effluent analyzed for Fe concentration. Selected reactive Fe0 SW specimens were additionally investigated for discoloration efficiency of methylene blue (MB) in shaken batch experiments (75 rpm) for two and eight weeks. The last series of experiments tested six selected Fe0 SW for water defluoridation in Fe0/sand columns. Results showed that (i) the modifications of the conventional EDTA test enabled a better characterization of Fe0 SW; (ii) after 53 leaching events the Fe0 SW showing the best kEDTA value released the lowest amount of iron; (iii) all Fe0 specimens were efficient at discoloring cationic MB after eight weeks; (iv) limited water defluoridation by all six Fe0 SW was documented. Fluoride removal in the column systems appears to be a viable tool to characterize the Fe0 long-term corrosion kinetics. Further research should include correlation of the intrinsic reactivity of SW specimens with their efficiency at removing different contaminants in water.

MINERAL WOOL WASTE IN AUSTRIA, ASSOCIATED HEALTH ASPECTS AND RECYCLING OPTIONS

Mineral wool products are man-made vitreous fibres that are used as thermal and acoustic insulation materials and as substrates for horticulture. Mineral wool waste is generated from demolition activities by the building and construction industry. Unfavourable mechanical properties, such as low compressibility, elastic behaviour, high volume and low bulk density, cause problems in landfills when mineral wool waste is disposed of. Mineral wool waste with a certain content of carcinogenic fibres is classified as hazardous waste type 31437 g “Asbestos Waste, Asbestos Dust” in Austria, since some characteristics of such fibres are similar to those of asbestos fibres. An exception is those mineral wool materials that have been tested to be noncarcinogenic due to their characteristics of biological solubility or geometrical dimension. Such noncarcinogenic mineral wool waste is classified as non-hazardous waste type 31416 “Mineral fibres”. Generally, it can be assumed that most of the industrial producers of mineral wool in the EU have not been producing carcinogenic material since 1998; however, carcinogenic mineral wool material has not yet been banned in Austria. Therefore, a segregation between so-called “old” and “new” mineral wool material is not necessarily possible. The medical aspects of mineral wool products are still controversial. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) evaluated mineral wool (glass wool and rock wool) as “possibly carcinogenic” in 1988 but revised this evaluation to “inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity” in 2002. Fibrous dusts that reach the alveolar region of the lungs undergo a congruent or incongruent chemical dissolution process. Alveolar macrophages ingest the intruded fibres and fulfil anti-infection and clearance functions. Biosolubility is a key property of this process. The recycling of mineral wool waste has not yet been performed in Austria due to economic inefficiency, technical problems and suspected health issues. However, some recycling and processing options already exist; other options are investigated in the project RecyMin, which compares different concepts with respect to environmental and economic criteria.

Multi-criteria analysis of ten single family houses regarding environmental impacts

This study presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of ten single family houses located in Eastern Slovakia with the aim to compare them in terms of the materials and technologies used. The main goal is to investigate and emphasize the reduction rate of environmental impact resulting from using green materials and technologies. Environmental impacts are determined by using eToolLCD software. Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) categories of global warming, ozone depletion, acidification, eutrophication and photochemical ozone creation potential, as well as abiotic depletion potential - elements, abiotic depletion potential - fossil fuels, use of renewable primary energy resources, net use of fresh water, components for reuse and materials for recycling are determined within the cradle-to-grave boundary. Assessed family houses are built as a combination of conventional materials such as aerated concrete blocks, expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS) and roofing mineral wool and natural materials such as wood, cellulose, clay, straw and extensive vegetation roofs. Multi-criteria decision analysis points out that material optimization of building structures as well as the application of green technologies can ensure a considerable reduction of environmental impacts.

Hygrothermal conditions in ventilated attics with different air change rates and ceiling constructions

A recently Danish study reported that no vapour barrier is needed in ceilings, if the attic is well ventilated and the ceiling towards the dwelling is airtight. Based on that study, new investigations were initiated with focus on the hygrothermal behaviour in ventilated attics with different air change rates. A test house with three sets of four different ceiling constructions – all airtight – was used in this study. The ventilation rate was reduced in two of the sets with approx. 35 % and 50 %, respectively. Air change rates were measured with tracer gas. Furthermore, temperature and relative humidity was measured every hour. Measurements in similar ceilings with mineral wool or cellulose-based insulation material show that hygroscopic properties of the insulation have very limited effect on relative humidity. Furthermore, only at low ventilation rate the effect of a vapour barrier could be measured with minor impact. Based on the short-measured period the calculations of the risk of mould growth showed no risk. The results indicate that even when the ventilation is reduced by 50 %, the ventilated attic still performs well if the ceiling is highly airtight. However, the importance of vapour barriers becomes more important at lower air change rates.