Projects / Programmes
January 1, 2004
- December 31, 2008
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.14.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Textile and leather |
|
| 1.08.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Control and care of the environment |
|
| 5.12.00 |
Social sciences |
Architecture and Design |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T470 |
Technological sciences |
Textiles technology |
| T390 |
Technological sciences |
Polymer technology, biopolymers |
| T152 |
Technological sciences |
Composite materials |
| T270 |
Technological sciences |
Environmental technology, pollution control |
fiber polymers, composites, multifunctional materials, technical textiles, new applied processes, mechanical and chemical textile processes, ecology
Researchers (21)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The research programme Textiles and Ecology represents a continuation of the researches in the field of fibrous polymer structures with upgrade in construction, projecting, and finishing of textiles and composites. A fundamental part of the researches will mostly support applicable and developmental researches, also those, which take place within the frame of research projects. Against minimal funding of the researches on programme this is the only way for the development of profession, which expects help at the development of new multifunctional materials and at the enforcement of less opposable technologies for enforcing on the foreign markets. The researches will contribute to the spreading of knowledge on postgraduate courses of study that will be based on trilateral connection professor researcher - postgraduate student researcher - researcher from economy. The research of morphology, molecular, supermolecular, micromorphological, macromorphological structure, and properties of textile and technical fibres during plastic deformation and structural forming will be a basic goal of the improvement of knowledge about impact of different structural levels (molecular - 1 nm, supermolecular - 10 nm, micromorphological - 100 nm, macromorphological - 1000 nm) and their development and influence on fibre properties. At technological planning, a spectrophotometer is a useful method for planning particularly demanding Jacquard samples. Because constructional factors, which have influence on the final appearance of the flat textiles, still aren't known, a goal of research is to develop an algorithm for the prediction of colour values using known constructional factors and known colour values of the yarn used. More and more intense radiation of short-wave rays is becoming a serious problem for humankind because of ozone layer thinning . Textiles can be a good protection against harmful impact of UV A and UV B rays of solar radiation. All textiles are not suitable filters for UV rays. We intend to investigate various influence, e. g. textile construction, openness of surface, and influence of finishing processes on UV transmission of textiles. A possibility for UZF enlargement of thin cotton fabric will be examined. These fabrics are very useful for summer clothes, but offer no UV protection and in this respect represent an unsolved problem. This field of the research represents one possibility for the development of multifunctional products with higher added value. Our economy should also take an advantage of this possibility for easier enforcing on the foreign markets.
The theoretical researches of chemical - physical processes in aqueous solutions and on the fibre surface, research methods like liquid chromatography analysis of the condition of reactive dyes during dyeing process, gel chromatography analysis for detection of low - molecular fractions, study of interaction dye - surfactant (tensid) in dye solutions, study of thermodynamics and kinetics of textile wetting process, and study of influence of finishing agents on the modification of fibrous polymers will contribute to more rational and ecologically supported execution of finishing process, what economy expects from researchers today.
Significance for science
The 2004-2008 research program included five work packages: 1. Electroconductive composites Studying morphological and structural properties of textiles and technical fibres during plastic deformation leads to new material development. We developed electroconductive composites made of microporous polyethylene and polyvinylfluoride foils, including polypyrolle and polyanaline. These composites are both theoretically and practically important. 2. Technological planning for textiles We worked on the synergetic development of numerous aspects of computer technology (appropriate simulations of fabric surfaces), colour measurement (automatic multicolour shading using a limited number of yarn colours) and algorithms (automatic generation of samples according to buyer specifications) to rationalize production costs and create fast fits, competitive production in small series and effective marketing. 3. Textile auxiliary agent-fibre interactions, multifunctionality of textiles Textile modification using chemical finishes based on sol-gel technology is a new technological approach in the production and finishing of textile materials. This method can be used to create natural and synthetic fibres with multifunctional properties. It was essential to introduce nanotechnology and other new methods of textile functionalisation to further develop textile science. Our work contributed to the development of nano-compound/particle chemical application processes, and to an understanding of the relationships between nanodispersion properties and fibre modifications. An important area of our work focused on the influences of different factors on the ultraviolet protective properties of lightweight textiles. We investigated the effects of reactive and disperse dyes, natural pigment in cotton, processing phases of textiles and multiple layers of textiles on UVA and UVB ray transmission through fabrics and on the calculated ultraviolet protective factor (UPF). Our findings are applicable to multifunctional textile production. 4. Fibre treatment procedures New treatment procedures were tested during many phases of textile finishing. High performance liquid chromatography helped examine the use of reactive dyes during dyeing procedures. Our results suggest many possibilities for economically and ecologically improving dyeing procedures. Dip-dyeing takes less time when sodium oxide silicium oxide is added to the dye-bath. Indigo dye remains in crystallographic form B, but its morphology changes on the surface of cotton fibres. Using the basic approach of gel permeation chromatography, we researched the migration of oligomers from polyester fibres during high temperature (HT) dyeing procedures. By comparing extracted oligomers, we concluded that regular polyester heat stabilization processes lead to lower oligomer migrations (white dust) during HT dyeing procedures. Cotton fibres pre-treated with enzymes and peroxyacetic acid required lower water and energy consumption and shorter treatment times. 5. Physicochemical processes in aqueous solutions of dye and surfactant We studied aqueous solution-based intermolecular interactions between a dye and two surfactants with different ionic activity and concentrations. This research contributed to an understanding of the physicochemical phenomena, processes and mechanisms in finishing baths. Our results have been published in scientific papers and have already been cited.
Significance for the country
Research into the morphological and structural properties of fibres has led to the improvement of technological processes and to the development of new material with optimal properties. One example is the development of electroconductive composites from microporous membranes of polyethylene and polyvinylidenfluoride with polypyrrole and polyaniline. The finding that electrical conductivity is a function of the morphology of the supporting layer of polyethylene or polyvinylidenfluoride, i.e. the orientation of their microfibrous structure, is also of importance to the development of composites based on conducting nanoparticles. Research into the technological planning of textiles is of particular importance to Slovenia. Given that Slovenia contributes to the global storehouse of knowledge via CAD system, and that Slovenian fabric manufacturers are equipped with this system, there is a real possibility of the system being used alongside existing electronically controlled machinery for the successful application of the principle of mass customisation at small businesses and large enterprises alike. Our research is based on the additional determination of the physical properties of textiles, which is of key importance in the design of textiles for technical purposes. The development of multifunctional textiles is one of the objectives of the research programme. The research into the effect of various factors on the protective properties of lightweight textiles against ultraviolet radiation was conducted with the aim of being able to design such textiles. The research that was published into the effects of reactive and disperse dyes and natural pigment in cotton, the effects of textile processing phases and the effects of multiple layers of textiles on the transmission of UVA and UVB rays through the textile and thus on the ultraviolet protection factor of the textile is of use in the manufacture of lightweight textiles to protect against aggressive ultraviolet rays. A major objective of the research into the finishing of textiles was the transfer of laboratory results into new industrial processes. We also opened a new field in the application of nano substances to achieve anti-microbial effects, which is in its infancy in the textile industry. We applied our fundamental knowledge in a targeted research project to develop protective clothing for military uniforms. In research aimed at making finishing processes more efficient, we addressed several major problems in textile finishing practice. We succeeded in resolving a problem by eliminating oligomers (a large quantity of white powder) in the high-temperature dyeing of cheap polyesters (patent, University of Ljubljana with Velana d.d.). We optimised the dyeing process by introducing new bifunctional dyes, and researched the possibility of using simple reactive dyes more economically. Research into the dip-dyeing of material for jeans yielded an economic benefit by replacing expensive indigo with cheap sodium oxide silicium oxide and shortening the dip-dyeing process. Lower water and energy consumption and shorter processing time were the achievements brought by the pre-treatment of cotton fibres with enzymes and peroxyacetic acid. Basic research into physical and chemical processes in aqueous solutions of dyes and surfactants is of particular importance in the realisation of multifunctionality and in the optimisation of finishing processes. Basic research is also important to Slovenia for reason of its integration with the rest of the world and its standing as a country of scientific relevance.
Most important scientific results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
