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Carbon fibre (CF) is widely used in CF reinforced plastic (CFRP) components. However, waste CF, CFRP and the end-of-life (EOL) CFRP structures will cause an even bigger problem in the next years because of strict environmental regulations. Currently, recycling is carried out almost entirely by the use of pyrolysis to regain CF as a valuable resource. This high temperature process is very energy consuming and the resulting fibres are brittle. Hence, not suitable for textile processing into yarns or fabrics. To enable a grave to cradle circle, a new approach based on a solvolytic recovery of CF and the subsequent spinning process to obtain a hybrid yarn suitable for weft knitting processing is the focus of the international research project IGF/CORNET 256EBR “3D-r-CFRP”.

The local structure of cellulose, dissolved in the frequently used ionic liquid EMIm-OAc, is modelled by a coaxial double layer cylinder. The cylinder’s core consists of a cellulose chain while the sheath is formed by a solvent layer with lower electron density than the bulk solvent. We studied 2% cellulose solutions in EMIm-OAc and their behavior upon addition of increasing amounts of water. At this cellulose concentration, 15 wt% of water induced the precipitation of cellulose. Water molecules did not form an independent phase, but were bound to EMIm-OAc in the cellulose/water/EMIm-OAc solution. The conformational of a cellulose chain changes by adding water into the solution, and the square of the apparent cross-sectional radius of gyration of the cellulose chain becomes zero to negative. This phenomenon is explained by the formation of a solvation shell with lower electron density than the bulk solvent around the cellulose chain.

Although cellulose is the oldest macromolecule we have known, its intrinsic properties are still not well understood because of the lack of suitable solvents. The recent development of ionic liquids enables preparation of cellulose solutions in which cellulose molecules are supposed to be dispersed molecularly. Conventionally a semi-flexible-chain model or a worm-like chain model has been applied to describe the dilute solution properties of cellulose. A semi-flexible chain model is specified in terms of a persistent length to determine the chain stiffness of a solute molecule, completely neglecting details of the solvent–solute interaction, and the discussion is mainly focusing on the conformation of a solute molecule. In this paper we adapt a cylinder model which at least specifies the local shape of a solute molecule. Since the ionic liquids are now available as a new solvent of cellulose, we have prepared cellulose/ionic liquid solutions for small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements which provide information on the local structure of cellulose molecules in the restricted range. The SAXS measurements were performed on the cellulose/ionic liquid solutions at two independent synchrotron facilities and confirmed the consistency of the observed scattering profile. Standard methods were applied to analyze the scattered data first, and afforded a model for representing a cellulose molecule in ionic liquid solutions. Two types of ionic liquids were used, and it was ascertained that cellulose was not degraded under the conditions used. The solution characteristic was found to change by heating during the preparation of each solution. The heating effect on the conformational change of cellulose was discussed in terms of the solute–solvent interaction from the simulation with a coaxial double layer cylinder model. The state of solvent packing was considered as well from the thickness and relative electron density of the sheath in the simulated coaxial double layer cylinder model.

The perception on clothing of elderly female were compared with that of youth, especially focusing on the sense of cool. The information were collected through the questionnaires given to the groups of elderly females in their 60, 70, and 80s and also to the female in their 20s for a comparison. In terms of the color taste, opinions and feelings about clothes, the sense of “cool” seems to be received in a different way between the youth and the elderly. However, when their lifestyle (behavior and information sources) were concerned, the perception of the 60s was closer to 20s. The 70 and 80s were divided by two groups. It could be by the sensitivity to information.

General principles of electromagnetic wave scattering are sum-marized, with emphasis laid on small-angle X-ray scattering. Theconventional analysis of scattering data is based on the various waysof plotting the data according to the simple model approximation. Inorder to avoid the artifact due to the simple model approximation,the analysis of the scattering data is performed by either adaptinga triaxial model of homogeneous density distribution, a molecularmodel, or a density distribution function.

The performance of a ventilated mattress (VM) used as a bed-integrated local exhaust ventilation system combined with air cleaning fabric (acid-treated activated carbon fibre (ACF) fabric) was developed and studied. The separate and combined effect of the VM and the local air cleaning for reducing the exposure to body generated bio-effluents in a hospital room was determined. Full-scale experiments were conducted in a climate chamber furnished as a single-bed patient room. Two heated dummies were used to simulate a patient and a doctor in the room. The patient was lying on a bed equipped with the VM. The patient's body was covered with either a cotton sheet or with the ACF material used as a blanket. Ammonia gas released from the patient's groins simulated the body generated bio-effluents. At the location of the groins the surface area of the VM was perforated through which the contaminated air of the bed micro-environment was exhausted. Two modes of operation were studied: 1) the exhausted polluted air was discharged out of the room and 2) the polluted air was cleaned by the ACF material installed inside the mattress and recirculated back into the room. Both modes of operation efficiently reduced the generated bio-effluents in the room with about 70%. Reduction in the exposure to body-emitted ammonia was up to 96% when the VM was operated at only 1.5 L/s and the ACF was used as a blanket.