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Naturally sourced elements represent a sustainable alternative solution for the textile finishing industry, in the context of intense use of contamined, fossil-based raw materials. This study focuses on the exploration of an alternative naturally sourced blue colorant matter solution, by validating the possibility of the employment of Spirulina platensis sourced phycocyanin in natural fabrics coloration through the pigment printing technique. The experiments involved the laboratory-scale exploratory studies of the application of this blue colorant matter on cotton and wool textile substrates, using commercial synthetic printing mother paste. The influence of five different mordants(Cream of tartar, Alum, Tartaric acid, Tanic acid and Aluminum triformate), though pre-mordanting treatment and the printing mother paste were analyzed by measuring the chromatic coordinates and calculating the color strength (K/S), together with the measurement of VIS absorbance spectrum. The color characterization revealed good compatibility of wool -phycocyanin – synthetic paste. Results on cotton were not as good as expected. They conclusions evidence reduced affinity between the fibres and the phycocyanin. In terms of color improvements, Tannic acid revealed the most promising results, for both cotton and wool experiments. The validation of the finishing process was obtained through a fair behavior in laundering fastness, showing low response when analyzed against light degrading external factors.

The innovative integration of phase change materials (PCMs) into textiles through microencapsulation presents a transformative approach to developing thermally regulated fabrics. This study explores the synthesis and characterization of microcapsules containing a coconut oil core and an ethylcellulose shell, and their application on cotton fabrics coated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers. The dual-layer system involving microcapsules and nanofibers is designed to enhance the thermal insulation properties of textiles by regulating heat through the absorption and release of thermal energy. The microencapsulation of PCMs allows for the effective incorporation of these materials into textiles without altering the fabric's inherent properties. In this study, the coconut oil serves as the PCM, known for its suitable phase change temperature range, while ethylcellulose provides a robust shell, enhancing the microcapsules' structural integrity. The application of a PVA nanofibers layer not only strengthens the thermal regulation properties but also protects the microcapsules from release while the fabric is manipulated, thereby prolonging the functional life of the fabric. Comprehensive testing, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), confirms the successful application and durability of the microcapsules on the textiles. Thermal imaging studies demonstrate the fabric's enhanced capability to maintain a consistent temperature, highlighting the potential of this technology in applications ranging from smart clothing to energy-efficient building materials or automotive isolation. The integration of PCMs in textiles via microencapsulation and nanofiber technology marks a significant advancement in textile engineering, offering new opportunities for the development of smart and sustainable materials. The study demonstrates the promising potential of integrating PCMs into textiles using microencapsulation and nanofiber technologies. Despite the initially modest insulation improvements, the methodology provides a robust foundation for further research and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, envoronmental concern is increasing and textile industry is aware of it. Circular economy are two words which are linked together and frequently used nowadays. In this report, we focus the reseach on the rice husk in order to dimish the problem rice waste generates to farmers. Rice husk was treated with some chemicals (HNO3). The extract was dried and conveniently dissolved to apply it on textile fabrics made of 100 % cotton and 100 % polyester.. The extract was dissolved on NaOH solution and applied by padding on a cotton and polyester fabric at different concentrations. The dried extract was analysed by FTIR and both the extract and fabrics were observed by FESEM-EDX to detect the presence of some particles Results evidence the presence of some particles on the fibres, despite having applied low concentrations FTIR is sensitive enough to detect its presence on fibers. It was expected to observe Si from the extract but FESEM-EDX could not appreciate it. Once the treatment was applied on the fabric yellowing was observed but also water repellence thus with the FTIR spectrum gives the idea that the extract was mainly comprised of lignin. Further studies will be conducted in order to spcecify the new properties conferred to the textiles.

Graphene is a recently discovered material that has attracted a great deal of attention in numerous fields, from electronics to textiles, including medicine and energy harvesting. Its use confers interesting properties to conventional textile substrates, providing them with great versatility and the opportunity to explore new areas and applications beyond their common uses. Despite the many properties it shows, it also faces some challenges regarding critical issues such as its stability throughout the procedures the textile is subjected to, such as rubbing, ironing or washing. In this study, the washing fastness of a cellulosic textile substrate to which a printing paste containing graphene had previously been applied was evaluated. After evaluating the behaviour of the samples after the washings by means of chromatic coordinates and the ISO 105:C06 Color fastness to domestic and commercial laundering, it came to our attention the deficient behaviour of the graphene regarding washing fastness. In order to improve it, a heat treatment was applied, which led to a significant increase of washing fastness behaviour of the samples with graphene printing, compared to non-treated samples. In this research, an efficient and affordable method to improve graphene’s stability onto cellulosic textile substrates that can be carried out with common laboratory equipment is provided.

Noise is frequently unnoticed, but it is one of the causes of unhealth for human beings reducing people’s quality of life. There are many materials that can be considered as acoustic absorbents. Textiles can be used to both improve the acoustic quality of and to decorate the room where they have been placed. In this study, we used some fabrics with 15, 20 and 30 ends/cm and 15, 20 and 30 picks/cm. The acoustic absorption coefficient was measured when the fabric was added as a resistive layer on top of a nonwoven made of polyester fiber. Results evidence that these fabrics can be efficiently used to modify the acoustic absorption of the nonwoven. Sound absorption coefficients measured via the impedance tube method show that these modifications occur. The results show how it is possible to improve the acoustic characteristics of a simple nonwoven to obtain sound absorption coefficients close to values of 1 at different frequencies by choosing a fabric with the appropriate combination of warp and weft count.

Phase change materials (PCM) are very useful in many fields due to their capacity to absorbe and release heat energy when it is necessary. In this paper it was managed to microencapsulate 100% biodegradable PCMs to apply them into textile fiber in order to regulate its temperature. The microencapsulation method used in the present work was solvent evaporation with oil-in-water emulsification. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was conducted to confirm the successful microencapsulation. Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) was used to evaluate thermal properties of the core material and also efficience of the microencapsulation. Coconut oil and bee wax were used as PCM due to their melting point (Coconut oil - 23°C, Beeswax – 60°C) and, Polylactide (PLA) and Ethyl cellulose (EC) as shell materials because of their biodegradable nature. The microPCMs were applied onto the non-woven PLA with the help of a binder which in this case was calcium alginate and chitosan and then it was confirmed by SEM the microcapsules were inside the fabric and stick them to it. The thermal regulating properties of modified textiles were investigated by an IR camera. The results obtained from thermal analysis of samples showed that the temperature of the unmodified sample decreases faster than the modified sample.

Noise is an important concern nowadays. Thermal regulation is also an interesting issue which can be partially solved or improved by textiles. Thermal and acoustic conditioning of rooms can be achieved bymeans of different materials. Fibrous textile materials can be used for both purposes. In this work, PCM micro-capsules are applied by flat printing method on a jute fabric which is used as a resistive layer of a fibrous composite. PCM thermal properties on fabrics have been widely reported. However, The variations on acoustic isolation have not been reported nowadays.The aim of this study is to determine whether there is any alteration due to the preence of PCM on a textile surfece. The sound absorption coefficient of the obtained samples is measured using a standing wave tube. Results show that the application of these micro-capsules boosts the sound absorption coefficient of the composite material, and that the temperature does not affect to this characteristic. In this work we domonstrate that PCM presence improves the acoustic response of the system and it is not anly due to the presence of a binder but also improves whan PCM have been applied. Apparantly there is no differennce on the behaviour depending on the temperature what evidences a change in the phase is not latering the acoustic response.

This paper presents a comprehensive study on a novel ultrasound-assisted extraction process for Rosa canina, utilizing both dry and fresh fruits, and explores the potential application of Rosa canina extraction as a natural dye and functional agent for cotton fabrics. The ultrasound-assisted extraction employed different solvents, including distilled water, methanol, and a water/methanol mixture (50/50% v/v), conducted at 60 °C for 60 min. The extracted compounds were characterized through ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet spectroscopy (HPLC-UV) analysis to assess the chemical composition. Textile applications were then performed using bio-mordant chitosan in a pre-mordanting process, and the treated cotton fabrics underwent analysis for surface chemistry and chemical composition using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Untreated and treated fabrics, both with and without mordant, were evaluated for their UV protection and antibacterial properties. Color measurements and dyeability properties of the extractions were also assessed. Furthermore, waste solutions from textile applications were analyzed by UV-Vis spectroscopy to investigate the potential transfer of active compounds to the fabrics. Results indicate that Rosa canina, as a plant-based extract, holds significant potential for sustainable dyeing and functional finishing of cotton fabrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan is a biopolymer obtained from chitin, and among their most important aspects highlights its applications in a lot of industrial sectors due to its intrinsic properties, especially in the textile sector. In the last years, chitosan is widely used in the cotton and wool finishing processes due to its bond between them and its properties as an antifungical and antimicrobial properties. In this paper three different molecular weight chitosan are used in the finishing process of cotton to evaluate its influence in the surface properties modification. In order to evaluate the effect of the treatment with chitosan, flexural stiffness test is performed in warp and weft direction, and then the total value is calculated. The cotton fabric is treated with 5 g/L of different types of chitosan in an impregnation bath. This study shows the extent of surface properties modification of the cotton provided by three types of chitosan treatment. The results show that all types of chitosan modify the cotton flexural rigidity properties but the one which modifies it in a relevant manner is chitosan originated from shrimps. Chitosan, textile, flexural stiffnes, chitin, cotton.

Natural dyes derived from flora and fauna are believed to be safe because of non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and biodegradable nature. Furthermore, natural dyes do not cause pollution and waste water problems. Natural dyes as well as synthetic dyes need the optimum parameters to get a good dyeing. On some occasions, It is necessary the use of mordants to increase the affinity between cellulose fiber and natural dye, but there are other conditions to optimize in the dyeing process, like time, temperature, auxiliary porducts, etc. In addition, the optimum conditions are different depends on the type of dye and the fiber nature. The aim of this work is the use of carrot extract to dye cotton fabric by exhaustion at diverse dyeing conditions. Diffferent dyeing processes were carried out to study the effect of pH condition and the temperature, using 7, 6 and 4 pH values and 95 ºC and 130ºC for an hour. As a result some images of dyed samples are shown. Moreover, to evaluate the colour of each sample CIELAB parameters are analysed obtained by reflexion spectrophotometre. The results showed that the temperature used has an important influence on the colour of the dyed sample.

Posidonia oceanica is the most extended sea grass in the Mediterranean Sea. Important quantities of this alga are accumulated on coasts making necessary the cleaninness of those beaches where it can be found. For this reason, many authors are developmenting new products made by this raw material, like green composites or are studing this material to be used as biomass, for example. The aim of this study is to dye the Posidonia Oceanica fiber using commercial natural dye to change their appearance to get a material more attractive for different areas. To achieve this aim, fibers were scoured and bleached in order to remove the brown colour of the Posidonia Oceanica fibers. Scoured and bleached processes were followed by the treatment done for cellulosic fibers, because some researches indicate that P. Oceanica is composed of high quantity of cellulose. Different types of biomordants were use in the pre-treatment of the fiber to improve the affinity between the fiber and the dye used. To compare the results, we evaluate the colour of each sample using CIELAB parameters and colour differences (ΔE*), which are obtained by reflexion spectrophotometre. The results showed that medium molecular weight chitosan, which was used as biomordant, gets the highest intensity of colour

Wool surface comprehends numerous scales which are responsible of certain undesirable behavior of this fiber during its use and maintenance. One of the most significant issues is related to shrinkage, caused during washing, as a consequence of friction between the fibers. Chemical modification of wool is considered a useful option to avoid these kind of circumstances. During the last years, multiple alternatives for chemical modification of wool have been studied, comprising enzymes or acids amongst others. In this case of study, three different treatments were carried out in order to evaluate wool morphological appearance. The first treatment was an oxidative procedure, containing Basolan DC and sodium acetate as the main components. The second treatment was accomplished using Lanaperm VPO, a commercial finishing agent for wool fiber that claims to soften its surface. The third finishing process was performed employing Siligen FA, a commercial agent intended to act as an antimigrant for dye baths and also provide a smoother and regular surface. After said treatments, microphotographs of all treated and untreated fibers were taken so that a comparison between final appearance could be done. Analyzing results and conclusions, it can be stated that chemical modification of fiber does change its surface appearance and, consequently, its behaviour. Oxidation, Lanaperm, Siligen, wool cuticle, scales

Knitting fabrics are characterized by the confort they confer on the wearer. Textiles with mcirocpsules are bocoming more popular and nowadays Phase Change Materials (PCM) are used for thermal control and to avoid temperature changes to be clearly noticeable. Consequently, they can control variations in temerpature and make the user feel more confortable. Washing durability and rigidity are very important when considering fabrics treated with microencapsules. In this study we first aimed to study what influence has the resin concentration with the durability of microencapsules on the fabric after having washed it and its confort. To observe the presence of microcapsules after washing procedure the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used. SEM analysis showed different density of microcapsules with PCMs depending on the binder concentration used. It could be clearly noticieable that 5times washed fabric and 10times washed fabric still show microacapsules on it. On the other hand we used padding method for the application of PCMs into the fabris and this study put forth the binder effect on rigidity. We have demonstrated that when we increase the binder concentration for padding bath, after 10th laundry cycles for the same fabric, we still have microcalsules on it. On the other hand, density of binder effect negatively influences on rigidity of the fabric.

PCM’s need some important properties to have use such as high heat storage capacity, easy availability and low cost and can have different effects such as flavour, softness or exchange of heat. They are put inside of microcapsules, so they can be inbedded inside the strain, otherwise it wouldn’t be so effective. So basically the microcapsules consist of a core that’s the PCM and a polymer shell. This shell needs to be strong enough to hold the PCM and also withstand up to a certain level of heat and mechanical damage. This study investigates the tensile strength of fabrics composed by fibres, some of these fibres have benn inbedded phase change microcapsules (PCM’s). The investigated fabrics are divided by composition and by structure. By knitting the fabrics in different structures you could be able to investigate which knitting way could be the most effective to have a high tensile strength. Tensile strength tests are performed on specimens with different structures but also with different compositions which could indicate that some strains are tougher then others and more specifically if the PCM’s have a different effect on them.

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