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The article presents a study which analyzes the frictional characteristics of cotton-based nonwoven fabrics. In both conventional and unconventional textile fabric, the quality and the performance of the product is determined by friction. In the discussed study, sliding friction apparatus is used to compare the frictional property of different cotton-based nonwoven fabrics. The results show that carded composite nonwoven material had the highest friction factor value, while airlaced wipes had the lowest friction factor. Cotton surfaced nonwoven had greater friction factor in comparison to the airlaced web.

The article presents a research that investigates the effects of cellulase enzymes on the mechanical surface properties of fabrics in Lubbock, Texas. Researchers treated these fabrics and evaluated their frictional properties using the equation F/A = C(N/A)n, wherein F is the friction force, A is the apparent contact area, N is the normal applied load and n is the material parameter. They discovered that the applying cellulase enzyme on cotton fabrics have positive effects on their surface characteristics by enhancing the smoothness of cotton fabrics.

The article highlights the research on the significance of friction to the hand of fabrics in the U.S. The study shows that fabrics can be characterize for their hand-related properties using sliding frictional force and extraction force. It notes that friction and hand properties are influenced with weight, structure and finishing treatments. It emphasizes that hand and frictional forces are higher when the fabric is heavier. It suggests that further study is required to establish the two methods as standard test methods for hand evaluation.

This section presents an abstract of the research "Non-particulate Protective Fabrics: New Insight on the Protection/Adsorption Mechanism" conducted by Lohit Shastri et al. This research provides the outcome on the adsorption of a chemical agent stimulant solutions such as pinacolyl methyl phosphonate by activated carbon nonwoven fabrics varying in their precursor materials and surface area. The outcome identify that the Thermo-gravimetric analyzer which is conventionally used for chemical composition assessment and oxidation behavior, when used in this setting, is an efficient analytical device for quantifying the adsorption characteristics such as the saturation time and adsorption capacity.

The article describes the development of leather clad ballistic proof fabric composite. The need for multifunctional lightweight ballistic protective fabrics has grown in significance with the global scenario in 2004. A novel methodology has been followed to develop leather based antiballistic composite fabric. The H1 technology needlepunching nonwoven machinery has been effectively used to develop next-to-skin nonwoven or antiballistic composite. The Institute of Environmental and Human Health at Texas Tech University is the first facility in the U.S. to house the modern needlepunching machinery. Apparel grade bovine leather has been used as the outer layer for the novel antiballistic composite. The antiballistic properties were achieved with the help of high-density polyethylene filament fabrics. The composite imparts the necessary next-to-skin comfort properties due to the nonwoven layer. The top leather layer provides the overall fit and abrasion resistance. The antiballistic layers provide the necessary countermeasures against ballistics. The leather component adds to the total strength and more particularly to the abrasion resistance of the total composite. The crux of the work is to develop an antiballistic composite material that can offer protection at Level IIA protection level. Level IIA is the protection that is characteristic of soft body armor.

An abstract of the article "Engineering Cotton Fibers for Functional Fabrics and Enhanced Breathability" is presented.

The article discusses a study which investigated the influence of cotton varieties with varying breeding backgrounds on the breathability of knitted fabrics made from them. One of the inherent characteristics of cotton which contributes to its popularity is its comfort characteristics. Comfort refers to the physiological comfort such as the water vapor permeability (WVP) often commonly referred to as breathability. However, any further treatment to the knitted fabrics was thought to interfere with the study on the understanding of varietal influence on WVP values.

The article discusses a research whose objective is to fabricate a novel nanocomposite material having higher efficiency in detoxifying chemical warfare agents, organophosphorous compounds and other toxic substances. One of the well established experimental methods to produce fibers at the nano-scale range is the electrospinning process. Researchers have been using nanocrystalline metal oxides to achieve the desired properties of nanocomposite materials. Several other functional nanoparticles have been also used to fabricate nanofibers that serve as fire retardant materials.

The current global apparel trade requires a standardized and simple fabric quality evaluation method. Although the Kawabata Evaluation System for Fabrics and the Fabric Assurance by Simple Testing methods are acknowledged fabric hand and performance evaluation methods, their accessibility and affordability are limited. A simple friction-based method was developed to quantify fabric attributes such as surface roughness and softness using a single parameter. This parameter takes into account viscoelasticity and other inherent material characteristics. Results showed the coefficient of friction, μ, is not a logical measure. The coefficient decreased as applied loads increased, indicating that the use of the composite factor, R is an objective measure to quantify surface smoothness and softness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information about the study "Fundamental Studies on the Performance of H1 Needlepunching Technology and Properties of Nonwoven Substrates." The study was presented at the 2003 Beltwide Cotton Conferences which were organized in Nashville, Tennessee from January 6-10, 2003. Previous studies have revealed that needlepunching technology can be used to develop a variety of nonwoven substrates from natural and synthetic fibers. The current study looked into the properties of a set of cotton/polyester blended H1 nonwoven substrates.