Microplastics have become one of the most serious environmental hazards today, raising fears that concentrations will continue to rise even further in the near future. Micro/nanoparticles are formed ...when plastic breaks down into tiny fragments due to mechanical or photochemical processes. Microplastics are everywhere, and they have a strong tendency to interact with the ecosystem, putting biogenic fauna and flora at risk. Polyester (PET) and polyamide (PA) are two of the most important synthetic fibres, accounting for about 60% of the total world fibre production. Synthetic fabrics are now widely used for clothing, carpets, and a variety of other products. During the manufacturing or cleaning process, synthetic textiles have the potential to release microplastics into the environment. The focus of this paper is to explore the main potential sources of microplastic pollution in the environment, providing an overview of washable polyester materials.
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Proban® is a multiphase treatment of cotton fabrics based on the formation of pre-condensates using the flame retardant (FR) agent tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium salts (THPx). The assessment of ...the durability of a product demands a preliminary understanding of how relevant it is to extend its lifetime. It is therefore important to minimize the risk of agents impacting: (1) the protection level, (2) shape and dimensions, and (3) additional comfort characteristics of the fabric. This research focused on the impact of washing conditions on the durability of FR properties and appearance of Proban® cotton fabrics, which was systematically arranged through the variation in the chemistry distribution in the Sinner’s circle. The chemical share was varied in laboratory conditions as a simulation of industrial washing based on component dosing, where the temperature, time and mechanical agitation were constant. The washing of cotton fabrics was performed through 10 cycles in four baths containing high alkali components, medium alkali components, high alkali reference detergent and water. The environmental acceptability of washing procedures through effluent analysis was assessed by physico–chemical and organic indicators. The limited oxygen index (LOI), calorimetric parameters (micro combustion calorimetry), thermal stability and evolved gases during thermal decomposition (thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) coupled with an infrared spectrometer (TG–IR)), surface examination (FE-SEM), spectral characteristics and pH of the aqueous extract of the fabrics before and after 10 washing cycles were selected for proof of durability. The medium alkali bath was confirmed as a washing concept for Proban® cotton fabric through the preservation of FR properties examined through LOI, TGA, TG–IR and MCC parameters and appearance color and low level of fibrillation.
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The paper examines the influence of cotton cationization on the print quality in terms of penetration, colour yield and colour depth, which have been analysed in comparison to cotton untreated and ...pretreated with conventional acrylate binder. The process of cationization during mercerization was performed with a cationizing agent Rewin DWR (CHT Bezema). Standard (non-cationized) and cationized fabric, with and without additional layering of binder have been printed by digital inkjet pigment printing method. Moisture management testing (MMT) and dynamic contact angle measurement (drop shape analyzer-DSA30S) were performed on standard and cationized fabric, with and without binder, both with and without pigment layer. After printing, the objective values of colour depth (K/S) and colour parameters L*, C* and h° were analysed. The samples were also analysed by the method of microscopic imaging using a DinoLite microscope. Printed samples were tested to washing fastness, and the results are presented in terms of total colour difference (dECMC), according to CMC(l:c) equation, after the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 10th washing cycles. Results showed that the cotton cationization will improve the uniformity and coverage of the printed area as well as increase the K/S value. For the samples with binder, the positive effect of cationization on the stability and bond strength between the polymer layer as a pigment carrier with the cotton fabric was confirmed.
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A contamination on a textile material is defined as an undesirable, local formation that deviates in appearance from the rest of the material. In this paper the relationship between the shape and ...surface of liquid contaminations and the firmness factor of woven fabric is investigated. The interdependence of constructional and structural parameters of raw and bleached cotton fabrics were analysed. The results show that selected contaminations are distributed differently, primarily depending on the construction characteristics of the fabric, type of contamination and hydrophilicity of cotton fabric.
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From the textile manufacturers’ point of view, coarse and medullated fibers are undesirable in the production of fine woolen materials, but highly desirable in the production of textiles and yarns ...with special effects, especially in carpet production. For sustainability, the entire sheep fleece should be used, including the coarse and medullated fibers. The raw wool must be scoured to obtain clean wool fibers without damage or excessive fiber entanglement, with a certain moisture content, low dirt content and residual grease for further processing, and proper color. In order to remove the impurities in raw wool with maximum efficiency, save energy and minimize the environmental impact, this study investigated the changes in some fiber properties during the scouring process due to the effect of the enzyme complex on coarse wool fibers. The effects were studied through the amount of clean wool fibers and impurities within the fleece, the fiber diameter and color. Conventional and enzyme scoured coarse wool were bleached with an unconventional bleaching agent, percarbonate, and compared to bleaching with hydrogen peroxide to achieve higher whiteness and brilliant color with minimal fiber property changes. The changes after the bleaching process were determined based on the sorption of moisture and dyes and the color parameters. The bio-innovative pretreatment with enzyme complex scouring and percarbonate bleaching resulted in excellent fiber properties even for coarse wool. SEM analysis was performed to confirm these results. Taking into account the sustainability of the process and environmental protection, enzyme complex scouring and percarbonate bleaching are recommended as pretreatment processes for raw coarse wool.
An electrochemical, cationic, surfactant‐selective sensor based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) functionalized with a sulfate group and the cetylpyridinium ion (MWCNT–OSO3−CP+) as a sensing ...material was used for optimization of the formulation of a fabric softener. Potentiometric titrations were performed and response measurements were obtained using four cationic surfactants (CS) of technical grade and four CS of analytical grade. The slope closest to Nernstian was obtained for di‐(tallow carboxyethyl) hydroxyethyl methylammonium methosulfate (MAS) (59.5 ± 1.1 mV/decade of activity in water and 57.5 ± 1.3 mV/decade of activity in CaCl2). When using CS as analytes in potentiometric titrations, the best accuracy (99.8%) was obtained when using MAS; therefore, it was chosen as the CS for the fabric softener formulation. Due to the better properties of fabric softeners with silicone in their formulations, four silicones at several concentration levels were used as potential additives. Based on the stability and viscosity of the system, the diquaternary polydimethylsiloxane (DPS) (w = 0.19%) was chosen for the fabric softener formulation. The pH did not significantly influence the potential when in the range of 3–8 or the recovery of potentiometric titrations when in the range of 3–7. The application profile of the CS was assessed through streaming potential measurements of reference fabrics in an electrokinetic analyzer. The obtained electrokinetic parameters indicated on lag in adsorption of model fabric softener (MFS) based on MAS (w = 9%), with the addition of silicone DPS (MFS 3), on cotton and polyester fabrics, but advantage in stability when compared with other MFS investigated.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Chitosan is an environmentally friendly agent that is used to achieve the antimicrobial properties of textiles. Nowadays, the binding of chitosan to the textiles has been thoroughly researched due to ...the increasing demands on the stability of achieved properties during the textile care processes. Most crosslinking agents for chitosan are not safe for humans or environment, such as glutaric aldehyde (GA) and formaldehyde derivatives. Eco-friendly polycarboxyilic acids (PCAs) are usually used in after-treatment. In this work, chitosan powder was dissolved in citric acid with sodium hydrophosphite (SHP) as a catalyst. Standard cotton (CO) and polyester/cotton (PES/CO) fabrics were pretreated in 20% NaOH, similar to mercerization, in order to open the structure of the cotton fibers and hydrolyze polyester fibers, continued by finishing in the gelatin chitosan bath. Afterwards, the hot rinsing process, followed by drying and curing, closed the achieved structure. The main objective was to achieve durable antimicrobial properties to multiple maintenance cycles CO and PES/CO fabric in order to apply it in a hospital environment. The characterization of fabrics was performed after treatment, first and fifth washing cycles according ISO 6330:2012 by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), electrokinetic analysis (EKA), by the determination of tensile properties and mechanical damage (wear), and the antimicrobial activity. The application of 20% NaOH led to the swelling and mercerization of cotton cellulose, and hydrolysis of polyester, resulting in better mechanical properties. It has been confirmed that the chitosan particles were well implemented into the cotton fiber and onto to the polyester component of PES/CO blend. The presence of chitosan was confirmed after five washing cycles, but in lower quantity. However, achieved antimicrobial activity is persistent.
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In this work, the durability of chitosan functionalization of cellulosic textile substrates, cotton and cotton/polyester blended fabrics, was studied. Chitosan is a naturally occurring biopolymer ...that can be produced inexpensively. It should be dissolved in an acidic solution to activate its antimicrobial and other properties, i.e., good biocompatibility, bioabsorbability, wound healing, hemostatic, anti-infective, antibacterial, non-toxic, and adsorptive properties. The application of chitosan to textile products has been researched to achieve antimicrobial properties, but the durability, after several maintenance cycles, has not. Chitosan functionalization was carried out using maleic acid (MA) and 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) as crosslinking and chitosan-activating agents and sodium hypophosphite monohydrate as a catalyst. To determine durability, the fabrics were subjected to 10 maintenance cycles according to ISO 6330:2012 using Reference detergent 3 and drying according to Procedure F. The properties were monitored after the 3rd and 10th cycles. The crosslinking ability of chitosan with cellulosic fabrics was monitored by Fourier infrared spectrometry using the ATR technique (FTIR-ATR). Changes in mechanical properties, whiteness and yellowing, and antimicrobial properties were determined using standard methods. Compared to maleic acid, BTCA proved to be a better crosslinking agent for chitosan.
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The influence of iron ions at concentrations of 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 g/L on optical brighteners of the groups stilbene and biphenyl in solution and on cotton fabric was investigated. Both groups of ...optical brighteners are intended for detergent formulations. The influence of iron ions was studied by absorption and fluorescence spectra in solution and by whiteness degree, identifying color differences using CIEL*a*b* coordinates and Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) of cotton fabrics. The obtained results in solutions and cotton fabrics showed different behavior of optical brighteners stilbene and biphenyl in the presence of iron. Stilbene compounds with metal ions produced new species capable of absorbing in the UV-B region of the spectrum. A biphenyl compound in combination with iron had no effect on the absorption properties. Both optical brighteners were influenced by iron ions in the sense of fluorescence quenching. The influence of iron ions in single- and two-bath treatments of cotton fabrics after one cycle on whiteness degree and UPF was negligible.
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Bleached cotton and polyester/cotton blend fabrics were laundered at 60°C and 90°C with standard ECE detergent with addition of selected fluorescent compounds through 10 cycles. As fluorescent ...whitening agents for cellulosic materials are most often used in detergents, two types of these were selected – stilbene and biphenyl. UV absorber, a stilbene derivative, as a separate type of fluorescent compounds, was added on its own and in a combination with both types of fluorescent whitening agents. After each laundering cycle cotton and PES/cotton blend fabrics were exposed to artificial light for 60 and 180 minutes. Obtained optical and protective effects were monitored through whiteness degree, remission and Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF). Optical effects of cotton fabrics laundered in a detergent containing fluorescent whitening agents of stilbene and biphenyl type exhibit considerable sensitivity to light. It was not found that irradiation reduces the UPF meaning that even decomposition products of fluorescent compounds, created by irradiation, absorb UV radiation as well.
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