AATCC Journal of Research

In this study, recycling of solid textile wastes into activated carbon and the potential use of these activated carbons in color removal were investigated. Cotton and cotton/polyester-blended fabric wastes and textile wastewater treatment sludge were selected as solid textile wastes. A two-stage method, low temperature carbonization, and chemical activation with ZnCl₂ were applied to prepare large surface area and rich-pore structure activated carbon from fabric wastes and sludge in textile industry. The activated carbons were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescent, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis. The reactive dye (Reactive Red 141) adsorption capacity of the activated carbons was investigated by the batch adsorption method. Activated carbon yields were found in the range of 28–34%. Cotton textile waste-based activated carbons were found to have the highest surface area (~1380 m²/g), followed by cotton/polyester and wastewater treatment sludge-based activated carbons. Wastewater treatment sludge-based activated carbons showed the highest dye adsorption capacity (161.29 mg/g), possibly due to its higher mesoporosity. The obtained results showed that the adsorption of the reactive dye onto textile waste-based activated carbons produced by two-step process is favorable. The developed activated carbons fit the circular economy approach well, offering a promising potential for solid textile waste management, as well as for water remediation.

A mixture of minerals consisting of calcite, dolomite, talc and quartz, known to have infrared (IR) reflecting properties, was mechanically treated and dispersed in aqueous medium and incorporated in viscose solution to be physically entrapped into the fibre structure. The process of incorporation of the mineral mixture in viscose dope involved steps of slurry making by suspending and grinding the particles in aqueous medium followed by mixing the slurry with the viscose dope, ready for spinning. The slurry preparation and grinding were carried out under different mechanical conditions, such as ball milling and ultrasonication. The evaluation of particle size of slurry was carried out under two pH conditions, first at the inherent pH (neutral pH 7) and at high pH (alkaline pH 13) equivalent to the pH of viscose dope. Furthermore, for stable slurry making, different surfactants were used. The phosphate ether-based anionic surfactant was found to effectively stabilize the dispersion better under the pH conditions used. The effect of stable slurry on good spinning was validated through an inline pressure gauge during viscose fibre spinning. To assess the IR reflecting property of viscose fibre, a direct visual evaluation was done through an IR camera, which indicated a significant increase of ~2°C surface temperature of the IR-Viscose Staple Fibre (VSF) in comparison with control VSF.

This preliminary research discusses the extraction of colorants from pumpkin peel as vegetable dyes and the potential dyeing capability of silk and cotton fabrics. For pumpkin extracts, thermal gravity analysis has verified the range of temperature for application, while a combination of UV–vis spectra and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis confirmed the main colored components and structural characteristics. It was found that the extracts of this vegetable dye have excellent thermal stability as well as stability in neutral and acid conditions. With the objective of achieving the greatest absorbency rate of extracted solution, the following optimum extraction conditions were obtained: 100% ethanol, an extraction temperature of 70°C, an extraction time of 60 min, and a material-to-liquor ratio of 1:10. To attain the highest dyeing uptake rate and K/S values, the optimum dyeing profiles with meta-mordanting for silk fabrics were found to be 95°C, 90 min, pH 5.5, and a liquid ratio of 1:60. The optimum dyeing profiles with meta-mordanting for cotton fabrics were 95°C, 90 min, and a liquid ratio of 1:60. Nearly all colorfastness results for silk and cotton fabrics met the basic requirement of the China National Standard, except a few.

There has been much effort to provide eco-friendly and biodegradable materials for the next generation of composite products owing to global environmental concerns and increased awareness of renewable green resources. Increased use of natural materials in composites has led to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon footprint of composites. In addition to the benefits obtained from green materials, there are some challenges in working with them, such as poor compatibility between the reinforcing natural fiber and matrix and the relatively high moisture absorption of natural fibers. Green composites can be a suitable alternative for petroleum-based materials. However, before this can be accomplished, a number of issues need to be addressed, including poor interfacial adhesion between the matrix and natural fibers, moisture absorption, poor fire resistance, low impact strength, and less durability. Several researchers have studied the properties of natural fiber composites. These investigations have resulted in developing several procedures for modifying natural fibers and resins. To address the increasing demand to use eco-friendly materials in different applications, an up-to-date review of natural fiber and resin types and sources, modification, and processing techniques, physical and mechanical behaviors, applications, life-cycle assessment, and other properties of green composites is required to provide a better understanding of the behavior of green composites.

This research aims to reinforce the hand-feeling and washing fastness of anti-pilling and antistatic cashmere textiles based on a traditional “addition” technique. The technical proposal that effectively controls the distribution of polymer on cashmere textiles, based on foaming micro-coating technology, is studied and compared to prevent the superabundant polymer being fixed in the gaps between yarns/fibers and to ensure the graphene is semi-embedded in the membrane of “Table coating.” A couple of flexible hydrophilic anionic polyurethanes are used in micro-coating processing of cashmere purposefully. The effects of different coating technique on pilling, static, anti-ultraviolet, and washing resistance of coated cashmere textiles are studied. The results show that the semi-embedded graphene in the table coating membrane is meaningful to the static resistance. The pilling resistance of cashmere textile covered by polymer membranes is enhanced from grade 1–2 to grade 4–5 when the weight gain rate of “Bottom coating” polyurethane reaches 1.5% (o.w.f.), and its static voltage half-life decreases from 170 s to less than 2 s. In addition, the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) value of coated cashmere is doubled, and anti-pilling and anti-static effects can withstand five washings.

In order to enhance the shrink-resistant properties of wool to achieve a machine washable effect, the effect of water-soluble polyurethane polymer on a worsted wool fabric which was modified by liquid ammonia and protease was investigated. The worsted wool fabric was pretreated by a continuous liquid ammonia finishing machine and then treated by protease, followed by polyurethane nano-emulsion coating. The results showed that, after liquid ammonia and protease treatment, the surface scales of wool were seriously damaged, even partly peeling off, and the disulfide bond content of the wool decreased while the active group content of the wool increased. Furthermore, after polyurethane finishing, the surface scale and the gap between the scales were covered with a thin film, and the area shrinkage reached 3.1% when the concentration of polyurethane was 20 g/L, showing an effective improvement in the shrink resistance of the worsted fabric. As far as our knowledge goes, this is a systematic report on the synergistic effect of liquid ammonia, protease, and polyurethane on the shrink resistance of wool fiber, and provides a new method for the commercial application of shrink-resistant finishing of wool fabric.