Ramia Almohamad, Jean-Yves Drean, Laurence Peschel
et al.
This study evaluates the textile potential of five underexplored Agave varieties (<i>Agave salmiana crassispina</i>, <i>A. salmiana salmiana</i>, <i>A. ingens marginata</i>, <i>A. tecta</i>, and <i>A. mapisaga</i>) through combined analyses of extraction behaviour, microstructure, and single-fibre mechanical performance. Fibres extracted from basal, middle, and upper leaf sections were characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and single-fibre tensile testing under controlled conditions. All varieties produced spinnable fibres and exhibited significant longitudinal variability in mechanical behaviour along the leaf axis (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Mechanical performance depended strongly on both species and leaf position, with fibres from the middle leaf section generally showing higher tenacity. Variations in Young’s modulus reflected differences in fibre maturity and internal microstructural organisation. Fractographic observations revealed predominantly brittle fracture with microfibrillar rupture and longitudinal fibrillation. Overall, the results demonstrate that agave species and leaf position are key parameters governing fibre performance. These <i>agave</i> varieties therefore represent promising candidates for sustainable textile applications, provided that appropriate fibre selection and blending strategies are implemented to ensure homogeneous yarn properties.
Chemicals: Manufacture, use, etc., Textile bleaching, dyeing, printing, etc.
There is a growing interest in using generative artificial intelligence (GAI) tools in the fashion industry. Even though there is a research gap on the possibilities of new AI image-generation tools for mood board design, this study evaluates the efficiency of one such GAI tool, Dream Lab AI, in mood board development. Three steps were required to conduct the research: transforming an initial notion into clear textual design prompts, utilizing generative artificial intelligence technologies to facilitate concept creation, and validating the resulting mood indicate through analysis using mood board principles. The outcomes show how successful Dream Lab AI is and show that by fully utilizing the controllability of various mood board design concepts, this tool can speed up the design process for designers. Dream Lab AI has the potential to reduce time, labour, and cost as well as facilitating a sustainable approach in mood board fashion design process. The study observes that inadequate data training and prompt accuracy of GAI in using mood board design may have an impact on the feasibility of the mood board designs produced and that designs may not be compatible with real-world mood board design. The study suggests better proper data training and interactive prompt implementation in AI tools can help the designer to develop mood boards effectively.
Smart clothing, as a cutting-edge artificial intelligence product integrating fashion and technology, demonstrates substantial market potential. However, smart clothing featuring traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapeutic functions has yet to achieve widespread adoption, with notably low usage frequency and short application cycles among users. To address this challenge, this study constructs a theoretical model of user behavior for TCM therapeutic smart clothing by integrating the Technology acceptance model, theory of planned behavior, and perceived risk (PR) theory. A multi-stage research design was adopted. A structured questionnaire based on established scales yielded 567 valid online responses (response rate: 97.7%), providing empirical support. Descriptive statistics and cluster analysis explored sample characteristics and group differences. Confirmatory factor analysis assessed measurement reliability and validity, while structural equation modeling tested hypothesized relationships. Additionally, hierarchical regression and simple slope analysis examined the moderating effect of user technology literacy (UTL). Results showed that perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness significantly enhanced user stickiness, which positively influenced usage behavior. PR negatively affected stickiness, and UTL moderated the link between PEOU and stickiness. Notably, perceived behavioral control and perceived cost did not show significant effects, suggesting users prioritize functional benefits and health outcomes over controllability and economic concerns. This study integrates theoretical and empirical analysis to quantify key behavioral factors, offering insights for product design, marketing, and user experience optimization in TCM therapeutic smart clothing.
Abstract This study aimed to address the diversity issue in fashion design education by developing two prototypes for Inclusive Fashion Design (IFD) education. The prototypes were constructed based on the 3C3R model of Project-Based Learning (PBL) and incorporated the Persona/Scenario (P/S) toolkit for IFD. Additionally, the study examined the effectiveness of the FEA (Function, Expressive, and Aesthetics) self-checklist and the P/S toolkit in the IFD process. The experiments involved two design instructors, two teaching assistants, and 12 senior-level students divided into four teams. Thematic analysis was conducted on the interview data collected from the participants. The results revealed that FEA factors were highly considered in both education prototypes, regardless of the presence of the P/S toolkit. Maintaining consistency of the IFD concept throughout each stage of the process was found to be crucial, and the use of the P/S toolkit played a significant role in achieving this consistency. Team communication emerged as an essential factor in IFD education, as team collaboration using the P/S toolkit triggered diverse perspectives on targets, facilitated design expansion, and extended individual competences. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of the diversity issue in fashion design education and promotes the adoption of the IFD education methodology, emphasizing the significance of consistent concept development, effective toolkits, and team collaboration in achieving inclusive design practices.
Textile bleaching, dyeing, printing, etc., Social Sciences
Personal cooling garments have the advantages of being highly effective and economically practical, and are widely used in industry, medicine and aerospace. Personal cooling garments exhibit different cooling efficiencies and thermal comfort in different environments due to their different cooling medium characteristics. Air-cooling garments and liquid-cooling garments require the connection of external equipment when using, limiting the wearer’s range of motion. The use of phase change cooling garments is limited due to issues such as their large weight, short cooling time, limited cooling capacity, and susceptibility to supercooling during use. Hybrid-personal-cooling garments have a wide range of applications and may be accompanied by problems of supercooling injuries and high costs. The article reviews the cooling efficiency and comfort of personal cooling garments when different media through experimental summary method, comparative method and literature method.
Science, Textile bleaching, dyeing, printing, etc.
Muhammad Imran Najeeb, Agusril Syamsir, Siti Madiha Muhammad Amir
et al.
Natural plant fiber-reinforced composite (NFC) has become a preferred component in modern-day civil building construction materials because it offers, among others, an environment-friendly solution without compromising stringent engineering requirements. Such green-based composites have exhibited noteworthy level of competitiveness comparable to that of the existing commercially available nongreen materials. Furthermore, NFC can also be tailored to align with the desired functional attributes. However, lack of comprehensive guidelines and recommended applications of suitable methods to assess composite failure of such novel NFC have raised significant concerns. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the latest developments in nondestructive testing (NDT) that can be applied to investigate into NFC failures. The study further explores alternative nondestructive testing methods and technologies exhibiting potential use in plant fiber composites studies, hence paving the way to future investigation trends. Precise characterization of defects and identification of damages in NFCs present a major challenge, demanding application of advanced nondestructive testing (NDT) methodologies accompanied with expert interpretation. Findings in this review can be applied to identify and explore new areas of research to analyze failure modes and fractures in NFC by applying NDT or by integrating NDT with other advanced technologies including machine learning.
Science, Textile bleaching, dyeing, printing, etc.
With the development of the material engineering and textile industry, superhydrophobic textiles have been an important category of superhydrophobic materials and have increasingly attracted the attentions of researchers. In recent years, many potential applications of these products have been explored by researchers. However, industrial production of the superhydrophobic textiles is still challenging to textile scientists and engineers, especially with increased environmental and human safety regulations. In this article, recent progress in the research and development of superhydrophobic textiles is reviewed and the advantages and disadvantages of the preparation methods of superhydrophobic textiles are generalized. Potential applications of superhydrophobic textiles in industrial, medical, and civilian fields are summarized. The challenges faced in research on superhydrophobic textiles are analyzed, mainly including restrictions on the use of environmentally hazardous fluorocarbons and organic solvents, demand for durable functional stability, economic and technical limitations of textile wet processing industry. This article will provide some reference and inspiration for the design, optimization and application of superhydrophobic textiles.
Sustainable composite materials based on biopolymers and natural fibers have attracted remarkable consideration globally due to their tremendous potential for a variety of applications. However, the poor compatibility among the natural fibers and biopolymers causes the reduced mechanical properties of the biocomposites, limiting their application spectrum and acting as one of the major barriers to commercialization. Therefore, surface modification of fibers using chemicals has been explored by several authors. However, most of the chemicals used are hazardous to the environment when used commercially. In the current investigation, sustainable chemicals (sodium bicarbonate and borax) were used to modify the surface of the pineapple leaf fibers (PALFs). Untreated and treated PALF/polylactic acid biocomposites were manufactured using the commercial-scale injection molding machine. The selected chemical treatment strategies were found to be efficient for improving the strength, crystallinity, and thermal properties of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF). An improved adhesion among the fibers and matrix, enhanced strength (tensile, flexural, and impact), and modulus (tensile and flexural) of the biocomposites were also recorded after the treatment. A robust structure-property linkage for PALF and their biocomposites has also been developed.
Science, Textile bleaching, dyeing, printing, etc.
Abstract This paper investigates whether different shades of red clothes increase women’s perceived attractiveness to men and women in digital photographs. We also examined whether there was any variance in perceived attraction according to the color shade of clothes due to personal physical color traits based on Personal Color Analysis System. Participants evaluated a woman’s attractiveness presented in a photograph featuring different skin and hair colors and t-shirts in four red shades. The results indicate that the four different red shades—low chroma/high value, low chroma/medium value, high chroma/medium value, and low chroma/low value—examined in this study can enhance female attractiveness on a digital photo. Significantly, the high chroma and medium value—often considered vivid—red had a greater appeal to males and females in most skin and hair color types. This study is the first to investigate the perceived attractiveness of Asians wearing red in the context of digital photographs. The findings give insight to people and marketers with a better understanding perceived attractiveness of red clothing in digital photos. Additionally, this study confirms that the value and chroma of color, which was overlooked in previous research, should be considered as variables in studies of clothing color meanings.
Textile bleaching, dyeing, printing, etc., Social Sciences
With polylactic acid (PLA) usage projected to increase in wood-based composite materials, a study comparing composite processing parameters with resulting PLA−wood adhesion and panel performance is warranted. In this study, PLA-softwood veneer laminates have been prepared and spatial chemical imaging via FTIR analysis was applied to identify PLA bondlines characterizing bondline thickness and the extent of PLA migration into the wood matrix. These PLA–wood adhesion interface characteristics have been compared with the performance of panels varying in pressing temperature, pressing time and PLA grades. For amorphous PLA, bondline thicknesses (60–120 μm) were similar, pressing at 140 °C or 160 °C, whereas with semi-crystalline PLA, the bondline thickness (340 μm) significantly reduced (155–240 μm) only when internal panel temperatures exceeded 140 °C during pressing. Internal temperatures also impacted PLA penetration, with greater PLA migration from bondlines evident with higher pressing temperatures and times with distinctions between PLA grades and bondline position. Performance testing revealed thinner PLA bondlines were associated with greater dry strength for both PLA grades. Cold-water soaking revealed laminated panels exhibit a range of wet-strength performance related to panel-pressing regimes with the semi-crystalline PLA pressed at 180 °C having similar tensile strength in dry and wet states. Moreover, an excellent correlation between wet-strength performance and bondline thickness and penetration values was evident for this PLA grade. Overall, study findings demonstrate PLA wood composite performance can be tuned through a combination of the PLA grade and the pressing regime employed.
Chemicals: Manufacture, use, etc., Textile bleaching, dyeing, printing, etc.
Chitosan is the second most abundant polysaccharide in nature after cellulose and has been extensively used in cosmetics, food and environmental protection, and material sciences. It has also many different application fields in textile. One of them is printing. Chitosan has been applied on fabrics prior to printing to enhance color or it has been used in printing paste as a thickener or binder. However, in none of the studies, chitosan was used in order to obtain colored patterns via printing. The aim of this study was to obtain colored patterns on wool fabrics via chitosan application by printing and then dyeing. For this purpose, printing was made on 100% wool fabrics with a colorless paste prepared with chitosan dissolved in acidic medium. Then, printed samples were dyed with acid and reactive dyes. The printing effects, color yields and fastness values of the samples were examined. A significant color difference has occurred in the un-treated and printed areas of wool fabrics dyed with acid and reactive dyes, which are anionic in nature, so that it has been shown that various color patterns could be obtained by printing with chitosan.
Science, Textile bleaching, dyeing, printing, etc.
Jennifer D’Anna, Giuseppina Amato, Jianfei Chen
et al.
Fibre-reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM) composites have been effectively used during the last ten years for the strengthening of existing concrete and masonry structures. These composite materials are made of medium- and high-strength fibre meshes embedded in inorganic matrices. Synthetic fibres are the ones that are currently the most used; however, natural fibres, such as basalt fibres, have recently been receiving growing attention. This work presents an extensive experimental study on the mechanical characterisation of a primed basalt fibre bidirectional grid. Fifty monotonic tensile tests on basalt grid strips were performed by varying different parameters, such as the dimension of the specimens, the clamping system, the measurement system and the test rate. Some of the tests were carried out using a video-extensometer to measure each specimen’s strain. The aim of the study was to find the most suitable setup for the tensile characterisation of basalt textiles, in particular, to prevent slippage of the samples at the gripping area and fully exploit the tensile capacity of the grid.
Chemicals: Manufacture, use, etc., Textile bleaching, dyeing, printing, etc.
The cyclic performance of non-seismically designed reinforced concrete (RC) columns, strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) jackets, was analytically and experimentally investigated herein. Three cantilever column specimens were constructed, incorporating design parameters of the period 1950s–1970s, namely with concrete of a low compressive strength, plain steel bars, widely-spaced ties and inadequate lap splices of reinforcement. The specimens were strengthened using CFRP jackets and were subsequently subjected to cyclic inelastic lateral displacements. The main parameters examined were the length of the lap splices, the acceptable relative bar slipping value and the width of the jackets. The hysteresis behaviors of the enhanced columns were compared, while also being evaluated with respect to those of two original columns and to the seismic performance of a control specimen with continuous reinforcement, tested in a previous work. An analytical formulation was proposed for accurately predicting the seismic responses of the column specimens, comparing the actual shear stress value with the ultimate shear capacity of the concrete in the lap splice region. The test results verified the predictions of the analytical model, regarding the seismic performance of the strengthened columns. Moreover, the influences of the examined parameters in securing the ductile hysteresis performance were evaluated.
Chemicals: Manufacture, use, etc., Textile bleaching, dyeing, printing, etc.
The article presents the methodology of optimal selection of material and the form of semi-product for the rotors of the spindle-less spinning machine. The multicriteria approach was utilized taking into account versatile criteria. The applied procedure consists of two stages: the optimum method in the Pareto sense and the method of distance function. Based on the analysis of the spinning head work, rotor and availability function, six different materials and three forms of semifinished products (extruded bar, forged element, and cast element) were considered. In consequence, the admissible set consisting of nine elements was obtained. For the evaluation of technological quality of the rotor, the following criteria were proposed: index of functionality of the material σf/ρ, maximum height of the surface peaks, Sp, and maximal hardness on surface of oxide layer μHV0,1. Finally, taking into account the economical criterion (unit cost), the Pareto-optimal set of solutions was determined based on four criteria. Due to the fact that this set contained five variants, the distance function was utilized for choosing the best final variant. The optimal material and the semi-product (because of the assumed criteria) chosen were as follows: alloy AlSi1MgMn and the forged element—because in this case the value of distance function was minimal.
To study the hydrothermal behavior of cotton fiber, the carbonization process and structural evolution of discarded or waste cotton fiber (WCF) under hydrothermal conditions were investigated using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and glucose was used as a model compound. Results showed that high temperature was beneficial for the hydrolysis of discarded cotton fiber, and the yield of sugar was 4.5%, which was lower than that of MCC (6.51%). WCF and MCC were carbonized at 240–~260°C and 220–~240°C, respectively, whereas the carbonization temperature of glucose was lower than 220°C. The C/O ratios of WCF and glucose hydrothermal products were 5.79 and 5.85, respectively. The three kinds of hydrothermal carbonization products had similar crystal structures and oxygen-containing functional groups. The carbonized products of WCF contained many irregular particles, while the main products of glucose carbonization were 0.5-mm-sized carbon microspheres (CMSs). Results showed that glucose was an important intermediate in WCF carbonization and that there were two main pathways of hydrothermal carbonization of cotton fibers: some cotton fibers were completely hydrolyzed into glucose accompanied by nucleation and then the growth of CMSs. For the other part, the glucose ring of the oligosaccharide, formed by the incomplete hydrolysis of cotton fibers under hydrothermal conditions of high temperature and pressure, breaks and then forms particulate matter.
The article presents a comparative analysis of the yarns used for manufacturing hernia meshes. For the analysis, two different linear masses, 46 dtex and 72 dtex, of transparent and dyed yarns were used; the dye used in the yarns was adequate for their intended use. The DSC tests showed the influence of thermal treatment on the change of thermal properties of the yarns. At the same time, it was proved that the aforementioned treatment had a bearing on the changes of crystallinity degree. All types of yarns were also subjected to physicochemical tests required for all the materials used for the production of hernia meshes.
Mohd Nadeem Bukhari, Luqman Jameel Rather, Mohd Shabbir
et al.
The searches for new sources of natural dyes have been recently increased in many countries. This article is aimed to explore the dyeing potential of Cassia fistula as a source of natural dye on wool. In this study, the anthraquinone colorants are extracted from fruit of Cassia fistula by aqueous extraction method. Mordanting and subsequent dyeing of wool with extracted colorants were then performed to study the colorimetric and fastness properties. Three metallic salts aluminum sulfate, ferrous sulfate, stannous chloride and their combinations were used in this study to fix and increase the color as well as fastness properties of the substrate. UV visible and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis show identification of functional groups in the dye molecule. Colorimetric properties were analyzed by reflectance spectrometry in terms of L*, a*, b*, c*, h○ and K/S values. Color fastness was investigated in terms of light, wash and rub (dry/wet) tests. Results demonstrate that novel and fashionable brown shades with different hue and tone were obtained. Therefore, Cassia fistula has an exciting opportunity to be used as a source of natural dye in textile coloration.
Science, Textile bleaching, dyeing, printing, etc.
Vishwesh Dikshit, Somen K. Bhudolia, Sunil C. Joshi
Composite materials are prone to delamination as they are weaker in the thickness direction. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are introduced as a multiscale reinforcement into the fiber reinforced polymer composites to suppress the delamination phenomenon. This review paper presents the detailed progress made by the scientific and research community to-date in improving the Mode I and Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness (ILFT) by various methodologies including the effect of multiscale reinforcement. Methods of measuring the Mode I and Mode II fracture toughness of the composites along with the solutions to improve them are presented. The use of different methodologies and approaches along with their performance in enhancing the fracture toughness of the composites is summarized. The current state of polymer-fiber-nanotube composites and their future perspective are also deliberated.
Chemicals: Manufacture, use, etc., Textile bleaching, dyeing, printing, etc.