Projects / Programmes
January 1, 2009
- December 31, 2014
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.14.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Textile and leather |
|
| 1.08.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Control and care of the environment |
|
| 5.12.00 |
Social sciences |
Architecture and Design |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T470 |
Technological sciences |
Textiles technology |
| T390 |
Technological sciences |
Polymer technology, biopolymers |
| T152 |
Technological sciences |
Composite materials |
| T270 |
Technological sciences |
Environmental technology, pollution control |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.11 |
Engineering and Technology |
Other engineering and technologies |
fiber polymers, composites, multifunctional materials, technical textiles, new applied processes, mechanical and chemical textile processes, ecology
Researchers (20)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The research programme Textiles and Ecology represents a continuation of the researches in the field of fibrous polymer structures with upgrade in construction, projecting, and finishing of textiles and composites. A fundamental part of the researches will mostly support applicable and developmental researches, also those, which take place within the frame of research projects. Against minimal funding of the researches on programme this is the only way for the development of profession, which expects help at the development of new multifunctional materials and at the enforcement of less opposable technologies for enforcing on the foreign markets. The researches will contribute to the spreading of knowledge on postgraduate courses of study that will be based on trilateral connection professor researcher - postgraduate student researcher - researcher from economy. The research of morphology, molecular, supermolecular, micromorphological, macromorphological structure, and properties of textile and technical fibres during plastic deformation and structural forming will be a basic goal of the improvement of knowledge about impact of different structural levels (molecular - 1 nm, supermolecular - 10 nm, micromorphological - 100 nm, macromorphological - 1000 nm) and their development and influence on fibre properties. At technological planning, a spectrophotometer is a useful method for planning particularly demanding Jacquard samples. Because constructional factors, which have influence on the final appearance of the flat textiles, still aren't known, a goal of research is to develop an algorithm for the prediction of colour values using known constructional factors and known colour values of the yarn used. More and more intense radiation of short-wave rays is becoming a serious problem for humankind because of ozone layer thinning . Textiles can be a good protection against harmful impact of UV A and UV B rays of solar radiation. All textiles are not suitable filters for UV rays. We intend to investigate various influence, e. g. textile construction, openness of surface, and influence of finishing processes on UV transmission of textiles. A possibility for UZF enlargement of thin cotton fabric will be examined. These fabrics are very useful for summer clothes, but offer no UV protection and in this respect represent an unsolved problem. This field of the research represents one possibility for the development of multifunctional products with higher added value. Our economy should also take an advantage of this possibility for easier enforcing on the foreign markets.
The theoretical researches of chemical - physical processes in aqueous solutions and on the fibre surface, research methods like liquid chromatography analysis of the condition of reactive dyes during dyeing process, gel chromatography analysis for detection of low - molecular fractions, study of interaction dye - surfactant (tensid) in dye solutions, study of thermodynamics and kinetics of textile wetting process, and study of influence of finishing agents on the modification of fibrous polymers will contribute to more rational and ecologically supported execution of finishing process, what economy expects from researchers today.
Significance for science
Introducing nanotechnology and other contemporary methods for the textile material functionalization is of essence for further developments in the textile science to place textile science on a par with other advanced scientific fields. Our research results will provide a new scientific insight into the field of textile science. Current basic and applied knowledge in the fibre structure and morphology, polymer fibre chemistry and finishing methods will be upgraded. This will contribute to the development of a modern interpretation of chemical phenomena in the application process of nanocompounds and nanoparticles as well as in the understanding the relations between nanodispersion properties and fibre modifications. Incorporation of different nano-additives into the polymer matrix during the processes of melt- and electrospinning represents a new way for the formation of multifunctional nanofibres and fibre-forming nanocomposite materials. In this research, the investigations of the influences of different production conditions on the morphological and structural properties of fibres and consequently, their functionality and use will be of great importance. Chemical finishing with the use of sol-gel technology enables a modification of fibres with a nanocomposite organic-inorganic polymer film. The synthesis and application of novel functional alkoxysilane precursors is performed in close collaboration with the researchers of the Programme P1-003 Development of Materials by sol-gel procedures and their use in the systems for the exploitation of unconventional energy sources from the National Institute of Chemistry Slovenia. A study of chemical properties of the coating and its interactions with the fibres will significantly contribute to the understanding of binding mechanisms of the precursors to the fibre surfaces, and the acting mode of different agents embedded into the composite matrix. This will give the opportunity for an additional development of the fibre chemical modification. The use of plasma as an alternative source of water and agents used for changing the surface properties of fibre-made polymers which will be used in dyeing and printing processes for the application of nano dimension substances represents a new technological approach in the production and finishing of textile materials from natural and synthetic fibres to achieve multifunctional properties. The application experiments of model nanoparticles of known dimensions on the plasma modified nanostructured textile surfaces are of great importance to the textile science. Various printing techniques are mainly used for designing textiles, although researches show that they are also suitable for the application of different chemical agents and consequently, for the functionalization of textiles. The type and shape of chemicals suitable for the application with printing is investigated together with their release mechanisms and efficiency. Investigations of the influence of the constructional parameters on the physical and mechanical properties of woven fabrics will provide a more accurate prediction of the effects of different parameters on the properties of raw fabrics. On the basis of statistical analysis, the models for predicting tensile properties of fabrics will be elaborated. A study of intermolecular interactions in the solutions including different dyes and surfactants will contribute to the understanding of physicochemical phenomena in the mixtures, as well as the mechanisms of their interactivities. Applying the appropriate models, dye-surfactant-fibre interactions in modern dyeing systems could be explained. The investigations of enzymatic processes in textile finishing connect two scientific fields, i.e. biotechnology and textile technology. They enable the transfer of knowledge from one science to another and the introduction of new, ecologically friendly and more economical processes of textile fibre treatments.
Significance for the country
The studies performed in the framework of the programme significant ly contribute to the technological development of the Slovenian textile industry as well as to the promotion of new small and medium business enterprises. The results of these studies should improve the competitive position of the Slovenian textile industry, since they enable the manufacture of textile fibres with new and improved functional properties, e.g. smart materials with high added value for high-quality protective products in the clothing industry and new materials capable of replacing traditional construction and metal materials in the technical sector. The introduction of nanotechnology and other advanced functionalization processes offers the opportunity to expand the use of functional textiles into other economic fields, e.g. pharmaceutical, medical, engineering, agricultural and food industries. Improvements in the quality of textile production will directly contribute to the preservation of existing jobs as well as to an increase in the employment possibilities for highly educated experts within the industry. The influence of our research on the Slovenian textile industry derived from: - introduction of novel processes of the textile functionalization with spinning with the addition of different nano-additives, chemical modification of fibres with the sol-gel technology, plasma surface treatment, as well as screen and digital printing to achieve antimicrobial properties, self-cleaning, UV protection, increased hydrophilicity, superhydrophobicity, oleophobicity, flame-retardancy, printed patterns, - optimization of the technological processes to develop new multifunctional textiles, - introduction of advanced and environment-friendly technologies, - expansion of new product supply, market expansion, decrease in the production costs and material consumption as well as greater competitiveness of the companies. In consequence, the important goal of this programme is to transfer the laboratory results into new industrial process. Our existing collaboration with the textile industry experts within the framework of the Slovenian textile technological platform will be of great importance. By preparing strategic research agenda 2007–2013, the research priorities for the technological development of the Slovenian textile industry were set. We are aware of the importance of indigenous knowledge to the existence and competitiveness of the Slovenian textile industry. Therefore, we actively work in the organising and programme committees of symposiums on the novelties in textiles organised by the Department of Textiles, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana, where our research results are presented to the technologists from the Slovenian textile industry. Furthermore, we participate as teachers in the IRSPIN School organised by IRSPIN (development centre of the textile industry of Slovenia). Through the publication of scientific and professional papers in the journal Tekstilec, we take care of the rise of the education structure of the employees in the economy as well as of the Slovenian textile professional terminology. Our collaboration with the Restoration Centre at the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia and the Regional Museum Ptuj-Ormož in the field of restoration and conservation contributes to the preservation of culture heritage. The use of functional antimicrobial textiles with a high UV-protective factor presents health protection, especially as a precaution. The results of our research work have an important influence on the teaching skills at the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes of the textile technology at the Department of Textiles, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana. We give lectures from the fields of theory and technology of textile fibres, chemical and mechanical textile processes, textile care, quality control and ecology.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
