Ahsan Nazir

Effect of knitting parameters on moisture management and air permeability of interlock fabrics

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of knitting parameters on the moisture management and air permeability of the interlock fabrics. Samples were produced at two different knitting gauges, each with three different stitch lengths. It was found that the fabric mass per square metre increases by increasing machine gauge and decreasing the stitch length, whereas the fabric thickness and porosity increase at these settings. It was further concluded that the loosely knitted fabric samples with higher amount of entrapped air exhibit good air permeability but poor moisture management properties.

Using the Taguchi method to investigate the effect of different parameters on mean diameter and variation in PA-6 nanofibres produced by needleless electrospinning

Employing different types of fibre generators, needleless electrospinning gives much higher fibre production rates as compared to needle-based techniques. In the present study, the effect of various process parameters on the mean diameter and variation in PA-6 nanofibers produced by the needleless electrospinning method, was investigated. Based on the Taguchi design and analysis of experiments, it was concluded that polymer concentration is the most influential factor affecting the mean fibre diameter, followed by distance between the electrodes, air flow, substrate speed, polymer carrier speed and the voltage difference. Mean fibre diameter and standard deviation were found to increase with increase in polymer concentration, polymer carrier speed and the collector substrate speed. With the help of the Taguchi method, it was not only possible to rank different factors in the order of their magnitude of effect on mean fibre diameter but also to find the optimum factor levels for minimum fibre diameter with minimum standard deviation.

Modelling of fabric structure and shade for UV protection properties using full factorial design

Abstract Fabric use for garments and other outdoor activities should have good UV absorption properties for good UV protection. Different characteristics of fabric affect their UV protection properties. This research work focus to study and model the effect of shade and construction of cotton fabric on UV protection properties using full factorial design. To study and model the effect of fabric construction 26 plain weave fabric samples of varying input parameters, e.g. ends/inch, picks/inch, warp count, weft count are selected. While to study and model the effect of shade 36 fabric samples of different L, a, b values are selected. The UV protection properties of all these fabric samples are measured by spectrophotometer. Then model of selected variables is developed with this collected data by applying response surface regression. These models show the satisfactory result and now they can be used to UV protection properties of plain bleached and dyed cotton fabric.

Pluronic-Based Mixed Polymeric Micelles Enhance the Therapeutic Potential of Curcumin

Curcumin is a naturally occurring constituent of turmeric that is a good substitute for synthetic medicines for the treatment of different diseases, due to its comparatively safer profile. However, there are certain shortcomings that limit its use as an ideal therapeutic agent. In order to overcome these drawbacks, we prepared novel curcumin-loaded mixed polymeric micelles using different biocompatible polymers by the thin-film hydration method. We investigated the critical micelle concentration and temperature, drug loading and encapsulation efficiency, and minimum inhibitory concentration by spectrophotometry. Surface morphology, stability, particle size, drug-polymer interaction, and physical state of the prepared formulations were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, zeta potential, particle size analyzer, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The drug loading and entrapment efficiency were significantly increased (P < 0.01) when curcumin was encapsulated with pluronic-based mixed polymeric micelles as compared to that of pluronic-based micelles alone. In vitro studies exhibited that pluronic-based mixed polymeric micelles significantly increased anticancer (P < 0.01), antimicrobial (P < 0.001), antioxidant (P < 0.001), and α-amylase inhibitory (P < 0.001) activities when compared to pure curcumin and/or pluronic-based micelles alone. These findings suggest that the formation of mixed polymeric micelles increases the stability and solubility of curcumin.

Prediction and Correlation of Air Permeability and Light Transmission Properties of Woven Cotton Fabrics

Abstract The aim of this study was to develop statistical models for predicting the air permeability and light transmission properties of woven cotton fabrics and determine the level of correlation between the two parameters. Plain woven fabrics were developed with different warp and weft linear densities, ends per inch and picks per inch. After desizing, scouring, bleaching, drying and conditioning, the air permeability and light transmission properties of the fabric samples were determined. Regression analysis results showed statistically significant effect of the fabric ends, picks and warp linear density on both the fabric air permeability and light transmission. Correlation analysis was performed to analyze the relation between the fabric air permeability and light transmission. A linear equation was also formulated to find the fabric air permeability through transmission of light intensity. A fitted line plot between the air permeability and light transmission exhibited significant correlation with R-sq. value of 96.4%. The statistical models for the prediction of fabric air permeability and light transmittance were developed with an average prediction error of less than 7%.

Effect of Design and Method of Creating Wicking Channels on Moisture Management and Air Permeability of Cotton Fabrics

Garments made from cotton fabrics can readily absorb perspiration during strenuous activities but give poor performance in terms of wicking and evaporation of the perspiration, resulting in wet sticky feeling to the wearer. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of design and method of creating wicking channels on the moisture management and air permeability of cotton fabrics. The fabric specimens were printed with hydrophobic fluorocarbon finish using four different print designs, each with two different types of printing squeegees. It was found that both the type of print design and squeegee type significantly affect most of the moisture management properties of the fabric. The study concluded that by selecting a suitable print design and squeegee type, moisture management capability of cotton fabrics can be significantly improved without sacrificing the fabric air permeability.

Response Surface Optimization in Discharge Printing of Denim Using Potassium Permanganate as Oxidative Agent

The present study was carried out to optimize discharge printing process for fashionable denim garments. Response surface methodology, involving a central composite design with three key factors, namely, potassium permanganate (KMnO4) concentration, pH of the printing paste, and reaction time, was successfully employed. The objective of this work was to develop a cost-effective, value-added process for denim fabric, where losses in tensile and tear strengths were to be minimized, while whiteness effect of discharge was to be maximized. The optimum conditions for discharge printing with potassium permanganate were found to be pH 6, KMnO4 concentration of 42 g/kg, and treatment time of 15 min. The validity of experimental values was found to be in good agreement with optimized combination of three variables.

Simultaneous Fixation of Wrinkle-Free Finish and Reactive Dye on Cotton Using Response Surface Methodology:

In printing and resin finishing of cotton fabrics, the curing step is involved twice, firstly for fixation of reactive dye and secondly for the fixation of resin for proper cross-linking. In developing country like Pakistan, where cotton is a major portion of textile exports, the elimination of one fixation stage is economical and advantageous. This study dealt with the simultaneous fixation of wrinkle-free finish (resin) and reactive dye printing for cost effectiveness. The processed route of treatment imparted a maximum dry crease recovery angle of 230° and color strength up to 89.89%. The produced fabrics were characterized using crocking fastness (dry and wet), color strength sum %, color fastness to laundry, crease recovery angle, and wrinkle recovery by appearance method. Response surface optimizer gave good composite desirability value (0.08300) with color strength % of up to 73.73 and dry crease recovery angle up to 218°.

Single-Step Antimicrobial And Moisture Management Finishing Of Pc Fabric Using Zno Nanoparticles

Abstract Functionalization of textile fabrics with metal oxide nanoparticles can be used to add antibacterial and moisture management properties to them. Current work focuses on the development of these properties on polyester/cotton woven fabrics by treating them with zinc oxide nanoparticles for workwear and sportswear applications. Zinc oxide nanoparticles, prepared by sol-gel method, were applied on fabric samples, which were then tested for antibacterial and moisture management properties using standard test methods AATCC 147 with Staphylococcus aureus and AATCC 195, respectively. It was found that application of ZnO nanoparticles improved both these properties with smaller particle imparting larger effects on both of them.

Comparison of UV Protection Properties of Cotton Fabrics Treated With Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts of Achyranthes aspera and Alhagi maurorum plants.

UV radiations are high‐energy radiations present in sunlight that can damage human skin. Protection against these radiations becomes vital especially in those areas of the globe where UV index is quite high that makes the inhabitants more prone to dangerous effects of UV radiations. Clothing materials are good blockers of UV radiations, particularly when the fabric cover factor is high and/or the fabrics contain suitable UV‐blocking finishes. In this study, effect of application of aqueous and methanolic extracts of two different plants, i.e., Achyranthes aspera and Alhagi maurorum on UV protection properties of cotton fabric was investigated. The results showed that the fabric samples treated with extracts of both the plants have excellent UV protection properties as indicated by their ultraviolet protection factor. It was concluded that both the aqueous and methanolic plant extracts are very effective in blocking UVA and UVB radiations, when applied on cotton fabrics. The UV protection performance of Achyranthes aspera extracts was much better as compared to that of Alhagi maurorum, and methanolic extracts of both the plants outperformed the aqueous extracts in terms of UV protection.