Hsiou-Lien Chen

Biodegradation and mildew resistance of naturally colored cottons

Naturally colored cottons contain significantly higher amounts of wax and have a different wax constitution and connectivity with cellulose than conventional cotton. Researchers have proposed that this wax content, together with the natural pigmentation, may serve as a defense against soil-borne pathogens. The purpose of this research is to study the biodegradation and mildew resistance characteristics of naturally colored cotton compared to conventional white and dyed cotton under field soil burial and laboratory mildew culture conditions. Laboratory culture results show that naturally brown and green colored cotton fabrics resist the growth of Aspergillius niger. However, after soil burial, both naturally brown and green cotton specimens showed severe degradation, manifested by significant loss of fabric strength as well as fiber structural damage. This suggests that naturally colored cottons are biodegradable. However, the rate of biodegradation of naturally colored cottons, especially green cotton, is much lower than that of white cotton or conventional dyed cotton.

SEM, EDS, and FTIR Examination of Archaeological Mineralized Plant Fibers

The chemical and p ysical structures of archaeological mineralized plant fibers are studied using energy x-ray dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and FTIR microspectrometry, and compared with two contemporary bast fibers. The outer surfaces of the fibers and the inner surfaces of the lumens are heavily en crusted with copper. Fresh-fractured cross sections of the mineralized fibers display small bead-like copper inclusions embedded within the fiber structure. In comparison with modern bast fibers, the mineralized fibers display an absence of hemicellulosic absorption bands (1740 cm-1), greater intensity, and sharper and well-defined indi vidual absorption bands in the 1200-1500 cm-1 region rather than a broad overlap of absorption found in the modern fibers. The mineralized fibers also display a lower crystallinity ratio ( 1372/2900 cm-1) than those of their counterparts.

Assessment of Poplar Seed Hair Fibers as a Potential Bulk Textile Thermal Insulation Material

Poplar seed hair fibers, harvested from the seed pods of one of the most common trees grown in the United States, have properties that make them ideal fibers for thermal insulation applications. This preliminary study examines some physical, chemical, and thermal characteristics of poplar fiber in relation to wool, down, and polyester. Results show that when compared to wool and down, poplar fiber has a finer diameter, is lighter in weight, and exhibits the highest fill power, a measure of a fiber’s ability to retain bulk. Thermal insulation tests reveal that although slightly less than down, poplar fiber has similar thermal resistance value (Rct) to that of wool and hollow polyester. In addition, the poplar fiber’s exceptionally large hollow core and its ability to resist wetting after treatments of solvents and laundering strongly suggest that poplar fiber has great potential as an environmentally friendly, effective, and lightweight textile bulk insulator.

Consumer Perceptions the Limited Lifespan of Fast Fashion Apparel

Little research has focused on the specific factors that contribute to the short lifecycle of fast fashion, as well as consumer feelings about the limited lifespan of fast fashion. The present research addresses this gap in the existing research. Thirteen female undergraduate students who are consumers of fast fashion and majoring in design and/or merchandising management have been interviewed. The first objective is to understand the factors that prompt consumers to stop wearing fast fashion apparel. These factors include communicative failure of the garments, including quality issues, fit issues and meaning conflict, as well as boredom. The second objective is to understand how these factors change the feelings of consumers about such items. The findings are explained within the context of the symbolic interaction theory. The third objective is to learn how consumers feel about the limited lifespan of fast fashion apparel. These feelings range from neutral to negative with regards to monetary investment, and positive to negative in terms of social and environmental implications. Based on the findings, a model is developed to describe why consumers purchase fast fashion, stop wearing fast fashion, their perceptions of the social implications, and their coping strategies and justification for fast fashion.

Microwave Radiation Decontamination of Mildew Infected Cotton

The conditions (moisture, temperature, and time) of a 1000 W, 2.45 GHz household microwave oven required to decontaminate cotton textiles inoculated with mildew (Aspergillus niger) are assessed. For samples initially saturated with water, 24 minutes of microwave irradiation kills mildew on 2″ × 2″ and 4″ × 4″ cotton samples with no significant damage to the fibers, but fails to decontaminate 6″ × 6″ samples. When extra water is added at intervals during the irradiation, it still takes 21 and 24 minutes to decontaminate the 2″ × 2″ and 4″ × 4″ cotton samples, respectively. Although these results indicate that microwave irradiation has potential as a tool for textile decontamination, limitations of conventional household microwave ovens (e.g., low efficiency, nonuniform heating, and no continuous source of moisture) need to be assessed and at least partially rectified to render microwave treatment a viable practical tool for textile decontamination.