1. Objective & Scope

Modern athletic wear demands high-performance fabrics that facilitate rapid sweat transportation and optimal thermal insulation. This research focuses on engineering structured multi-layer knitted materials that optimize the microclimate between the skin and the garment during active physical exertion.

2. Material Design & Structure

• Bi-layer Plated Structure: Designed with a highly hydrophobic polypropylene yarn on the inner face (technical back, touching the skin) and a hydrophilic micro-polyester yarn on the outer face (technical face). Polypropylene repels moisture, pushing liquid sweat outward, where the polyester layer absorbs it and distributes it across a wider surface area for fast evaporation.
• Tri-layer Structure: Utilizes an inner polypropylene layer, an outer hydrophilic cotton-polyester blend, and an intermediate connection layer using fine polyester spacer yarns. The tuck stitches in the middle layer create small, insulating air pockets that maintain body heat in cold environments while assisting capillary movement of perspiration.

3. Testing & Performance Analysis

Testing was performed in simulated environment conditions using laboratory grade equipment:

• Moisture Management (AATCC 195): Measured the dynamic liquid moisture transport characteristics. The tri-layer structure achieved an Overall Moisture Management Capacity (OMMC) rating of "Excellent" (>0.80), demonstrating high one-way transport indices.
• Air Permeability (ASTM D737): Standard pressure drop evaluation confirmed that the open cell structures maintained air permeability rates exceeding 150 cm³/s/cm², allowing heat dissipation.

1. Objective & Scope

As the textile sector moves towards eco-responsibility, searching for sustainable crop waste alternatives is critical. This project details the extraction of high-cellulose fibers from the outer leaves of Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) waste and investigates their physical characteristics, moisture behavior, and suitability for industrial oil-spill cleanup applications.

2. Extraction Methodology

• Water Retting & Decortication: Waste stalks were gathered, crushed, and soaked in water containing 0.1% pectinase enzymes for 12 days to degrade non-cellulosic pectin and gums binding the fiber bundles.
• Chemical Scouring: The extracted crude fibers were boiled in a 1.5% Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) alkaline solution at 90°C for 60 minutes to strip natural waxes, lignins, and impurities, exposing the pure crystalline cellulose core.

3. Experimental Results

• Tensile Strengths (ASTM D3822): Single fiber tensile testing yielded a mean tenacity of 18.4 cN/tex, showing adequate resistance comparable to coir or sisal, matching requirements for spun blending.
• Oil Sorption Capacity (ASTM F726): Evaluated using heavy motor engine oil and diesel fuel. Scoured Aloe Vera fibers displayed excellent oleophilic-hydrophobic behaviors, absorbing up to 14.2 grams of heavy motor oil per gram of dry fiber. This highlights its potential as a low-cost, biodegradable sorbent boom material.

1. Objective & Scope

Mechanical recycling of post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles prevents landfill accumulation and lowers petroleum energy footprint. This project showcases the engineering process of shredding, drying, melting, and drawing PET flakes into technical-grade polyester filament prototypes.

2. Recycling & Extrusion Process

• Preparation: Post-consumer bottles were sorted, labels and adhesives removed via warm surfactant baths (2% NaOH at 80°C), and chopped into 4mm flakes.
• Dehumidification: Flakes were dried in a hot air desiccator at 160°C for 6 hours to reduce moisture below 0.005%, preventing hydrolytic chain scission during melt extrusion.
• Twin-Screw Spinning: Melting in a twin-screw extruder zone (265°C - 280°C) and pumping the melt through a custom 36-hole spinneret. The filaments were cooled rapidly in a water bath.
• Drawing: Filaments were passed through heated rollers at a draw ratio of 3.5:1, stretching the molecular chains along the fiber axis to build tensile strength.

3. Testing & Filament Specs

• Tensile Properties (ASTM D2256): The filament prototype exhibited an average tenacity of 3.8 g/denier with a break elongation of 22%, making it highly suited for technical applications such as agro-textiles, geogrids, or non-woven filtration membranes.
• Thermal Analysis (DSC): Confirmed crystal melting peak (Tm) at 254.5°C and glass transition temperature (Tg) at 76.2°C, matching properties of virgin polyester.