pISSN : 1229-9197 / eISSN : 1875-0052
Fibers and Polymers, the journal of the Korean Fiber Society, provides you with state-of-the-art
research in fibers and polymer science and technology related to developments in the textile
industry. Bridging the gap between fiber science and polymer science, the journal’s topics
include fiber structure and property, dyeing and finishing, textile processing, and apparel science.
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Latest Publication (Vol. 26, No. 10, Oct. 2025)
Electrospinning: A Game-Changer in Fiber Production and Practical Applications
Gomaa F. Elfawal Alena Opálková Šišková Anita Eckstein Andicsová
Electrospinning is a simple, flexible, cost-effective, and efficient method for continuously producing micro- and nanoscale polymer fibers. This process has garnered significant attention from both scientific and industrial communities for its ability to create nanofibers with a large specific surface area, flexibility, and customizable properties. The electrospinning process encompasses a range of principles, techniques, and influencing factors that significantly impact the production of nanofibers. This versatility renders electrospinning a highly practical method for various applications, including sensors, biomedical solutions, energy technologies, food packaging, and filtration systems. Unlike other literature on the subject, this review takes a comprehensive approach that combines basic principles with practical applications. Overall, electrospinning holds great promise for a wide range of applications due to its efficiency in producing microfibers and nanofibers with tailored properties.
Eco-friendly Bio-films from Wheat Straw Cellulose and Chitosan for Sustainable Food Packaging
Rajesh Vanshpati Gaurav Singh Anurag Kumar Tiwari Nikhil Gakkhar
This study presents the development of eco-friendly bio-films using chitosan (CH) and cellulose (Ce) derived from wheat straw for sustainable food packaging applications. The films were prepared via a solution casting method, incorporating cellulose in varying concentrations (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% w/w relative to chitosan) with glycerol (20% w/w relative to chitosan) as a plasticizer. The influence of cellulose on the physical, structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of the CH/Ce films was evaluated and compared to neat chitosan films. Results demonstrated that the addition of cellulose exhibiting a 300% increase in tensile strength compared to the neat CH film. The maximum percentage elongation (16.01 ± 2.1%) was observed for of 20%. Addressing the suitability for heavy-duty packaging material. Analytical techniques such as energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the chemical interactions between chitosan and cellulose. The films also displayed improved thermal degradation resistance, antibacterial activity, and biodegradability, highlighting their potential for environmentally sustainable food packaging. These findings underscore the viability of wheat straw cellulose as a renewable material for enhancing the performance of chitosan-based bio-films, offering a green alternative for packaging applications.
Electrospun Carboxymethylcellulose as a Scaffold for Biomedical Applications
Nuraina Anisa Dahlan Pooria Pasbakhsh Sin-Yeang Teow Dan Kai Yau Yan Lim Janarthanan Pushpamalar
Electrospinning of pure carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and its derivatives for biomedical applications is attractive due to their interesting biology and biomimetic properties. However, the main challenges in electrospinning pure CMC are strong electrostatic repulsions and its highly viscous nature. In this research, electrospun membranes consisting of grafted CMC-polyethylene glycol (CMC-PEG) and polycaprolactone (PCL) were successfully fabricated using emulsion electrospinning. Membranes with a PCL:CMC-PEG ratio of 80:20 formed uniform fiber with an average diameter of 930.2 ± 31.0 nm. Furthermore, PCL/CMC-PEG membranes demonstrated excellent mechanical properties suitable for use as scaffolds for soft tissue repair and skin wound healing. Water contact angle analysis showed that the incorporation of grafted CMC-PEG improved the membrane wettability. Electrospun membranes with a PCL: CMC-PEG ratio of 80:20 exhibited the highest in vitro degradation, with 82.0 ± 8.7% weight loss over 10 weeks of incubation. In vitro studies confirmed the non-cytotoxic properties of PCL:CMC-PEG (80:20) membranes when tested with normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells. Morphological analysis further confirmed the attachment of NHDF cells followed by cell proliferation and migration. These membranes demonstrated optimal mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, and biocompatibility, making them promising tissue scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.
Effect of Microwave Assisted Chemical Recycling Process on Surface Properties and Mechanical Performance of Recycled Carbon Fiber
Mohd Shadab Ansari Sunny Zafar Himanshu Pathak Anoop Anand
In this work, the carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite waste was recycled using the microwave-assisted chemical recycling (MACR) technique. The technique comprises the use of green chemicals (H2O2 and CH3COOH) in equal proportions coupled with microwave heating at 720 W for 180 s in a step as the optimum parameters. The recycling resulted in a 99% epoxy degradation rate with an 8.20% decline in ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and 29% increment in interfacial shear strength (IFSS) for the recycled carbon fiber (RCF). The scanning electron micrograph (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) scan showed a slight increase in surface asperities on the RCF surface confirming minimal damage post recycling. Surface roughness and mechanical properties correlation for RCF showed that Ra value of 3.85 nm was optimal at which both UTS and IFSS for RCFs were optimum. The X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS) analysis showed the attachment of polar functional groups (COOH, C–O–C/C–O) and an increase in oxygen content on RCF confirming oxidation of the RCF during recycling. Additionally, the energy consumed during recycling was found to be 6.23 MJ/kg of CFRP waste, making it a sustainable and highly energy-efficient technique compared to various existing recycling methods.
Evaluation of Silk Fibres Obtained by Degumming Tasar Cocoons Using Antheraea mylitta Cocoonase and the Existing Classical Methods: A Comparative Study
Aruna Rani Dev Mani Pandey Jay Prakash Pandey
Antheraea mylitta cocoonase a proteolytic enzyme is reported to have its potential application in cocoon degumming. Although, no detailed study on the properties of silk fibre obtained using this naturally secreted protease is available. Therefore, an attempt has been made to evaluate the tasar silk fibres obtained using A. mylitta cocoonase and compared to that obtained from trypsin and papain along with the existing chemical based degumming methods. The silk fibres obtained were characterized using various parameters, such as FT-IR, DSC, TGA, colorimetry, tensile strength, XRD, Yellowness Index, CHNS and FE-SEM. The FE-SEM images depicted that the surface of the CDSF (Cocoonase degummed silk fibre), PDSF (Papain degummed silk fibre) and TDSF (Trypsin degummed silk fibre) was comparatively smooth to that of the HDSF (H2O2 + Neutral soap degummed silk fibre) and SDSF (Na2CO3 + NaHCO3 degummed silk fibre). The absorption pattern in FT-IR indicated slight shifting or vibration of the functional group in SDSF silk fibre. Moreover, much variation was not observed in the mechanical properties of silk fibres. Minor variation in 2θ position can be observed from the XRD plot in case of HDSF and SDSF silk fibres. The DSC graph showed remarkable differences in the thermal properties of SDSF silk fibre comparatively to that of the HDSF and other silk fibres. The TGA study infers that PDSF and CDSF silk fibre were more stable to the degradation. Thus, the present study observes that cocoonase was found to be efficient in degumming tasar cocoons. Therefore, in the future cocoonase can be adopted as one of the methods for degumming. This will aid in a new dimension towards the way of enzymatic silk processing.
In situ Raman Spectroscopic Study of Microstructure–Tensile Properties Relationship of Plant Fibers
Zhen Huang Zihan Zhang Guiling Wei Yuan Chen Junjie Wang Zhen Wang
Plant fibers represent a class of natural composite materials that exhibit an exceptional balance between strength and toughness, a characteristic derived from their sophisticated hierarchical architecture. Through comprehensive X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and single fiber tensile testing, we systematically investigated key structural parameters, including crystalline cellulose content and microfibril angle (MFA), along with their corresponding mechanical properties in three representative plant fibers: hemp, sisal, and coir. Furthermore, the fracture morphologies of them were examined using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Specifically, the inherent variations in mechanical properties of plant fibers were quantitatively characterized using a two-parameter Weibull statistical analysis. In addition, the failure mechanism of plant fibers was investigated by combining single fiber tensile test with in situ Raman spectroscopic measurement. The results showed that the high cellulose content and low MFA were associated with the elastic behavior and brittle fracture of plant fibers. The fracture of element fibers was the main failure mechanism of the hemp and sisal fibers with high cellulose content and low MFA. In contrast, the final breakage of the coir fiber with lower cellulose content and higher MFA was attributed to the accumulation of interface sliding including debonding of element fibers and cellulose microfibers.
Optimization of Green Extraction and Spinnability Enhancement of Bamboo Fiber via Multi-stage Synergistic Processing
Chen Liu Jipan Lou Xinggang Shan Shujun Chen Huafeng Feng
This study presented a multi-stage bamboo fiber treatment process integrating ozone pretreatment, bio-enzymatic synergistic degradation, and hydrogen peroxide refining, aiming to achieve efficient non-cellulosic component removal and fiber performance optimization through physico-biochemical synergy. Experimental results demonstrated that the optimal process F-5 (ozone → hemicellulase → laccase → H₂O₂) significantly improved fiber quality: bundle fiber fineness decreased to 2.73 tex, while residual gum content (2.52%) and residual lignin (5.24%) were reduced by 66.5% and 78.2%, respectively, compared to the control group (F-8: 7.52% gum, 24.03% lignin). The treated fibers exhibited excellent mechanical properties with a breaking strength of 4.58 cN/dtex and elongation at break of 4.17%. Microscopic characterization (SEM) revealed clean fiber surfaces with high separation integrity, while FTIR analysis confirmed significant attenuation of lignin characteristic peaks (1652 cm⁻1) and hemicellulose acetyl-group bands (1745 cm⁻1). Mechanistic studies indicated that ozone pretreatment disrupted lignin crosslinked networks (porosity increased substantially) to enhance subsequent reagent penetration, bi-enzymes selectively degrade hemicellulose (via β-1,4-glycosidic bond cleavage) and lignin (via phenolic unit oxidation), and hydrogen peroxide post-treatment eliminates residual gums. This stage-synergized strategy reduced chemical consumption, providing a feasible approach for green bamboo fiber extraction with potential applications in biomedical textiles, bio-composites, and eco-friendly absorbent materials.
Conductive Carbon Black/Graphene Hybrid Fibers with Significantly Enhanced Electrothermal Properties for Fiber Heaters
Yilan Luo Zihao Xu Zhan Lu Kaiwen Wang Jinhui Fan Yunfeng Bai Weiwei Dong Shigen Zhu
Graphene-based fibers, being more flexible and lightweight than metal materials, hold significant promise as innovative heat sources for integration into wearable thermal regulation textiles. Nevertheless, the brittleness of pristine RGO (reduced graphene oxide) fibers is unsuitable for practical applications. In this work, CB (conductive carbon black)/RGO hybrid fibers were prepared through wet spinning process and chemical reduction. The structure and properties of the resulted CB/RGO hybrid fibers are systematically investigated and the mechanism underlying these enhancements is discussed in detail. The results show that both the toughness and electrothermal properties of the hybrid fibers are improved as the CB content increases. The highest toughness, elongation, and electrical conductivity are 10.17 MJ m−3, 15.71%, and 49.62 S cm⁻1, respectively. Furthermore, the CB/RGO hybrid fibers can achieve a saturated temperature of approximately 140 ℃ with a low power supply of 5 V, demonstrating efficient electrothermal response, homogeneous temperature distribution, and low operating voltage. The highest heating temperature can exceed 400 °C at 10 V. Meanwhile, the CB/RGO hybrid fibers are capable of functioning normally under bending deformation and demonstrate excellent durability. Overall, as-prepared CB/RGO hybrid fibers are excellent candidates for providing Joule heating in wearable heating fabrics.
A Simple Biomimetic Method for Preparing Cotton Fabrics with Both Emulsion Separation and Antibacterial Properties
Linlin Bai Yanyan Dong Chengzhi Song Guoyan Xie Xu Meng
Due to the strong adhesiveness of polydopamine, Ag+ can be fixed on the surface of the cotton fabric. Then, through the self-organization of octadecyltrichlorosilane (ODTS), a superhydrophobic and a superoleophilic cotton fabric can be obtained. A scanning electron microscope (SEM), a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), a thermogravimetric–differential thermal analyzer (TG), and a contact angle measuring device are used to evaluate the surface morphology and wettability of the cotton fabric. From the results of the contact angle and the surface wettability, it is found that the modified cotton fabric shows excellent hydrophobicity. The contact angle with water can reach 156.8°. Water droplets can stay spherical on its surface for a long time without spreading or wetting the fabric. Furthermore, it also exhibits good lipophilicity and can quickly absorb oil droplets that land on its surface. The fabricated fabric can effectively achieve oil–water separation through the action of gravity. The separation efficiency for various types of oil–water separation exceeds 98% and can reach a maximum of 99.89%. Additionally, the superhydrophobic cotton fabric also has the ability to separate water-in-oil emulsions with different volume ratios more effectively. The modified fabrics can inhibit the growth of E. coli and S. aureus, showing good antibacterial properties.
Method of Application of Silver-Coated Yarns for Antimicrobial Functional Sportswear
Sang-U. Shin Gyubin Shin Heeran Lee
The antimicrobial performance of conventional silver nanoparticle (AgNP)-coated clothing is known to diminish after repeated washing due to nanoparticle detachment. To address this limitation, this study examined the targeted application of silver-coated yarns as a more durable alternative. Silver-coated yarns were sewn into cotton garments at varying stitch intervals (2.5 ~ 10 mm) and evaluated for antibacterial efficacy in accordance with KS K 0693, both before and after washing. To validate real-world effectiveness, human wear tests were conducted using three types of T-shirts: a plain cotton shirt, a commercial antimicrobial shirt, and a cotton shirt stitched with silver-coated yarns. Bacterial levels in the axillary region were measured immediately and 3 h after exercise. The results showed that garments with stitch intervals of 4 mm or less achieved a 99.9% bacteriostatic reduction and maintained antimicrobial performance after 20 washes. In wear tests, the silver-yarn-stitched shirt reduced bacterial counts by 72.6% after 3 h, outperforming the commercial shirt (30.0%) and plain cotton shirt, which showed a 49.2% increase in bacterial load. These findings demonstrate that localized stitching of silver-coated yarns is an effective and wash-resistant method for imparting antimicrobial functionality to garments, offering both material efficiency and practical performance benefits.