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. 4, Apr. 2025)
Unveiling Favorable Mechanical Properties of Lignocellulosic Wood–Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites as Future Green and Sustainable Materials
Pui San Khoo Muhammad Asyraf Muhammad Rizal Rushdan Ahmad Ilyas Muhamad Azizi Mat Yajid Shukur Abu Hassan Mohd Yazid Yahya Mat Uzir Wahit
The widespread use of synthetic thermoplastics has raised significant environmental concerns, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives. Their crystallinity primarily influences the biodegradability of synthetic thermoplastic polymers. Reinforcing amorphous wood fibers into thermoplastic polymers can enhance biodegradability and energy absorption. Nonetheless, challenges arise from high water absorption, porosity, and reduced mechanical properties because of the incompatibility between hydrophilic wood reinforcement and hydrophobic thermoplastic matrices. To overcome these challenges, wood fibers can be modified through chemical and physical treatments before compounding with thermoplastics. Optimal treatment conditions, including 6% NaOH for two h and 2% 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane for three h, resulted in a 35.2% increase in tensile strength while reducing porosity and water absorption compared to untreated fibers. In addition, silane coupling agents like tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane and perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane enhanced the hydrophobicity of the wood. Treatment with 0.5% potassium permanganate for 3 min yielded higher tensile stress and elongation than untreated composites, attributed to the uniform dispersion of the wood fibers within the matrix. The incorporation of maleated polypropylene or polyethene as binding agents enhanced interfacial adhesion. Among the composites studied, polylactic acid reinforced with 10–20% thermally treated beech wood exhibited the highest tensile strength from 45 to 57 MPa, while polypropylene reinforced with 30% wood achieved the highest tensile modulus at 3.25 GPa. The relationship between wood species, thermoplastic type, and treatment methods is critical for optimizing the mechanical properties of these composites, with potential applications in household utilities, automotive components, and building materials.
Comprehensive Review of Textile Waste Recycling: From Origins to Innovations
Eun Hyup Kim Hoik Lee
The global textile market has been rapidly growing, leading to a significant increase in textile waste generation. Over 80% of textile waste is managed through unsustainable methods such as landfilling and incineration, with only about 10% being recycled. This review explores various recycling methods—mechanical, chemical, biological, and thermal—and addresses the challenges posed by mixed fiber compositions, quality degradation, limited policy support, and lack of consumer awareness. It also emphasizes the integration of advanced recycling technologies into a sustainability framework and highlights practical barriers to scalability, such as the economic feasibility of recycling processes and the limited market demand for recycled fibers. Furthermore, the review emphasizes the importance of systemic changes, including collaboration among industries, policymakers, and consumers, to establish a circular economy. By combining technological innovation with strategic systemic approaches, this review provides actionable insights for reducing environmental impacts and promoting sustainability across the textile life cycle.
Effect of the Addition of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose and Hydroxyethyl Cellulose on the Rheological Properties and Thermogravimetric Kinetics of Dried and Redispersed Microfibrillated Cellulose
Egon Petersohn Junior Cassiano Pires Rilton Alves de Freitas Washington Luiz Esteves Magalhaes
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) and Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (HEC) were added in variable amounts (5–30% w/w) to microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and after homogenization the blends were dried by spray drying and redispersed by sonication. The dispersions were characterized through oscillatory rheometric measurements, where amplitude, frequency and viscosity sweeps were performed. For redispersed blend samples, when compared to redispersed MFC and never-dried blends, the addition of HPMC and HEC resulted in an increase in storage and loss moduli, an increase in apparent viscosity and thixotropy, as well as greater stability. The use of sonication also showed significant effects for never-dried MFC suspensions and their blends, with increased moduli and viscosity. Furthermore, the dry blends in a ratio of 70:30 were studied for thermal stability and thermogravimetric kinetics, where interactions between the polymers were confirmed. The results showed a decrease in thermal stability and activation energy of the blends, which is probably a result of the decrease in cellulose intrachain and interchain hydrogen bonds.
Superhydrophobic PBAT/PLA Fibrous Membrane with Excellent Mechanical Performance for Highly Efficient Oil–Water Separation
Xiaoyu Guo Changjian Feng Lilan Huang Hongqiang Wang Fang Liu Jiao Li
Polylactic acid (PLA) membranes offer advantages such as biodegradability, non-toxicity, and biocompatibility for oil–water separation. However, it remains challenging to fabricate PLA membranes with sufficient mechanical strength and hydrophobicity for practical applications. In this study, a superhydrophobic fibrous membrane based on PLA and Polybutylene terephthalate adipate (PBAT) is prepared via electrospinning, followed by a high-humidity treatment. The effects of PBAT content and high humidity treatment on the morphology, hydrophobicity, and mechanical properties of PBAT/PLA composite fiber membranes are investigated. The results show that the introduction of PBAT effectively enhances the fiber diameter, crystallization, hydrophobicity, and mechanical properties of PBAT/PLA fibers. Moreover, the high humidity treatment further improves the mechanical and hydrophobic properties of the membranes. When 0.2 g of PBAT is added and the high humidity treatment lasts for 24 h, the resulting PBAT/PLA fibrous membrane exhibits an outstanding water contact angle (WCA) of 158.23°, tensile strength of 3.802 MPa, excellent oil–water separation flux (6500 L/(m2·h)), and efficiency of 99.80%, demonstrating great potential for oil–water separation applications.
CuWO4/Ti3C2 MXene Heterostructure: Fabrication and Immobilization into a Photocatalytic PVDF Membrane
Amirali Mostafavi Mousavi Ali Asghar Sabbagh Alvani Reza Salimi
Pollution of water caused by organic contaminants is a significant global environmental concern that has paid increasing attention. Polymeric photocatalytic membranes (PPMs) are attracting significant attention for their role in water purification, with benefits of both photocatalysis and membrane separation. In this study, we synthesized a hybrid CuWO4/Ti3C2 MXene heterojunction and immobilized the as-prepared photocatalyst into a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane using phase inversion method to fabricate a photocatalytic membrane system. The CuWO4/Ti3C2 heterostructure, prepared by the hydrothermal method, and immobilized CuWO4/Ti3C2/PVDF membrane exhibit a significant activity in photocatalytic MB degradation performance which is 1.82 and 1.66 times higher than that of pure ones, respectively. This improvement is attributed to the energy band structure of the Schottky heterojunction, leads to enhanced charge transfer efficiency of photo-induced electrons from CuWO4 to Ti3C2 and reduced electron–hole recombination, confirmed by Mott–Schottky and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Based on the obtained results, the immobilized CuWO4/Ti3C2/PVDF membrane with a satisfactory reusability can be considered as a promising polymeric photocatalytic membrane for water treatment applications.
Electrospun Composites of Bioactive Glass/Pomegranate Seed Oil/Poly(ε-caprolactone) for Bone Tissue Engineering
Aysen Akturk
The increasing demand for bone tissue implants due to population growth and the need to replace damaged bone has led to the development of novel scaffold systems in bone tissue applications. In this study, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) electrospun nanofiber scaffolds were fabricated using the electrospinning method, incorporating 45S5 bioactive glass (BG) particles—synthesized by the melt quenching method—and pomegranate seed oil (PSO), a natural component known to enhance bone regeneration. For this purpose, the effect of different concentrations of PSO (5, 10, and 15% w/w relative to PCL) was investigated, while the BG content was kept constant at 15% w/w. The scaffolds were further analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy- dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and water contact angle tests, which showed that nanofibers were formed and that PSO was successfully incorporated into the nanofibers. Bioactivity assays were carried out in simulated body fluid for 28 days, and the nanofiber structures were examined using SEM, EDS, and XRD. The nanofiber loaded with BG and PSO at the concentration of 15% w/w showed a higher formation of the hydroxyapatite-like layer compared to the scaffolds containing PSO at concentrations of 5 and 10% w/w. Furthermore, the MTT assay using L929 fibroblast cells demonstrated the cytocompatibility of the developed membranes. These results suggest that the combination of BG and PSO in PCL nanofibers may be useful for improving bone tissue regeneration strategies.
Study on the Melt Electrospinning Method with Internal Electrode and Fiber Refinement
Qi Xia Chunming Wang Bowen Yang Minghang Li Wenwen Han Hongbo Chen
Melt electrospinning technology, as a green and efficient fiber manufacturing method, has shown great potential in various fields. However, the viscosity characteristics of the melt make fiber refinement challenging, which has become a major bottleneck for melt electrospinning technology. To further reduce fiber diameter and improve fiber efficiency, this study thoroughly analyzes the effects of melt temperature, auxiliary airflow, and nozzle structure on fiber properties. Additionally, a new melt differential electrospinning technology with an internal electrode structure is proposed. By introducing point electrodes, the electric field strength is enhanced, thus achieving both efficiency improvement and fiber refinement. Experimental results show that appropriately increasing the melt temperature can enhance both efficiency and fiber refinement. The fiber diameter significantly decreases with the increase of auxiliary airflow, although this method does not improve fiber efficiency. The internal electrode structure can increase the amount of fiber while refining the fiber diameter. The internal/external conical nozzle structures are suitable for efficiency improvement and fiber refinement, respectively.
Enhancing Cotton Fabric Flame Retardancy with Eco-Friendly Graphene Oxide and PCM Microcapsules
M. Parsamanesh S. Shekarriz M. Montazer
The flammability of cotton fabric presents notable safety hazards, underscoring the importance of effective flame-retardant treatments. This research investigates an eco-friendly method to improve the flame resistance of cotton fabric using a combination of graphene oxide and microcapsules containing inorganic eutectic phase change materials with a silica shell. The treated fabrics' morphology and chemical composition were examined using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (Attenuated Total Reflectance) (FT-IR ATR) analyses. The findings revealed that graphene oxide significantly enhances the absorption of microcapsules on the cotton fabric surface. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) showed a notable increase in the thermal stability of the treated samples, with a residue of 32 to 35% at 360 °C. Furthermore, vertical flame test results indicated a burning length of 3.33 ± 1.24 mm for the modified fabric, compared to the easily ignitable raw cotton, demonstrating a synergistic effect of graphene oxide and silica shell microcapsules. This enhanced performance is particularly advantageous for applications requiring both improved fire safety and efficient temperature regulation. Our results suggest that this innovative treatment method holds significant potential for advancing the development of safer and more efficient flame-retardant textiles, addressing the critical need for safer textile materials in various applications.
Effect of Air Corona Discharge and ZnO Nanoparticle Coating on Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Polyamide 66 Airbag Fabrics
Negin Piri Ahmad Salehi Mohammad Reza Karami Arezoo Javadi
Airbags-coated and uncoated-are known as passive safety devices and are designed to guarantee efficient crash protection. Therefore, improving every feature of airbag functionality (material or design) is necessary for ensuring the security assurance. Extreme conditions during airbag deployment (high internal temperature and pressure) demand airbags to possess special designation; meanwhile, other technological obstacles (e.g., gas permeability, thickness, and stiffness) pose further design challenges. Despite tremendous efforts being made to improve airbag functionalities, technological innovations and progresses since its first release have been rarely reported. Accordingly, the present study aims to investigate the effect of air corona discharge and ZnO nanoparticle coating on the thermal and mechanical properties of Nylon 66 airbag fabrics. According to the obtained results from full-scale testing of airbag samples, prolonged corona treatment time could harm the mechanical properties of N66 fibers/fabrics so that airbag fabrics fail passing the deployment test. In addition, with regard to FESEM observations, the diameter of the fibers increases noticeably that results in a small rise in fabric thickness and stiffness, which also discloses evidences of microscale damage on the outer surface of fibers. DSC test results further revealed significant improvement in specific heat capacity and melting peak area of airbag fabrics as a result of coating with ZnO nanoparticles. Meanwhile, the optimum time of corona treatment creates functional moieties on the surface of fibers/fabrics that substantially increases the affinity of ZnO nanoparticles to the surface of fabric and results in remarkable improvement in the flammability, laser cutting quality, and antibacterial activity of airbag fabrics.
Antimicrobial Cotton Fabric Coated with ZnONPs for Solar-Driven Photocatalysis During Water Purification
Mai M. Khalaf Hany M. Abd El-Lateef Manal F. Abou Taleb Mahmoud A. Abdelaziz Mohamed Gouda
This study aims to develop an eco-friendly, multifunctional filter material capable of simultaneous photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and antimicrobial action. Thus, the study focusess on the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) using algal extract and their utilization for cotton fabrics treatment in order to fabricate ZnONPs-coated cotton fabric material for sustainable water purification. The particle size was established to be approximately 34.2 nm with a polydispersity index (PdI) of 0.377. The treatment of cotton fabric with ZnONPs caused the roughness morphology of the cotton surface. Optimized conditions involved pH=8, T=25 °C, and t = 77.5 min, where MG completely degraded on a UV light tube coated by ZnONPs as its photocatalyst due to high production of reactive oxygen species. Further, microbicidal assay exhibited the diameters of clear zone ranging from 32 to 38 mm against some pathogenic bacteria, such as E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Candida albicans. Likewise, reusability analyses exhibited that after five cycles, the degradation efficiency (%) remained at 76.1%. The safety and the biocompatibility of tested filter materials were confirmed with EC₅₀ values of over 100 as indicated by toxicity tests. The results demonstrate that ZnONPs-coated cotton fabric is a promising eco-friendly material with dual functionality, offering efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and strong antimicrobial activity, making it a viable solution for sustainable water purification.