Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

See http://msa.ars.usda.gov/la/srrc/csrees/main.htm

A series of objectives of the new project S-1002, listed below, were emphasized by the participants in the first year of activity, as described in the following:

Objective 1. To Develop Value Added Products from Renewable/Recyclable Resources.

Synthesis and Characterization of Glucose-Based Polyhydroxylated Nylons (Glylons). Glylon 6,6, which is the correspondent of petroleum-based Nylon 6,6, has been prepared at LSU-LA from activated glycaric acid (lactone form) and 1,6 hexamethylene diamine. Since the polymer decomposes right after melting (160-180 aC), a solvent has been identified for Glylons allowing the preparation of solutions for fiber spinning and film casting. Composite blends have been prepared from Glylon 6, 6 and pulp (DP = 640). Concentrated solutions of Glylon 6, 6 and of blends showed a shear-induced organization which was shear-rate and temperature dependent.

Characterization of Plant-Derived Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). A new LSU project concerned the characterization of plant-originating polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a family of aliphatic polyesters made by converting sunlight and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using microbial or plant bio-factories. Work is underway in cooperation with Metabolix, Inc. from Cambridge, MA, the LSU Audubon Sugar Institute and the LSU Institute for Ecological Infrastructure Engineering to produce PHAs from cane sugar molasses by fermentation or directly from sugar cane plant - much like natural rubber is obtained directly from certain types of trees today. Preliminary data indicated that PHA obtained by fermentation has a melting temperature similar to that of polypropylene, PP. PHA melt blown nonwovens will be produced in cooperation with the TANDEC unit from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN.

Developing Value-Added Products from Bast Fibers. A preliminary investigation was directed at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, towards identifying natural colorants for dyeing of flax. Flax fabrics were dyed with four natural colorants of plant and insect origin. Pre-mordanting and simultaneous mordanting methods were compared. Tests were done to evaluate washing fastness, perspiration fastness and crocking fastness. The data illustrated that variation in origin and species, extraction procedure and dyeing procedure causes more variation with natural colorants than it would with synthetic dyestuffs of known compositions. Results of washing and perspiration fastness underscored the effect of pH on color of fabrics dyed with natural colorants. Crocking fastness was good for all the investigated natural colorants.

Plasma Induced Grafting for Starch-Based Composites. Hydrophobic starch was produced at University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, in a cooperative effort with LSU, through silicon tetrachloride plasma induced graft polymerization of silicone as a substitute for petrochemical-based plastics. It was suggested that this silicone grafted starch might be used as reinforcing components in silicone rubber materials.

Use of Wood Fibers and Polymers for Preparation of Stable Sandwich-Type Materials. Wood fibers were reacted at LSU with maleic anhydride in order to increase compatibility with synthetic polymers. Bread-butter-bread sandwich type laminates have been prepared from wood (bread) by hot-pressing using synthetic polymers (butter). Thermal transitions and mechanical properties were upgraded when maleic anhydride was added. Wood will be replaced with other fibrous cellulosics derived from annual plants, such as bagasse and straw.

Kenaf, Bagasse, and Ramie Fibers for Automotive Nonwovens. Three types of nonwovens, kenaf/PP (70/30), bagasse/PP (50/50), and ramie/PP (70/30), were fabricated at LSU in collaboration with the USDA SRRC to construct two kinds of sandwich structures. The tailored nonwoven structures were suitable for molding in the manufacture of automotive interior trim parts. Tensile and compressive properties of the nonwoven structures were measured. Nonwoven thermal properties and absorbency after molding were evaluated.

Chemical Treatment for Improving Kenaf Spinnability. Kenaf fiber bundles were treated at LSU by chemical methods and softened to improve fiber properties. Comparative analysis of the kenaf fiber in terms of fiber length, fiber fineness, and strength has shown that after the chemical treatment, fiber fineness, softness and elongation at break were improved, but the fiber bundle strength and length were decreased. Researches at LSU and SU-LA have cooperated on improving kenaf yarns for apparel applications. Kenaf fiber was extracted from raw kenaf grown at Southern University or purchased from Mississippi State University using bacterial and chemical retting methods, then spun into kenaf/cotton yarns on ring or rotor spinning frames. Chemically retted kenaf was spun into yarn at SRRC.

Textile Life Cycle Waste Management and Resource Recovery Model. This is a new cooperative effort between University of Louisiana at Lafayette and LSU. Bread-butter-bread sandwich type nonwovens have been prepared based on bagasse and cotton webs (bread) using a solution of cellulose obtained from recyclable cotton fabrics (butter). Stable all cellulosic nonwoven materials have been obtained after pressing at 150aC, washing out the solvent and drying.

Development of Kenaf Value-Added Products for Textiles and Crafts. Raw kenaf plants, Everglades 41, were harvested from agronomic plot at Southern University and transported to LSU, SRRC in New Orleans, LA and University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR for processing. AR performed biological retting method. The retted fibers were mailed to CO and SRRC for further processing and experiments. One value-added product, a tote bag holding at least 10 lbs, has been developed at AR using spun kenaf yarn.


Development of Elastic and Absorbent Biodegradable Cotton-Surfaced Nonwovens (CSNs). Cotton-rich webs (20-80%) were bonded at TN to one or both sides of a base structure, generally spunbond, SB, polypropylene, PP. Essentially biodegradable CSNs were produced by replacing the non-biodegradable PP SB substrate in the laminate with biodegradable polymer Eastar Bio GP Copolyester (Eastman Chemical Corporation). Furthermore, the thermoplastic PP staple fiber, which was blended with cotton fibers in carded or air-laid webs to improve thermal bonding of cotton-surfaced webs, was replaced with a largely biodegradable bi-component (bico) staple fiber with a core of PP (50%), to reduce elasticity for ease of carding, and a sheath of Eastar Bio (50%) for greater biodegradation and enhanced adhesion/thermal bonding. An essentially biodegradable CSN was prepared for ultrasonic bonding by laying an unbounded carded web of 70% bleached cotton and 30% bico staple fibers onto a SB polylactic acid, PLA provided by Cargill-Dow.

Development of Absorbent Biodegradable Cotton-Core Nonwovens (CCNs). These materials, developed at TN, are thermally bonded laminates having cotton cores with outer layers of melt blown, MB, or SB webs. In biodegradable CCNs PP in the SB and MB fabrics, as well as PP staple fibers in the cotton core, are replaced with biodegradable polymers. Physical test performed for CSNs and CCNs materials include determination of basis weight, air permeability, tenacity, tearing strength, wicking and water absorption properties.


Objective 2. To Develop Bioprocessing and Related New Technologies for Textiles.

To develop environmentally friendly enzymatic treatments for processing bast fibers. Initial studies are being conducted at Colorado State University to determine the suitability of enzymes for wet processing of flax fiber. Cellulase, pectinase and viscozyme are some enzymes under study as potential biochemical replacements for traditional chemicals currently used by the industry.

Effect of Processing Parameters on Digitally Printed Fabrics. Two main studies in digital textile printing were conducted at SU. The first investigated the effect of steaming time on color change and the second looked at colorfastness to crocking and laundering of digitally printed fabrics. Findings indicated that color change beyond one hour of steaming was not significant.

One-Step Inkjet Printing and Durable Press Finishing of Cellulosic Fabrics. University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska reported an inkjet printing technology that combines printing and durable press finishing in one process. Both acid and reactive dyes were examined. Alkaline catalysts were not required for reactive printing. Dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea, DMDHEU, and butanetetracarboxylic acid, BTCA, were evaluated as crosslinking agents. Fabrics pretreated with crosslinkers and their catalysts and then printed with acid or reactive inks demonstrated that it was possible to inkjet print cotton fabrics with satisfactory dye fixation, colorfastness, and wrinkle resistant/DP properties. The whole process was very similar to conventional inkjet printing, save for an additional step of curing (heat treatment at elevated temperature) after drying. In addition to the improvement of wrinkle resistance and DP ability, this technology also provides possibilities of coloring cotton and other cellulosic fabrics with acid inks. It also provides a convenient solution to the printing of blends of cellulose with polyamides and or proteins using a single set of inks.

Biodegradation of Effluents from Coloration of Textiles with Metallic Salts. Biodegradation of all effluents from coloration of textiles (and leather) with metallic salts in conjunction with tannic acid occurred naturally in open atmosphere at ambient temperature. A series of microorganisms developed in waste waters from coloration of silk and leather, respectively, with gold, iron and titanium salts. They have been observed by optical microscopy and their identification is underway in order to !‘seed!( the spent effluents with such organisms for a faster degradation.


Objective 4. To Develop and Evaluate Textiles with Enhanced Resistance (or Susceptibility) to Environmental Degradation.

Preparation of Cotton/Bagasse/Kenaf Nonwoven for Horticulture End-Use. This LSU research studied an approach to converting bagasse into a biodegradable nonwoven material for making flowerpots. A chemical method was used to extract bagasse fiber. The extracted fiber was cleaned and mixed with kenaf and cotton fibers with a ratio of 50:20:30. The fiber blend was carded and needle-punched to form nonwoven structure. The nonwoven fabric was further padded with starch paste and dried in an oven to increase nonwoven stiffness and strength. Application for horticulture container was studied.

Preparation and Characterization of Nonwoven Materials Based on Natural and Synthetic Fibers. This LSU cooperation with TN, AR and the USDA SRRC allowed the preparation of biodegradable nonwoven composites based on bagasse, cotton, ramie, or kenaf fibers containing biodegradable Eastar Bio polyester melt-bound nonwovens or lyocell derived from cotton solutions. Mechanical and thermal properties have been investigated and reported.

Chen, Y., Instrumental Method to Evaluate Leather Compressive Properties, Journal of Testing and Evaluation, 2002, 30, No.3, 258-261.

Chen, Y., O. Chiparus, X. Cui, T. Calamari, and F. Screen, Bagasse Fiber Nonwoven Composite. Proceedings of 11th Annual International TANDEC Nonwovens Conference. November 6-8, 2001. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, pp. 3.6-1  3.6-10.

Chen, Y., O, Chiparus, X. Cui, T. Calamari, and F. Screen, Cotton/Bagasse/Kenaf Nonwoven for Horticultural End-Use, Proceedings of Beltwide Cotton Conferences, January 2002, Atlanta, GA.

Chen, Y., O. Chiparus, I. Negulescu, D. V. Parikh, and T. A. Calamari. Kenaf/Bagasse/Ramie Fibers for Automotive Nonwovens. Proceedings of 2002 International Nonwovens Technical Conference. Sept. 24-26, 2002, Atlanta, GA.

Chiparus, O., Negulescu, I., Chen Y., and Warnock, M., Nonwovens based on bagasse, kenaf and biodegradable polyesters, Book of Papers CD-ROM AATCC International Conference & Exhibition, Charlotte, North Carolina, October 1-4, 2002.

Collier, J. R., Negulescu, I. I., and Collier, B. J., US Patent 6,511,746 "Cellulosic Microfibers" issued to LSU on January 28 2003.

Cucu, M., Negulescu, I. I., and Laine, R. A., Polyhydroxylated Nylons: Glylon 6,6. Book of Papers CD-ROM AATCC International Conference & Exhibition, Charlotte, North Carolina, October 1-4, 2002

Denes, F., Manolache, S., Sarmadi, M., Ganapathy, R., Martinez-Gomez, A., Process for Intercalation of Spacer Molecules Between Substrates and Active Biomolecules, US Patent 6,402,899, June 2002.

Huang, H.-Y., Characterization of Factors that Affect Charge Decay in Fibrous Electret, Ph. D. Dissertation, UT Knoxville, December 2001.

Kimmel, L., Negulescu, I., Chen, Y., Von Hoven, T., Graves, E., and Goynes, W., Naturally Colored Cotton for Specialty Textile Products, AATCC Review, Vol. 2(5), 25-29 (2002).

Lu, J. Z., Negulescu, I. I., and Wu, Q., Thermal and Dynamic-Mechanical Properties of Wood-PVC Composites, Book of Papers 6th Pacific Rim Bio-Based Composites Symposium, & Workshop on The Chemical Modification of Cellulosics, Portland, Oregon, November 10-13, 2002.

Lu, J. Z., Wu, Q., and Negulescu, I. I., The Influence of Maleation on Polymer Adsorption and Fixation, Wood Surface Wettability, and Interfacial Bonding Strength in Wood-PVC Composites, Wood and Fiber Science, 34(3), 434-459 (2002).

Ma, Y. C., Manolache, S., Sarmadi, M. and Denes, F., Plasma-Enhanced Maltodextrin-Polydimethylsiloxane Grafted Cop0lymers, J. Applied Polymer Sciece, 80(8), 1120-1128 (2001).

Ma, Y. C., Silicone Tetrachloride Plasma Induced Grafting for Starch-Based Composites, Ph.D. Dissertation, UW-Madison, August 2002.

McLean, E. C., Jr., Wadsworth, L. C., Sun, Q., Zhang, D., and Shaker, G., Development of Highly Absorbent Cotton-Core Nonwovens, Book of Papers CD-ROM INDA/TAPPI International Technical Conference, Atlanta, GA, September 24-26, 2002.

Negulescu, I., Chen, Y, Chiparus, O., Warnock, M., and Wadsworth, L., Biodegradable Nonwovens Based on Bagasse and Polyesters, Book of Papers CD-ROM 2002 Beltwide Cotton Conferences, Fifth Nonwovens Conference, Atlanta, GA, Jan 11-12, 2002.

Negulescu, I., Chen, Y, Chiparus, O., Warnock, M., and Wadsworth, L., and Yachmenev, V. G., Biodegradable Sandwich-Type Cellulosics/Polyester Nonwovens: Manufacture and Properties, Book of Papers CD-ROM INDA/TAPPI International Technical Conference, Atlanta, GA, September 24-26, 2002.

Negulescu, I., Young, N., and Todd, W., Metal Coloration of Textiles: Biodegradation of Residuals, Book of Papers CD-ROM AATCC International Conference & Exhibition, Charlotte, North Carolina, October 1-4, 2002

Parikh, D.V., Calamari, T. A., Sawhney, A. P. S., Briggs, R., Rigat, R., and Warnock, M. Improving Production Efficiency of a Cotton Swab Manufacturing Operation: A Case Study, Colourage, 35-42 (2002).

Parikh, D.V., Calamari, T. A., Sawhney, A. P. S., Blanchard, E. J., Screen, F. J., Warnock, M., Muller, D. H., and Stryjewski, D. D., Textile Research Journal, 72(7), 618-624 (2002).

Sarkar, A.K., Seal, C.M, and Willbur, J.S. (2002). Science and art of dyeing flax with natural dyes, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference, New York, NY.

Schreuder-Gibson, H., Gibson, P. W., Wadsworthh, L. C., Hemphill, S. M., and Vontorcik, J., Effect of Filter Defformatn on the Filtration and Air Flow for Elasttic Nonwoven Media, Proceedings, AFS 15th Annual Technical Conference and Exposition, American Filtration & Separation Society, Galveston, TX, April 9-12, 2002.

Shaker, G., A Study of Nonwoven Composites, M.S. Thesis, UT Knoxville, May 2002.

Sun., Q., Zhang, D., Wadsworth, L. C., and Slaten, B. L., Assessment of Comfort and Barrier Properties of Finished Cotton-Surfaced Nonwovens, Proceedings, Fourth International Nonwovens Symposium, Anaheim, CA, January 11-13, 2001, Seesion 6, Paper 3.

Wadsworth, L. C., Shaker, G., Zhang, D., Sun, Q., and McLean, E. C., Highly Absorbent Biodegradable Cotton Composites, Book of Papers CD-ROM 2002 Beltwide Cotton Conferences, Fifth Nonwovens Conference, Atlanta, GA, Jan 11-12, 2002.

Wadsworth, L. C., Sun, Q., Zhang, D., Zhao, R., Schreuder-Gibson, H. L., and Gibson, P., Process-Properties Study of Melt Blowing Polyurethane for Elastic Military Protective Apparel Garments, Book of Papers CD-ROM INDA/TAPPI International Technical Conference, Atlanta, GA, September 24-26, 2002.

Zhang, T., Y. Chen, G. Namwamba, D. Dixon, L. Kimmel, and X. Cui. Chemical Treatment for Improving Kenaf Spinnability. Poster for 2002 AATCC International Conference and Exhibition. Oct. 1-4, 2002, Charlotte, NC.

Zhao, R., An Investigation of Bicomponent Polypropylene/Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Melt Blown Microfiber Nonwovens, Ph. D. Dissertation, UT Knoxville, December 2001.

Zhao, R., Wadsworth, L. C., Zhang, D., and Sun, C., Polymer Distribution During Bicomponent Melt Blowing of Polypropylene/Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) and Its Improvement, J. Applied Polymer Sciece, 85, 2885-89 (2002).