Tove Agnhage 2013

Title: Eco-design innovative methods for fabric finishing.

Conventional methods for wet processing have high environmental impacts because of great quantity of energy and water consumption as well as high inputs in chemicals. This project aims at developing different eco-design methods to reduce the environmental impacts generated by conventional methods in fabric finishing processes. The research focusses on dyeing and functionalization (UV, antimicrobial) of textile materials using biosourced products.

Razieh Hashemi-Sanatgar 2014

Title: Novel processes for functional and smart textiles.

The project will emphasize on the development of functional or smart textiles based on the deposition of functional polymers or blends of functional compounds and polymers using 3D print technology on textile fabrics (PET, PA). The technology will enable cost effective production of high end products, more flexible production, and increased productivity with improved ecological footprint (e.g. minimization of textile waste combined with reduced consumption of energy, water and chemicals). 3D print technology could have strong potential in the industrialization of functional and smart textile materials. Important topics apart from deposition of polymers will be surface properties, surface analysis, adhesion, textile performance and maintenance, industrialization of production and assembly of smart textiles.

Melkie Getnet Tadesse 2015

Title: Quality inspection and evaluation for smart textile fabric surface by skin contact mechanics.

Research in functional and smart textiles often focuses on technological and scientific challenges, or on the interaction with the wearer in a technological sense, but to a smaller extend on interaction with the wearer in terms of tactile/sensory properties. This will be the topic of this project. Smart and functional textiles will be collected as well as produced using different state-of-the-art technologies such as digital inkjet, 3D print technology, printing or incorporation of smart fibers. The contact mechanics of fabric surface with skin is studied for the quality inspection and wearability evaluation. The objective data of fabric surface will be collected by VHX patterns microscope surface hairiness system and KES surface friction and roughness measurement system.  A contact mechanics model will also be established to relate the features of smart fabric surface with human skin contact perceptions. The human perception will be acquired by sensory evaluation. The objective properties and human perception will be discussed. The quality of smart textiles can be evaluated on the basis of both objective measurement results and subjective skin contact perception.

May Kahoush 2015

Title: Eco-technologies for immobilising enzymes on conductive textiles, for sustainable development.

The research in this project will focus on sustainable development of functional and smart textile materials using advanced strategies and emerging technologies to immobilize enzymes on conductive textiles. Such functional or smart textile materials find their applications in a.o. sensoric textiles, reuse of immobilized enzymes in bioprocesses or soil remediation.

Molla Tadesse 2016

Title: Supercritical CO₂ technology in resource effective textile production of functional textiles.

The research in this project will focus on sustainable development of functional and smart textile materials using supercritical CO₂. Supercritical CO₂ textile dyeing and functionalization is a water free technology with significant savings in energy, chemicals and waste water while producing high quality products thereby creating new business opportunities. The PhD project will focus on functionalisation (antimicrobial, medical/care, and flame retardant) of woven and knitted synthetic textiles in supercritical CO₂.

Sweta Iyer 2016

Title: Surface processes to make bionic luminescent textiles using bio-based multifunctional products.

Nature has designed a few bio-based molecules which are responsible for bioluminescence in some living species. The challenge will be to develop a luminescent textile using some of these bio-based compounds (colorants, enzymes, or a combination of several bio-based molecules). Different techniques can be used to functionalize textiles with such bio-based molecules, and in this PhD project, the student will have to explore methods and products yielding some eco-efficient luminescent textiles. Synthetic fibers are hard to functionalize with bio-based finishing, because of their hydrophobic properties. Surface modification using Dopamine is an efficient method to create reactive groups onto hydrophobic surfaces. This was inspired by marine mussels which can attach any surfaces rapidly in an underwater environment. The main adhesive component is 3,4-dihydorxy-phenylalamine(DOPA). In addition to luminescence, textiles modified with these bio-based products can have multi-functional properties (anti-bacterial, fire-proofing) which will also be explored in this study.