Measurements of fibre misalignment are important for assessing the quality of non-crimp fabrics composite materials. In non-crimp fabrics, some degree of in-plane fibre misalignment may be attributed to the stitching thread, and the pattern made by this stitching thread may influence both the magnitude and distribution of these fibre misalignments. This work considers the influence of stitching pattern on the in-plane fibre misalignment of three cross-ply glass-fibre non-crimp fabrics. Fibre misalignments are measured from back-lit photographs, using a Fourier-Transform Misalignment Analysis Multi-Rotate algorithm. Statistical analysis reveals a significant difference in fibre misalignment between fabrics, with 99th-percentile misalignments ranging from 5.64° to 9.42°. Both the number and size of misaligned regions also varies between fabrics, with some fabrics showing several hundred more misaligned regions of equivalent size and severity than others. Fabrics with higher 99th-percentile misalignments are shown to contain a smaller number of large-area regions with low misalignment, as well as a greater number of regions with high misalignment. A qualitative investigation of the spatial distribution of misaligned regions further reveals that highly-misaligned regions are often correlated with the location on geometry of the stitching. These differences in fibre misalignment may have significant implications for the predicted compression strength of non-crimp fabric composite materials.
Garment pattern architecture may influence garment–body mechanical interaction, but its effects on interface pressure remain insufficiently investigated. Traditional multi-panel construction introduces structural seams that may contribute to localized pressure concentration during movement. Kinetic one-piece pattern construction has been proposed as a motion-oriented approach in response to these structural considerations, yet quantitative comparisons with traditional construction across static postures and corresponding dynamic movements remain limited. This study compared garment–body interface pressure between a traditional multi-panel shirt and a kinetic one-piece shirt in a controlled single-participant experiment. Both shirts were made from the same non-elastic woven fabric and matched for key finished-garment dimensions and fit. The participant completed ten standardized static postures and ten corresponding dynamic movements. Pressure was measured using AMI airbag sensors during the static postures and Pliance X capacitive sensors during the corresponding movements. Pressure differences varied by posture, movement, and measurement location. Under static conditions, mean pressure was lower for the one-piece shirt in 19 of 30 posture–sensor combinations and lower for the traditional shirt in the remaining 11. Under dynamic conditions, the active-contact sequence mean was lower for the one-piece shirt in seven of ten movements and lower for the traditional shirt in three. These participant-specific findings provide controlled experimental evidence that garment pattern architecture independently influences localized interface-pressure responses. The one-piece construction yielded lower pressures more frequently during the tested upper-limb conditions, yet the magnitude and direction of these differences varied considerably across movements and anatomical regions. This variation indicates that motion-oriented pattern design is not universally superior, but functions as a context-dependent mechanical design approach. These results provide an empirical basis for future biomechanical investigations and digital simulation validation, without supporting generalizable claims about population-level comfort or performance.
This study aims to impart multifunctional properties, specifically antimicrobial/antifungal activity and ultraviolet (UV) protection, to aramid textile surfaces using fungal extracts. To achieve this, water-based extracts of Tinder fungus ( Fomes fomentarius ) and Reishi mushroom ( Ganoderma lucidum ) were prepared and applied to aramid fabrics through a coating process. A reference sample coated with base paste without extract was used to evaluate the specific contribution of fungal metabolites. After coating, the fabrics were characterized with respect to surface morphology, color properties, UV protection, and physical and mechanical performance. Their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli , antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger , and resistance to mould growth by Aspergillus brasiliensis were subsequently evaluated. The results demonstrated that the incorporation of fungal extracts significantly improved both the antimicrobial performance and UV protection. The treated fabrics exhibited high antibacterial efficiency, with a reduction of up to 99.83%, and maintained a ‘Level 0’ mold resistance over a 28-day period. Furthermore, all treated samples achieved the ‘Excellent Protection’ category in terms of UPF. Overall, this study introduces a bio-based multifunctional finishing approach for aramid fabrics and demonstrates that the performance of fungal extracts is dependent on both the extract type and microorganism, highlighting their potential as alternative functional agents in technical textile applications.
Concrete curing under hot-weather exposure requires sustained surface moisture while minimizing repeated water application. This study develops and evaluates a two-layer external curing blanket comprising a polyethylene (PE) top sheet and a superabsorbent polymer (SAP)-infused needle-punched nonwoven polyester layer. Ten PE sheets, three sodium polyacrylate SAP grades, and three nonwoven fabrics were screened sequentially according to optical transmittance, SAP morphology and absorption behavior, fabric absorptivity, SAP-fiber integration, and qualitative seven-day surface-wetness observations. The selected configuration (S7 PE/SAP 3/GT-80) was then demonstrated using a 1 × 2 m 2 outdoor prototype and compared with conventional wet burlap curing. The blanket-cured concrete produced a numerical mean core strength of 36.5 ± 1.1 MPa versus 34.9 ± 0.63 MPa for burlap, corresponding to a 4.6% higher mean. Qualitative photographs indicated longer visible surface wetness and fewer visible surface defects for the blanket configuration. Total supplied curing water was 20 L compared with 180 L for burlap, corresponding to an 88.9% reduction on the reported water-supply basis. These findings demonstrate that SAP-infused blankets provide a sustainable and efficient solution for concrete curing, particularly in hot and water-scarce environments.
The demand for biodegradable packaging materials as substitutes for plastics encourages current research. Woven jute fabric has been selected for its easy supply, cheap price, renewability, and biodegradability. But it shows limited barrier performance against moisture and heat. Researchers attempted different processes like surface alteration, chemical treatments, polymer impregnation, lamination coating, composite making, etc. to upgrade the fabric performance. In this study, a biodegradable natural polymer, latex was used for lamination onto woven jute fabric to fabricate a jute-latex laminated composite (JLLC). Latex solutions with varying concentrations were prepared, cast into films, and finally laminated using polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) onto woven jute fabric. Standard and customized testing procedures were followed to assess various features of developed JLLCs. Microscopic analysis displayed uniform film formation at lower latex concentrations, and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra confirmed the presence of characteristic functional groups of all components of JLLC. Tensile testing revealed a 42% improvement in breaking load (712 N) over control jute fabric (CJF) for the lowest latex percentage. Remarkable enhancement in tenacity (41.2 cN/tex, 24% form CJF) and initial modulus (0.546 GPa, ∼ 1.5 times of CJF) were also reported. Moisture management analysis addressed a 313 percentage-point reduction in one-way transport index (OWTI), which felt to -75% with higher latex concentration, and water contact angle measurements (maximum ∼98°) indicated enhanced surface hydrophobicity with increasing latex content. Thermal characterization illustrated an excellent radiant heat barrier and improved thermal resistance with a low heat conductivity (0.0204 W·m -1 ·K -1 , 58.8% lower than of CJF).
