Title: Development of Functional Clothing
based on Nanotechnology
Project type: Bilateral projects with Slovenia
Croatian coordinator: Prof. Edita Vujasinović, PhD
Slovenian coordinator: Jelka Geršak
Project Summary:
Lately we have witnessed increasing demands that are placed on work and sporting clothing, such as the maximum effective protection from harmful effects of the working environment, antibacterial properties, thermophysiological comfort, odor-removing, “wellness” effect, etc. Therefore, the aim this project to be systematic, interdisciplinary approach to the designs or design a new high-performance multifunctional textile materials and protective clothing and / or sports clothes (especially for extreme sports). To achieve this it is necessary to accurately determine the descriptors for objectively describing, evaluating and designing of textile materials in addition to protective functions, to provide comfort and thermophysiological clothing, which was highlighted as a priority in the European Directive on personal protective equipment (Council Directive 89 / 656/EEC; Council Directive 89/686/EEC).
To accomplish the goal should be primarily carried out extensive and systematic survey of potential carriers multifunction garment, different interpretations based on nanotechnology (eg, applications of nano-particles of zeolite, etc.) targeted to modify or functionalizing existing conventional textile materials and / or design new composite textile structures. The resulting knowledge will allow, that the multifunctional working and / or sporting clothes designed, constructed and optimized in accordance with the required high-use properties (a high level of protection and comfort).
Croatian collaborators than to the survey, functionalization and modification of conventional textile materials continued and so far, partly joint research on an objective measurement and evaluation of various textile structures. Specifically, the results of previous scientific research in the field of objective measurement and evaluation of textiles have shown that the ingrained way of choosing the source materials for unconventional textiles and clothing is not satisfactory. Therefore, the Croatian collaborators focus on functionalized and research materials (conventional, engineered and designed specifically) and define the relevant parameters that are connected together objectively describe the suitability of textile materials for making high-performance, multifunction garment specifically intended for people who are in their work more or less exposed to extreme environmental conditions. Slovenian researchers in addition to the survey, will focus primarily on the objective characterization of new materials and work with regard to functional and performance characteristics, within which will be based on the application of new structural materials and their mechanical, physical and thermophysiological properties determine the minimum quality requirements for new functionalized materials with regard to function, the processing and performance characteristics of the specific requirements of individual workpieces (eg, clothing for protection in high-risk situations, daily field work clothing, etc.).
Based on the results obtained will enable the design, construction design and optimization of protection (labor and/or sports) clothing in accordance with the desired properties in use. Since the Croatian and Slovenian research teams complement each other closing the circle from raw material to finished product is expected the successful implementation of prototypes and patent applications.
