Publications by authors named "Tanja Pusic"

Aging and washing factors have a direct influence on changing the properties of textile products, e.g., causing a release of textile fragments in the washing process.

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This study investigates the wash resistance of polyester fabrics functionalized with chitosan, a biopolymer known for its biocompatibility, non-toxicity, biodegradability and environmentally friendly properties. The interaction of chitosan with synthetic polymers, such as polyester, often requires surface treatment due to the weak natural affinity between the two materials. To improve the interaction and stability of chitosan on polyester, alkaline hydrolysis of the polyester fabric was used as a surface treatment method.

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The roughness of woven fabric surface has so far been mainly investigated as a key characteristic of comfort in contact with the skin. The analysis of roughness can be extended to various contexts and applications, becoming an important tool for understanding how textile materials react in interaction with different finishing agents, as well as for gaining insight into the durability and effectiveness of treatments. This research presents a comprehensive study on the impact of alkaline hydrolysis and chitosan coating on the roughness of polyester woven fabric, utilizing both novel and adapted methods.

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The influence of 3, 10 and 50 washing cycles on the properties of cotton fabric and cotton-polyester blend in plain weave, was investigated in this study. In addition to the analysis of tensile properties in weft and warp directions and thickness, the number of particles produced in the dry state was also measured after 3, 10 and 50 washes. After washing, the entire effluent was analysed by determining the total suspended solids (TSS), the total solids (TS), the pH value and the conductivity.

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Protective properties against electromagnetic radiation represent the essential value of textiles for protective clothing worn in hazardous working conditions. To ensure that protective clothing lasts for as long as feasible, care processes must be optimized, especially since protective clothing is subjected to repeated cycles due to soiling. Improved formulations of special detergents and agents with high-performance finishing agents used in care processes can contribute to a longer life of protective clothing.

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The reuse of decontaminated disposable medical face masks can contribute to reducing the environmental burden of discarded masks. This research is focused on the effect of household and laboratory washing at 50 °C on the quality and functionality of the nonwoven structure of polypropylene medical masks by varying the washing procedure, bath composition, disinfectant agent, and number of washing cycles as a basis for reusability. The barrier properties of the medical mask were analyzed before and after the first and fifth washing cycle indirectly by measuring the contact angle of the liquid droplets with the front and back surface of the mask, further by measuring air permeability and determining antimicrobial resistance.

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The research deals with functionalization of a standard polyester fabric with biopolymer chitosan, whose premises are multifunctional and favour ecological effects. Due to the incompatibility of synthetic and natural polymers, the chitosan treatment was preceded by alkaline hydrolysis with sodium hydroxide with the addition of cationic and anionic surfactants as promoters. Compatibility of the chitosan with untreated and alkali-hydrolyzed fabrics was performed by analysis of mechanical and physico-chemical properties.

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Proban is a multiphase treatment of cotton fabrics based on the formation of pre-condensates using the flame retardant (FR) agent tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium salts (THPx). The assessment of the durability of a product demands a preliminary understanding of how relevant it is to extend its lifetime. It is therefore important to minimize the risk of agents impacting: (1) the protection level, (2) shape and dimensions, and (3) additional comfort characteristics of the fabric.

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The possibility of reactive printability on protective flame-resistant fabrics, varied in composition of weft threads and weave was investigated. In addition, the wash fastness of printed samples was analyzed. The functional properties of fabrics were assessed by measuring of the Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI).

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The paper investigates the shielding effectiveness of a newly developed cotton and polyester fabric into which conductive stainless-steel threads were incorporated in the warp and weft directions at frequencies 0.9 GHz, 1.8 GHz, 2.

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Microplastics have become one of the most serious environmental hazards today, raising fears that concentrations will continue to rise even further in the near future. Micro/nanoparticles are formed when plastic breaks down into tiny fragments due to mechanical or photochemical processes. Microplastics are everywhere, and they have a strong tendency to interact with the ecosystem, putting biogenic fauna and flora at risk.

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A contamination on a textile material is defined as an undesirable, local formation that deviates in appearance from the rest of the material. In this paper the relationship between the shape and surface of liquid contaminations and the firmness factor of woven fabric is investigated. The interdependence of constructional and structural parameters of raw and bleached cotton fabrics were analysed.

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The dominant type of polymer particles in water, sediment, and various organisms partly derives from natural and synthetic fibres released in the washing process. Pollution of aquatic recipients with these particles poses an interdisciplinary problem throughout the world. Wastewater from washing represents a dispersion system with different particle sizes that is also loaded with the source of the particles.

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This research is focused on cellulose and starch derivatives, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and carboxymethyl starch (CMS), added to the detergent in washing reference cotton fabric in soft and hard water at 40, 60 and 90 °C. The applied polymers were analyzed through the potential of surface cellulose modification and inhibition of stain transfer from standard stain donors to modified and initial cotton fabrics. The surface modification of the cotton fabrics, characterized by the zeta potential and amounts of deposits, was coupled with the cluster analysis as well as a whiteness assessment.

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This paper investigates a textile material of low surface mass for its protection against electromagnetic radiation (EMR), which is suitable for composite structures of garments, and for technical and interior applications. The shielding effectiveness against EMR of fabric knitted from polyamide threads coated with silver, measured in the frequency range of 0.9 GHz to 2.

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