Service for Textile European Projects (STEP)

Tekstilno-tehnološki fakultet (TTF) Sveučilišta u Zagrebu je uvidio važnost pravovremenog uključivanja svojih djelatnika u EU projekte i uspostavom Servisa tekstilnih europskih projekata (STEP-a) napravio značajan pomak sa stanovišta koordinacije ove aktivnosti. Glavni cilj STEP-a je pružanje podrške, prvenstveno djelatnicima TTF-a ali i suradnicima iz gospodarstva, prilikom prijave međunarodnih projekata, te edukacija potencijalnih voditelja EU projekata s nastojanjem uključivanja hrvatske tekstilne znanosti i privrede u EU tokove. U radu je prikazano djelovanje djelatnika TTF-a u Europskoj tehnološkoj platformi za budućnost tekstila i odjeće prvenstveno u okviru projektnih prijava. Udruženje EURATEX je nedavno uspostavilo novi sustav izmjene podataka vezanih za prijave FP7 projekata unutar tekstilnog područja – TEPPIES (Textile Project Proposal Information Exchange System). Najznačajniji zadatak STEP-a je inicijacija projektnih prijava koja je znatno porasla s uspostavom STEP-a, ali i sa učestvovanjem TTF-a u sustavu TEPPIES.Faculty of Textile Technology (TTF) University of Zagreb has realized the significance of early involvement of its employees into the EU projects and by establishing Service for Textile European Projects (STEP) has made a significant step towards coordination of this activity. Main objective of STEP is giving support to TTF’s employees, as well as to partners from industry, for preparation of international project proposals, education of EU project managers and inclusion of Croatian textile science and industry into the EU processes. This paper presents participation of TTF in the European Technology Platform for the future of textiles and clothes in the framework of projects. The European Apparel and Textile Organisation (EURATEX) has recently established new Textile Project Proposal Information Exchange System (TEPPIES). The most important task of STEP is initiation of project proposals which has increased after the establishment of STEP, so as with the participation in TEPPIES

Cotton textiles modified with citric acid as efficient anti-bacterial agent for prevention of nosocomial infections

Aim. To study the antimicrobial activity of citric acid (CA) and sodium hypophosphite monohydrate (SHP) against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and to determine the influence of conventional and microwave thermal treatments, on the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatment of cotton textiles. ----- Method. Textile material was impregnated with CA and SHP solution and thermally treated by either conventional or microwave drying/curing treatment. Antibacterial effectiveness was tested according to ISO 20743:2009 standard, using absorption method. The surfaces were morphologically observed by scanning electron microscopy, while physical characteristics were determined by wrinkle recovery angles method (DIN 53 891), tensile strength (DIN 53 837), and whiteness degree method (AATCC 110-2000). ----- Results. Cotton fabric treated with CA and SHP showed significant antibacterial activity against MRSA (6.38 log10 treated by conventional drying and 6.46 log10 treated by microwave drying before washing, and 6.90 log10 and 7.86 log10, respectively, after 1 cycle of home domestic laundering washing [HDLW]). Antibacterial activity was also remarkable against S. aureus (4.25 log10 by conventional drying, 4.58 log10 by microwave drying) and against P. aeruginosa (1.93 log10 by conventional drying and 4.66 log10 by microwave drying). Antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa was higher in samples subjected to microwave than in conventional drying. Antibacterial activity was reduced after 10 HDLW cycles but the compound was still effective. The surface of the untreated cotton polymer was smooth, while minor erosion stripes appeared on the surfaces treated with antimicrobial agent, and long and deep stripes were found on the surface of the washed sample. ----- Conclusion. CA can be used both for the disposable (non-durable) materials (gowns, masks, and cuffs for blood pressure measurement) and the materials that require durability to laundering. The current protocols and initiatives in infection control could be improved by the use of antimicrobial agents applied on cotton carbohydrate polymer

Utjecaj sušenja na fizikalno-mehanička svojstva škrobljene pređe

Analiziran je utjecaj različitih način sušenja škrobljene pamučne konvencionalne pređe na njezina fizikalno-mehanička svojstva. Ispitivanja su provedena na pamučnoj pređi različitih finoća na novokonstruiranom laboratorijskom stroju za škrobljenje. Nakon škrobljenja pređa je sušena na tri načina: konvekcijskim, kontaktnim i mikrovalnim sušenjem. Prema dobivenim rezultatima, način sušenja škrobljene pređe ne utječe bitno na fizikalno-mehanička svojstva pređe. Najveći utjecaj načina sušenja primjetan je kod svojstva dlakavosti pri čemu je ona smanjena u slučaju primjene kontaktnog sušionika. Najveći doprinos mikrovalnog sušenja je u njegovoj ekonomičnosti i jednoličnosti sušenja, dok su postignuti efekti škrobljenja podjednaki efektima postignutima, danas najčešće primjenjivanim, kontaktnim načinom sušenja

Stabilnost dimenzija drva modificiranoga limunskom kiselinom uz različite katalizatore

Small wooden samples of fir (Abies alba Mill.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) were chemically modified by citric acid (CA) as non-formaldehyde cross-linking system reagent and cured by convection heating at three different temperature regimes. Two different CA solutions were used, one with NaH2PO2 and the other with NaH2PO4 as a catalyst. The dimensional stability of the modified wood was determined by the anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) using the water soak/oven dry method. Almost equally large improvement of dimensional stability of wood was attained using NaH2PO4 as when NaH2PO2 was applied as a catalyst.Mali drveni blokovi jelovine i bukovine kemijski su modificirani neformaldehidnim sustavom za umrežavanje – limunskom kiselinom (CA), u trima različitim temperaturnim režimima. Upotrijebljene su dvije otopine limunske kiseline. U jednoj je katalizator bio NaH2PO2, a u drugoj NaH2PO4. Stabilnost dimenzija modificiranog drva određena je tzv. učinkom smanjenja bubrenja (ASE) metodom potapanja u vodi i sušenja do apsolutno suhog stanja. Upotrebom NaH2PO4 postignuto je gotovo jednako poboljšanje stabilnosti dimenzija kao i primjenom NaH2PO2

Dimensional stability of wood modified by citric acid using different catalysts

Small wooden samples of fir (Abies alba Mill.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) were chemically modified by citric acid (CA) as non-formaldehyde cross-linking system reagent and cured by convection heating at three different temperature regimes. Two different CA solutions were used, one with NaH2PO2 and the other with NaH2PO4 as a catalyst. The dimensional stability of the modified wood was determined by the anti-swelling efficiency (ASE) using the water soak/oven dry method. Almost equally large improvement of dimensional stability of wood was attained using NaH2PO4 as when NaH2PO2 was applied as a catalyst