Effect of fabric sound and touch on human subjective sensation

In order to investigate the relationship between subjective sensation for fabric sound and touch and the objective measurements, eight different apparel fabrics were selected as specimens. Sound parameters of fabrics including level pressure of total sound (LPT), level range (ΔL), and frequency differences (Δf) and mechanical properties by Kawabata Evaluation System (KES) were obtained. For subjective evaluation, seven aspects of the sound (softness, loudness, pleasantness, sharpness, clearness, roughness, and highness) and eight of the touch (hardness, smoothness, fineness, coolness, pliability, crispness, heaviness, and thickness) were rated using semantic differential scale. Polyester ultrasuede was evaluated to sound softer and more pleasant while polyester taffeta to sound louder and rougher than any other fabrics. Wool fabrics such as worsted and woolen showed similar sensation for sound but differed in some touch sensation in that woolen was coarsest, heaviest, and thickest in touch. In the prediction model for sound sensation, LPT affected postively subjective roughness and highness as well as loudness, whileΔL was found as a parameter related positively with softness and pleasantness. Touch sensation was explained by some of mechanical properties such as surface, compressional, shear, and bending properties implying that a touch sensation could be expressed by a variety of properties.     

Effects of material properties and fabric structure characteristics of graduated compression stockings (GCS) on the skin pressure distributions

Graduated compression stockings (GCS) have been widely used for the prophylaxis and treatment of venous diseases. Their gradient pressure function largely related to their fabric structure and material properties. By combing fabric physical testing and wear trials, this study investigated the GCSs fabric structure and material properties at different locations along the stocking hoses, and quantitatively analyzed the effects of fabrics on skin pressure longitudinal and transverse distributions. We concluded that, Structural characteristics and material properties of stocking fabrics were not uniform along the hoses, but a gradual variation from ankle to thigh regions, which significantly influenced the corresponding skin pressure gradient distributions; Tensile (WT, EM) and shearing properties (G) generated most significant differences among ankle, knee and thigh regions along the stocking hose, which significantly influenced the skin pressure lognitudinal gradient distribution. More material indices generating significant gradual changes occurred in the fabric wale direction along stocking hose, meaning that materials properties in wale direction would exert more important impact on the skin pressure gradient performances. And, the greater tensibility and smoother surface of fabric in wale direction would contribute to put stocking on and off, and facilitate wearers’ leg extension-flexion movements. The indices of WT and EM of stocking fabrics in series A have strong linear correlations with skin pressure lognitudinal distribution, which largely related to their better performances in gradual changes of material properties. Skin pressure applied by fabric with same material properties produced pronounced differences among four different directions around certain cross-sections of human leg, especially at the ankle region; and, the skin pressure magnitudes at ankle region were more easily influenced by the materials properties, which were considered to be largely related to the anatomic structure of human leg.     

Surface treatments of jute fabric: The influence of surface characteristics on jute fabrics and mechanical properties of jute/polyester composites

In this study, jute fabrics were modified by alkali, micro-emulsion silicon (MS) and fluorocarbon based agents (FA) in order to enhance the interfacial adhesion between the polyester matrix and the jute fiber. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle measurements were used to characterize fiber surfaces. The effects of various surface treatments on the mechanical and morphological of jute/polyester composites were also studied. All surface treatments were shown to improve the tensile, flexural strengths and interlaminar shear strengths of the composites. Moreover, the maximum improvement in the mechanical properties was obtained for the FA treated jute/polyester composites. SEM micrographs of the tensile fracture surface of jute/unsaturated polyester composites also exhibited improvement of interfacial and interlaminar shear strengths by the alkali, MS and FA treatments of jute fibers.     

Effect of enzymatic treatment and reactive dyeing on the low stress mechanical properties of linen fabric

The present study was concerned mainly with the assessment of the modification of low stress mechanical properties of linen fabric that were induced by enzymatic treatment. In addition, the effect of dyeing with reactive dye on the enzyme treated linen fabric on the low stress mechanical properties were also investigated. Kawabata Evaluation System for Fabric (KES-F) instrument was used for assessing the low stress mechanical properties, i.e. tensile, shearing, bending, compression, and surface properties. Experimental results showed that the enzymatic treatment could alter those properties to different extent depending much on the concentration of enzyme used.     

Effect of parboiling on physical and chemical characteristics and non-enzymatic browning of emmer (Triticum dicoccon Schrank)

Parboiling is a popular technology applied to rice to increase its milling yield, nutritional value and resistance to spoilage by insects and mould. This process was applied to Triticum dicoccon Schrank to induce physical, chemical and organoleptic modifications in order to increase its use and product diversification.     

Fortification of rice with folic acid using parboiling technique: Effect of parboiling conditions on nutrient uptake and physical characteristics of milled rice

Parboiling was used as a technique for folic acid fortification in brown rice. A range of parboiling conditions (i.e. 70 °C soaking for 1, 2 and 3 h with 0.15, 0.3, 0.6 and 1.2 g folic acid/300 g brown rice and milled for 0, 60 and 120 s) were studied to investigate the uptake of folic acid in the fortified rice. Approximately 20–300 μg folic acid/g was found in the fortified rice and an average of 90% of folic acid was retained in the washed and cooked fortified rice. The quality of the fortified rice was evaluated based on head rice yield (HRY), kernel dimensions and color. No significant change in HRY and grain dimensions were observed between raw and fortified rice, suggesting the economic value of rice will not be compromised with the fortification process and rice uniformity may likely be achieved after mixing with the untreated rice. Despite the inherent yellow color of folic acid, in comparison with parboiled rice, a significant difference in yellowness was exhibited only in rice fortified at 1.2 g folic acid/300 g brown, but not among those fortified at lower fortificant concentrations. The difference in lightness (ΔL^∗) (between fortified rice and parboiled rice) was reduced as soaking duration increased.