Textile Technology Laboratories
In these labs, we focus on the development of future materials in functional and smart textiles, as well as innovative and resource-efficient production processes. It is a unique research environment where innovations happen in close connection to the textile industry.
Important research areas in textile materials technology are the development of new textile materials and innovative processes for the development of more efficient and sustainable textile production, such as functionalisation of textile surfaces (inkjet, valve jet, and 3D printing).
For example, polymeric e-textiles are being developed, with a focus on textile actuators to give the textile the built-in ability to change its shape or exert force on its environment. Conductive fibres and fibre optics are another major theme, and microfluidics, textile sensors (conductive, piezoelectric and resistive materials), and electrodes for the medical field are also developed.
The Textile Technology Laboratories includes four laboratories:
1. Research Lab – Chemistry
It contains most of our chemicals. It performs syntheses, manufactures various chemical compounds, coats fibres with synthesised products, and tests coated textiles and fibres. Electrochemical characterisation of textiles with a wide repertoire of analyses is possible.
2. Research Lab – Supercritical CO₂
This lab is mainly used for dyeing and functionalising textiles with supercritical carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide in its supercritical state has both properties of a liquid and a gas at the same time, providing some technical advantages over water-based processes. The condition occurs when the gas is kept at or above its critical temperature and pressure. Density in that state makes carbon dioxide a liquid. This method of dyeing using supercritical carbon dioxide is considered particularly important in the textile industry because it is waterless and saves energy and chemicals. At the same time, high quality products can be produced, creating new opportunities.
3. Research Lab – Analysis/Inkjet
This lab is used for analysis, inkjet printing, and 3D printing. Using inkjet printing and 3D printing enables a more resource-saving and flexible textile production for printing, dyeing, and functionalising the surface of the textile. In this lab, we can do everything from analysis for the development of functional inks to lab-scale production processes at industrial speeds.
4. Research Lab – Textile Bio/Plasma Machine
This lab is used, among other things, to perform antimicrobial tests on textile materials and to treat textiles in a plasma machine for surface modification in textile manufacturing processes, for example to improve wettability, functional coating, and the functional treatment of fabrics, fibres, and yarns. Using the plasma machine, we can perform tests relevant to industry.
Did you know that...
...researchers develop devices and instruments themselves if they are not available for purchase? An example is a pilot line for fibre coating to achieve conductivity.
...much of the equipment has been funded by various research foundations?
...many devices have been donated by local textile companies?
...the research lab, which focuses on resource-saving technologies for the sustainable and flexible production of textiles, is unique in terms of its scale when it comes to industrial-speed equipment and analytical instruments?
Research groups
Resources:
- Chemicals in chemical cabinets
- Refrigerator
- Fume hood
- Impedance Spectroscopy (Potentiostat)
- Raman spectroscopy
- CO₂ Dyeing RAPID COLOR Dyeing RAPID COLOR (for dyeing textiles with supercritical CO₂)
- Freezer
- Furnaces
- Ultrasonic processor
- Rheometer (viscosity)
- Optical Tensiometer THETA (contact angle)
- Ink Jet Printing Systems
- 3D printer
- Pore Size Meter
- UV-VIS Spectrophotometer
- SurPass Zeta potential
- Drop Watcher
- Plasma Machine PLAtex 600
- Autoclave
- Shaking incubator
- CHROMOJET printer