Peter Hauser Ph.D.

This document proposes a research project to continue and complete the previous work (project number: 5-56268) led by Dr. Peter Hauser, College of Textiles, NC State University. The initial work and results were drafted and filed as a provisional patent on March 21, 2016 (application No. 62/311,313, NCSU Ref. No. 16105, Atty. Dkt. No. 030871-9056-US00). Following a discussion on the status of the filed provisional patent document on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 with specialists from Eastman Chemical Company it was concluded that additional work is needed to supporting the original data and finalizing the patent application. This additional work includes: 1) replication of the experiments described in the original document, 2) inclusion of additional variable parameters to the process to providing a clearer conclusion about the performance of the coatings, 3) examination of the coatings for their corrosion and abrasion protection performances and 4) evaluation of the technology at the manufacturing site in Martinsville.

A 24 month project is proposed to study dye strike rates and color yields for both cationized and anionized cotton and to recommend suitable dyeing procedures for these ionized cotton materials.

The objectives of this proposal are two-fold. The first is to determine a commercially feasible way to prevent excess cationic sites on cationized cotton. The second objective is to develop a mathematical model that will allow the optimal cationization level to be calculated for a specific dye formula.

Over the last six years, a common problem identified by attendees of Cotton, Incorporated?s workshops on Color Standards and Dyeing Science relates to the dyeing performance of dark shades such as black, navy, burgundy, etc. This theme is articulated consistently in statements such as this: ?Our suppliers commonly cannot achieve the ultra deep shades on cotton that our designers have chosen for their color pallets. And if they can, then we commonly have to accept wash fastness performance that is below our technical specifications?

Over the last 12 years, our research group has worked to developed new low energy and low environmental impact bleaching of cotton fibers using a novel, patented bleach activator. Interest in commercial production of the activator is increasing, and with a market focused on reduced environmental impact and energy consumption, assessment of commercial feasibility of our pilot-plant tested methods are warranted.

This project will provide a biofilm resistant coating to woven and knit fabrics using UV curable chemistry.

Evaluate properties of proposed tricomponent fiber.

The primary goal of the proposed research is to determine the basic commercial viability of employing optimized cationization preparation of cotton to obtain ultra deep shades with high fastness properties and low environmental impact.

The value of cationizing cotton prior to dyeing has been demonstrated by several researchers [1-4]. The cationization agent of choice has been found to be 3?]chloro?]2?]hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (CHPTAC) [5]. However, one obstacle to implementation of this technology has been the need for a separate wet process to apply the cationization agent after preparation and before dyeing. CHPTAC does not exhaust efficiently to cotton, therefore applying this cationization agent in a dyeing machine is not economical. Therefore, a combined preparation-cationization process would encourage wider use of cationized cotton. One possible approach to a combined preparation-cationization process is the use of the cold pad batch method. However, previous work has shown that a single bath bleach-cationization is ineffective [6]. Interestingly, if a scour-cationization is carried out prior to bleaching, the prepared fabric has the characteristics of both a well prepared and cationized fabric [7]. A two-step procedure of desize, scour, bleach followed by cationization in a low liquor ratio machine has not been reported and may provide a way to economically and efficiently produce a prepared, cationized fabric.

The primary goal of the proposed research is to determine the basic commercial viability of employing optimized mercerization and cationization preparation of cotton to obtain ultra deep shades with high fastness properties and low environmental impact.