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Ƶ scientists presented innovations in the field of technical textiles at the "Russian Textile Week" in Moscow
14 March

Ƶ scientists presented innovations in the field of technical textiles at the "Russian Textile Week" in Moscow The "Russian Textile Week" has finished its work in Expocentre. It was organized by SOYUZLEGPROM with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade under the patronage of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation. As part of the business program there was an international exhibition of textile materials "Intercan-2024. Spring", where Natalia Dashchenko, Associate Professor of the Department of Chemical Technologies named after Prof. A.A. Kharkharov, Ƶ, presented a report on the innovative developments of the university in the field of technical textiles, ready for implementation at domestic enterprises. The companies Syntex LLC, Montem JSC, Baltex LLC have already shown interest in the results on the site of the Expocenter.

She told about the first Russian composition of thermochromic dye developed at the University of Industrial Technologies and Design, in which the color developer is non-toxic compounds. Such dyes are used for household, medical purposes, as well as for details of military and lifeguard clothing. Fabrics with the applied composition have the ability to change their color when exposed to different temperatures. This is due to changes in the system of dye molecules, which can change from the colored form to colorless and back. At the same time, the composition can change color at any temperature from -90 degrees Celsius and below, to 100-120 degrees Celsius, based on the specific need.

Also, scientists from university have developed a method of finishing fabrics that allows to make the material simultaneously fire-resistant, resistant to water, oil and bacteria, as well as having different colors depending on the purpose of use. The basis of such textiles is fabrics made of metaaramid fibers, which in the untreated state can withstand a temperature of 450°C, but are very poorly amenable to processing, including dyeing. Scientists of Ƶ managed not only to obtain a fabric with coloristic finishing, but also to expand the temperature ranges of its use. After finishing, such a "smart fabric" can withstand 540°C and even retains its strength when cooled down to minus 80°C. Thanks to the know-how of St. Petersburg scientists, the dream of "safe interiors" in clubs, restaurants, movie theaters and any other urban spaces becomes real: non-flammable furniture fabrics, floor coverings, drapes, materials for ships, cars, trains and spacecraft, as well as comfortable protective clothing.

The university scientists also developed a method of modifying polymeric materials with bimetallic copper-silver nanoparticles to impart antimicrobial properties. They studied cotton, linen, silk, wool, viscose, polyamide and polyester textile materials and cellophane and polyamide films. These materials can be subjected to a certain treatment to obtain bimetallic copper-silver nanoparticles firmly fixed in them. This is the component that imparts antimicrobial properties. Modified polymeric materials not only prevent the growth and reproduction of bacteria, viruses and mold fungi, but also destroy them. Moreover, a synergistic effect is observed, when copper and silver enhance the effect of each other, so the antimicrobial properties of such materials are stronger compared to their analogs. Their fungicidal and bactericidal properties against dangerous strains of microorganisms causing nosocomial infections, including Acenobacter, Pseudomonas bacillus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterococci, Klebsiella, as well as antiviral properties against influenza A virus and Coxsackie B3 have been confirmed. The modified materials retain the acquired properties during the entire service life of the product, which is verified by a full cycle of washing according to GOST.

Another know-how of Ƶ scientists is the technology of obtaining textile materials of different fiber composition, having the property of self-cleaning of the surface from contaminants under the action of sunlight or after water treatment and having a variety of structural colors. This destroys both contaminants and bacteria and microorganisms. When used in real-life applications, garments made of such fabrics will self-clean when exposed to rain or sun. To create new-generation fabrics, a special coating of interference pigments - nanoparticles based on titanium dioxide, iron, tin, nickel, aluminum, chromium and other metals - must be applied to the textile material. At the same time, no equipment modernization is required to introduce the technology into production. Scientists have calculated that the cost of such treatment will cost industrialists about 80 rubles per square meter.

The textile industry of Russia, with about 20 thousand enterprises and 300 thousand employees, faces the task of meeting the country's demand for innovative materials for household, technical and special purposes. In recent years, the textile industry has demonstrated dynamic development. According to the State Statistics Service, Ministry of Economic Development, Association of Textile Manufacturers of Russia there is an increase in production volumes, expansion of the product range. New modern enterprises are appearing, many of them strive to gain competitive advantages by introducing innovative developments. Elena Sashina, Head of the Department of Chemical Technologies named after Prof. A.A. Kharkharov, Ƶ, tells about the situation with personnel training:

- A very important problem is the lack of highly qualified specialists, which hinders this development. According to SuperJob data, the number of vacancies in the light industry has increased 1.8 times over the last year, and even an increase in salary offers does not help to close them: for workers more than 70 thousand rubles, and for middle managers 100-200 thousand. This problem is especially acute for chemists-technologists, and without them it is impossible to produce modern, functional, "smart" textiles for workwear and medicine.

The Department of Chemical Technologies named after Prof. A.A. Kharkharov of Ƶ is the oldest department in Russia, which trains specialists for chemical finishing of textiles. Actively cooperating with the leading enterprises of the industry, we clearly understand the difficulties faced by production workers, which are largely due to the decline in prestige of many important professions observed since the early 90s. We see the solution to the staffing problem in active career guidance work with applicants, increasing the number of students in the relevant area of training. We try to ensure that students in the process of training underwent practical training at advanced enterprises, participated in obtaining and implementing the results of developments in smart textiles, and fulfillment of the development work in accordance with the requests of production.

The department strives to take into account the demands of the industry for the training of qualified personnel, including through the system of additional education of employees of the enterprises themselves. At the same time, we believe that we need state support measures for graduates going to work in the regions, which is where most of the light industry enterprises are concentrated, filling the deficit of professional standards, expanding the practice of contracts between universities and enterprises for targeted training.