Table of Content - JFBI 2.2

The mechanism of human colour perception is very complex and difficult to analyse, especially the neural mechanisms which are not well understood. In order to analyse the mechanism, it is essential to derive some quantitative visual scales. Therefore, an attempt has been made to analyse the colorimetric characteristics of the scales in CIELAB colour space and then obtain a colour description map using perceptual axes. In addition, the relationship between the many colour word pairs has been determined using descriptive scales and statistical analysis.With the results, we derived empirical colour emotion equations to express our impression induced from colour. The instrumental colorimetric assessment of colour emotions can be made through the colour emotion equations that were derived. With sensory database and colour emotion equations, we envisaged the development of some useful tools for Information Technology. Colour emotion scales obtained can be transformed to CIELCh, CIELAB, XYZ, and RGB values, which can be output as colours by display devices. This colour output can be used by applications such as product design and development.

There are a growing number of children and babies diagnosed with multi sensory disability and visual impairment. Developing and stimulating these children is often done in Multi Sensory rooms in schools and hospitals where the child can experience visual, tactile, olfactory, auditory, motor, cognitive and communicatory toys and products. Many of these aids use plastic coatings for ease of cleaning between multiple users but have limited textures, however the work reported here investigates the role of textiles as a learning aid, exploring different surfaces and effects to enhance the tactile sensations of an object and concluding in a ball being designed and developed almost entirely from textiles. The techniques and technology included in the product are; UV florescent dyestuffs, ‘Shibori’ technique, colour changing fibre optics, retro reflective materials and microencapsulated aroma and anti-bacterial technology. A limited case study has been undertaken and demonstrates the success of the product. The use of texture, light and aroma together with movement gives a lot of stimulation to a child. Teachers involved with the project gave positive feedback on how the child responded.

New quaternary ammonium compounds, 6-(1-anthraquinonylamino) hexyldi methylammonium bromide (AHDDAB) was synthesized by 1-aminoanthraquinone with dimethyl dodecyl amine via hexamethylene spacer, and its antimicrobial activity was investigated. Results indicate that the new quaternary ammonium salt was successfully treated on PET surfaces by exhaustion method as in dyeing, and durable antimicrobial finish of PET was also investigated. New QAC was exhausted on PET fabric without any aid of chemical auxiliary even water- soluble. Since AHDDAB is soluble in water, and the anthraquinonyl moiety of compound could anchor on PET surface, and the antimicrobial part orientates outwards, the results indicate that the durability of PET treated with AHDDAB were good enough to maintain the initial properties even after 30 repeated laundering. The fastness of PET treated with AHDDAB to 30 repeated laundering in anionic commercial detergent are good enough to show colony reduction above 70% against S, aureus and K, pneumoniae. The results mentioned above would suggest that test fabrics finished with AHDDAB could be valuable in the development of the field of antimicrobial fabrics, and could contribute considerably to the better hygiene of all textiles in general.

In this paper, an improved 9-node mathematical model of thermal physiological response of infants is developed by integrating Gagge’s two-node model and Stolwijk’s multi-node model. Considering the individual difference of infants body weight and size, the relationship between basic geometric parameters of infants and their thermal physiological parameters has been established in this model, so that the new naked infants model can be used for different size of infants, term infants and premature infants. To investigate the core and skin temperature distribution on infants, a set of numerical simulations have been carried out for naked premature and term infants. By comparing the predictions of the model with the published data, this model was validated from the aspects of neutral thermal environment and skin temperature distribution. It demonstrated that this model is satisfactory.

By using the 3D scan data, the ease-space area relations between a standard body and a specific style of garment with various sizes are studied. The least square method, cubic polynomial approximation and even arc-length with the idea of reverse engineering are employed in analyzing the curves of different cross sections of the body and the garment. Moreover, the area between the body surface and the garment section curves is used in calculating the ease-space distribution along with the changes of the body angles. 30% of the total ease space is distributed in the front and the back and 70% around the sides and the waist if the garment is to boast a good appearance, which is provided in evaluation indicator for the 3D garment simulation. This study is useful in the further investigation of the fitness of the garments to human body, and it provides a evaluating indicator in the 3D garment simulation. It can also be used in firefighting industry such as the air gap calculation for the fireproof clothing.

A scientific understanding on the reduction of breast displacements during activities will be necessary for the future development of optimal sports bras in order to prevent breast injury. This study aims to evaluate the shock absorbing performance of different sports bras, and to analyze the factors involved. 3 healthy women were invited to participate in the experiments. They wore 4 types of sports bras of 2 different support levels and performed 3 different activities. Breast movements were recorded by a 6-camera Vicon motion capturing system. The breast displacement and the reduced percentage of controlled breast displacement (RBD) are proposed as the main parameters for evaluating the shock absorbing performance of sports bras. The naked breast displacement ranged from 1.01 to 4.37 cm. The breast displacement was the largest during stepping at the nipple. However, the RBD was larger at outerbreast when wearing sports bras. The magnitude of shock absorption did not agree with the support levels claimed by the manufacturers. The encapsulation bras were more effective than compression bras in controlling breast displacement. The encapsulation bra EP-2 was the most effective shock absorber due to its higher content of polyamide, wider shoulder strap and higher neckline.

Regenerated Antheraea pernyi (A. pernyi) silk fibroin porous material was prepared by freeze-drying. By means of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, 13C NMR and Raman spectroscopy, the molecular conformation of A. pernyi silk fibroin porous materials prepared under different freezing temperatures and different concentrations of silk fibroin solution were investigated and analyzed. The results indicated that the molecular conformation of silk fibroin inside regenerated Antheraea pernyi silk fibroin porous materials prepared by freeze-drying was due to the coexistence of α-helix and random coil structure, which was different from that of Antheraea pernyi silk fibroin fibers. The content of α-helix structure of freeze-dried material prepared under higher temperature had a tendency to increase. Crosslinking by PEG-DE can promote the transformation of silk fibroin from random coil to α-helix structure.

The poor crease recovery performance of linen fabrics has resulted in attempts to improve this characteristic by modifying the structure of the flax fibres from which the linen is woven. In this paper, flax fibers were oxidized with sodium periodate solution leading to a variety of polymers having functional groups such as aldehyde group for subsequent modification. Several factors (oxidant concentration, pH values, oxidization temperature and time) on the weight loss, mechanical properties and content of the formed aldehyde groups were analyzed. Structure and morphology of oxidized flax fibers were also investigated. Results show that the characteristic absorption band due to aldehyde group strengthened the oxidized fibers. The crystallinity decreased and endothermicdecomposition temperature dropped gradually with the increase of oxidant concentration, oxidation time and temperature, as well as their mechanical properties. Moreover, when the fiber was oxidized with high level oxidization degree, the conformation of flax completely transferred to a random coil. So as a textile material, the oxidization degree of flax should be reasonably controlled.

The purpose of this study is to assess the subjective responses on uncomfortable sensation, usability, overall satisfactory level and preference while wearing five types of personal protective equipment (PPE) ensembles. Ten subjects exercised on a treadmill, worked on a computer, and moved a mannequin in a simulated environment, replicating a health care worker’s routine. Results show that the subjective discomfort perceptions, usability, overall satisfactory level and preference are different for the different ensembles. The perceived thermal, wet and overall uncomfortable sensation on the entire body was significantly correlated with those under the mask. Overall uncomfortable sensations both under the mask and in the entire body significantly influenced the overall satisfactory level of ensembles. This paper discusses how the air-tightness, weight and construction may be responsible for the usability difference between PPE. The fitness of the mask is a significant factor affecting the overall uncomfortable sensation under the mask and overall satisfactory level of the PPE ensemble.

A direct polymerization process was developed to synthesize homo- and copolymers of L-lactic acid. The properties and structures of the products were characterized by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). It was found that PLLA can be prepared by direct synthesis using melt polycondensation. Moreover, the number-average molecular weight and compositions of each polymer was determined by 1H-NMR spectra. In the meantime, the 1H-NMR spectra was also used for racemization analysis.