Textile and Apparel Science

Assessing Chemical Processing and Electrospinning As Alternative Textile Recycling Methods

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Abstract

This experimental study was conducted to explore an alternative textile recycling method for the production of single-fiber content nanofiber textiles. The purpose of this research addressed the concept of life cycle circularity through the recycling of textiles, providing valuable feedback regarding the potential to remove textile waste from traditional waste streams for circular lifecycles through chemical recycling. The methodology used within this study included chemical processing and electrospinning for nanofiber textile production. Chemical recycling was assessed to determine the processes and percentages needed for successful fiber blend separation in order to develop a scientific protocol. The outcome of this protocol produced a solution for electrospinning a nano-textile. The electrospinning techniques were assessed to determine the quantity of solution and spinning time required to produce a recycled nano-textile that maintained similarity in weight (mass density) to the preliminary non-recycled textile. Results from this study documented the findings for chemical processing and nano-textile production, and a protocol combining the chemical recycling processes with electrospinning of recycled fiber blends was created. 

Keywords: sustainability, textile recycling, chemical processing, electrospinning

How to Cite:

Barbour, C., Eike, R. & Xiang, C., (2022) “Assessing Chemical Processing and Electrospinning As Alternative Textile Recycling Methods”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 78(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.13716