Researchers at the University of Toronto have designed a solution that reduces the amount of microplastic fibers that shed when synthetic fabrics are washed.
In a world overwhelmed by fast fashion, an industry that mass-produces cheaply made garments at enormous cost to the environment, more than two-thirds of garments are now made of materials such as nylon, polyester, acrylic and rayon. Made from synthetic fibres. .
When clothes made from synthetic fabrics are put in the washing machine, the friction from the wash cycle causes tiny tears, breaking microplastic fibers (less than 500 micrometers in length) and allowing them to flow down the laundry drain and into the waterways. The particles are difficult to remove and can take decades or more to fully decompose.
But researchers at the University of T say a slippery solution to this problem may already be in your cabinet. It is a silicon-based organic polymer coating found on many household items.
Kevin GolovinAn assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at the School of Applied Science and Engineering, his team created a two-layer coating made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) brushes. Nanoscale surface layer.
Experiments conducted by the team showed that this coating could significantly reduce the shedding of microfibers in nylon clothing after repeated washings, according to findings published in Nature Sustainability.
“My lab has been working with this coating on other surfaces, such as glass and metal, for several years,” says Golovin. “One of the properties we observed is that it is very slippery and has very low friction.”
PDMS is used in shampoos to give hair shine and smoothness. It is also used as a food additive in oils to prevent liquids from foaming when bottled.
Sudip Kumar BorniHe is a postdoctoral researcher in Golovin’s lab and the lead author of the study.
One of the biggest challenges researchers faced during their studies was getting the PDMS brushes to stay on the fabric. Textiles by trade His engineer, Lahiri, has developed molecular primers based on his understanding of fabric dyes.
Lahiri reasoned that the type of bonding responsible for keeping dyed apparel colorful after repeated washings would also work for PDMS coatings.
Neither primers nor PDMS brushes work individually to reduce shedding of microplastic fibres. But combined they deliver a powerful finish that reduces microfiber emissions by he more than 90% after 9 washes.
“PDMS brushes are environmentally friendly because they are not petroleum-based like many of the polymers in use today,” says Golovin, who won the Connaught New Researcher award for the work.
“With the addition of Sudip’s primer, the coating is robust enough to remain on the garment and continue to reduce microfiber shedding over time.”
Since PDMS is an inherently water-repellent material, researchers are currently working to make the coating hydrophilic, allowing the coated fabric to wick sweat better. The team has also expanded its research beyond nylon fabrics, including polyester and synthetic fiber blends.
“Many textiles are made of multiple types of fibers,” says Golovin. “We are working to formulate the correct polymer structure so that the coating can permanently adhere to all these fibers at the same time.”
Governments around the world have sought ways to minimize debris from washing synthetic fabrics. Synthetic fibers can accumulate in oceans, lakes and rivers, threaten marine life, and enter the human food chain through their presence in food and tap water. One example is washing machine filters, which have emerged as a major measure to prevent microplastic fibers from entering waterways. In Ontario, legislative members have introduced a bill requiring filters for new washing machines in the province.
“But when we look at what governments around the world are doing, we don’t see any trend to prevent the generation of microplastic fibers in the first place,” Golovin says.
“Our research is moving in the other direction of actually solving problems rather than patching them up.”
Original: Researchers develop a coating that prevents synthetic fabrics from releasing harmful microplastics during washing
Than: University of Toronto
