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Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum) is an excellent source of polysaccharides with potential for various applications in textile processing. Presently, proso millet is an economically important crop in the United States albeit for low-end uses such as bird seed and livestock feed. The current research is directed at utilizing starch extracted from proso millet for higher value-added applications such as a thickener in textile printing. The paper describes an optimum method of extracting starch from proso millet followed by physiochemical characterization of the extracted starch using methods such as swelling capacity, paste clarity analysis, amylose content, spectrophotometric analysis of starch color, XRD analysis, thermal stability analysis via DSC, and rheological examination. Characterized starch was then incorporated as a thickener in a vat dye print formulation and printed on a 100% cotton fabric. Printed quality was evaluated in terms of color depth, bending length, crocking fastness and washing fastness. Additionally, print quality was benchmarked against samples printed with sodium alginate as the thickener in the print formulation. Results showed starch from proso millet had desirable properties of a good thickener such as excellent paste clarity, adequate viscosity and high solubility and crystallinity. Proso starch printed samples demonstrated comparable color value, flexibility, crocking fastness and washing fastness when compared with sodium alginate printed samples. The results suggest that proso millet starch is an effective and economical thickener in textile printing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the mechanism of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. The interest in the use of enzymes in textile processing has reportedly intensified due to advances in recombinant genetic engineering and the increasing legislation and burden on the industry to be environmentally friendly. Desizing, scouring, bio-polishing and bio-finishing are some of the textile applications of enzymes on cellulosic substrates. The proposed mechanism of hydrolysis involves the transfer of enzyme molecules from the aqueous phase to the surface of cellulose molecules, adsorption of the enzyme molecules, transfer of water molecules and surface reaction between water and cellulose.

The inclusion of polyacrylamide in both enzymatic and oxidative desizing baths results in increased pickup of the desizing bath by sized fabric. Associated with the increased pickup is a more efficient removal of size from the fabric under controlled experimental conditions. It is believed that the use of polyacrylamide in desizing baths is a powerful new method by which quality assurance in desizing can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational polynomial equations have been found to closely approximate the theoretical diffusion equations for calculating the rate of dye uptake of diffusion-controlled dyeing systems. These systems include infinite dyebath with no boundary layer, finite dyebath with no boundary layer, infinite dyebath with boundary layer and finite dyebath with boundary layer. The approximate polynomial equations for twenty-eight exhaustion levels E, and thirty-three boundary layer levels L, were established. Using these equations the rates of dye uptake were calculated and compared with the data calculated from Wilson's and Crank's equations respectively. The accuracy was found to be up to four significant figures. Polynomial equations for thirty-two sets of boundary conditions and exhaustion levels (L,E) for finite dyebath with boundary layer were established based on data calculated by a previously reported method. The maximum difference between the values obtained using polynomial equations and the previous method was less than one percent. The present work also demonstrates that the differential method can be used to determine the diffusion coefficient and dimensionless parameter L of an infinite dyebath with a boundary layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beneficial effect of textiles as a barrier to UV radiation has been well documented in literature. Factors affecting UVR transmission of textiles include the chemical nature of the fiber, porosity or cover factor, thickness, weight, and wet processing treatments such as dyes and finishes applied to the textile. However, the review of literature reveals no report on the UV properties of nonwovens. The objective of this study was to determine the Ultraviolet Protective Factor (UPF) of six selected nonwovens. The UPF values obtained were analyzed vis-à-vis the fiber content, thickness and weight of the nonwovens. The relationship of UPF to the cover factor of the nonwovens was also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Use of Usnic Acid as a Novel Antimicrobial Agent for Medical Textiles," by Ajoy K. Sarkar and Subhash Appidi is presented.