DNFI Innovation in Natural Fibres Award 2019 Biodegradable weather-resistant cotton-jute fabric can replace PVC-coated PET

摘要

Dr. Debasish Das, Professor at the University of Calcutta, Department of Jute and Fibre Technology, Kolkata/lndia, and Dr. Subhas Ghosh, Professor at the Eastern Michigan University, School of Visual Built Environments, College of Engineering and Technology, Ypsilanti, Ml/USA, have won the 2019 Discover Natural Fibres Initiative Innovation Award. The researchers collaborated on the development of a biodegradable cotton-jute fabric with a waterproof coating that can substitute for non-biodegradable PVC-coated polyester. The new cotton-jute fabric is suitable for use in outdoor fabrics such as tarps, awnings, canopies, or automobile hooding material. In addition to being biodegradable, the natural fiber material meets fire-retardancy standards and allows the transfer of moisture vapor to avoid the accumulation of humidity on the underside of fabrics, while remaining waterproof. The product is a cotton-jute fabric coated with a blend of chlorosulfonated polyethylene, chloroprene and polyvinyl alcohol employing a calendar coating technique and subsequently vulcanized using a typical sulfur curing system. The product is intended as a substitute for PVC-coated polyester, which is used as an outdoor material throughout the world.