Textile Chemistry Research and Innovation Center

 Textile Chemistry Research and Innovation Center

First elite center of excellence in textile chemistry in Africa

1.    Background on Textile Chemistry Center of Research and Innovation

The center of research and innovation for textile chemistry (TC-RiC) is one of the research and innovation centers in Ethiopian Institute of Textile and Fashion Technology, EiTEX. The center is established in the year 2011 and is among the four pillar research and innovation centers in EiTEX.

As a research and innovation center under EiTEX, TC-RiC is concerned about professional and research development in the following core disciplines.

      • Fibers and Polymeric Materials
      •  Textile Preparation
      •  Coloration Technology  (Dyeing and Printing)
      •  Conventional and Advanced Textile Finishing
      •  Multi-Functional Finishing
      •  Colour Analysis and Colour Matching

As a purpose in meeting the vision of the institute as per nation demand the TC-RiC is launched among other development programs to excel in research, innovation and dissemination activities aimed at providing efficient support to the textile industry, educational institutions  and related sectors. The center is organized to provide well trained textile chemists and researchers/innovators to the market in the fields of textile processing and fiber/polymer science and technology.

With this regard the TC-RiC is striving to support the stakeholders and the nation as a whole supplying transferable knowledge and skills through continuous and effective research and dissemination activities. On the spot at the ground the TC-RiC is engaged on ensuring quality teaching-learning process, problem solving and transferable research and training; and outcome based dissemination (technology transfer, community service, scientific publications, and academic seminars) activities. These activities are in line with the stetted missions and vision of the institute cascaded from the expectations of the sector as per the growth and transformation plan of the government.

2.    Vision of Textile Chemistry Center of Research and Innovation Center

To become one of the three research and innovation centers in textile chemistry in Africa in 2025 recognized for its problem solving and transferable research to the society.

3.    Mission of Textile Chemistry Center of Research and Innovation Center

To create suitable environment by which students and scholars scale-up their academic excellence and potentials by involving in fibre and textile processing research and innovation activities and transferring acquired knowledge and skills in a systematic way to large, medium and small scale industries and community at regional and national level.

4.    About Textile Chemistry Specialization

Textile chemistry, as a field of specialization in applied chemistry, deals about the interrelation of chemistry with fibrous and textile materials. Textile chemists are highly specialized chemists who apply the basic principles of chemistry to the understanding of textile materials, for the purpose of functionality and aesthetically modifying them into useful and desirable items. Generally speaking textile chemistry encompasses:

      • Polymer science
      •  Fibre science and technology
      • Textile Preparation
      •  Coloration of textiles (dyeing and printing technologies
      • Multifunctional finishes for serviceability and functional purpose
      •  Colour Analysis and Colour Matching

Textile chemists must not only have an in-depth understanding of the structure and properties of natural and synthetic fibers and their polymer make-ups, but  they must also be expert in post treatment chemistries which impart aesthetic and serviceability properties such as dyeability, pleasanc, durability as well as be knowledgeable in areas such as recycling, biodegradability and overall environmental concerns.

Textile chemists are expected to work on the following major duties in technical terms:

    • Specialist in fibers and cleaning, coloration and finishing of textiles
    • Specialist in spectroscopy and chromatography techniques and utilize accordingly for chemical and physical characterization
    •  Right First Time Dyeing Technologies
    • Right first time maintenance of chemical laboratory and write technical specifications for instruments thereof
    • Plan and conduct quality tests and conduct process control
    • Manage dye and process house at industry and pilot level

Textile chemists are hired in organizations involved in applying the principles of chemistry to the understanding of textile materials, and to their functional and aesthetic modification into useful and desirable items. This include textile industries with finishing sector and academia (universities, institutes) and other government organizations in research, regulatory and policy related roles in the sector. Companies that manufacture basic polymers and synthetic fibers, dyeing houses and higher government agencies are particular organizations with due interest in textile chemists.

5.    Rationale of Textile Chemistry Research and Innovation Centre

The textile sector is given a priority manufacturing sector as per the growth and transformation plan (GTP) of Ethiopia. Among the various needs to satisfy the GTP requirements is creating specialized professionals and researchers which support the stake holders (Industries and SME) to maximize their involvement in producing quality products and enhance their involvement in export market globally. With this regard it has become necessary to create specialized professions in universities and allied institutes intended to work on specific research and innovation to address the critical demands.

The Ethiopian industries are not producing good quality finished products as expected in the global market. Along with this the total share of export in the sector is not also as per the expectations. To this end it has become necessary to create specialized professionals and researchers in the area of textile chemistry which enhance the quality of finished products and ultimately will be able to maximize the export share.  The first and only research innovation center in Ethiopia, TC-RiC is organized under EiTEX to fill these critical ad timely demands.

This rationale is expected to be implemented by conducting effective teaching learning in textile chemistry, problem solving research and innovation in wet processing, focused transferable technology developments in wet processing, community supporting focused training and related activities and enhance scientific publications and other dissemination activities.

 6.  Academics

Undergraduate: Textile Chemical Process Engineering (B.Sc.), Textile Engineering (B.Sc.),

Postgraduate: Textile Technology (PhD), Textile Chemistry (M.Sc.), Fiber Science and Technology (M.Sc.),

7. Research Thematic Areas

Based on assessment of the representative industries and in view of targeting the potential problems of the sector the team has designed the following broad thematic areas for variety of research, technology transfer and community service to be commenced as of year 2019 G.C.

        i.   Utilization, beneficiations, production and processing of Natural fibres such as cotton, wool, silk and bast fibres

      ii.   Optimization of Processing Conditions and Recipes in Textile Wet Processing

ü    Design of flame eliminating mechanism on singeing process: Case study

ü   Optimizations of processing recipes and conditions for selected processing

ü    Minimization and optimization of Liquor ratios in dyeing process

ü    Sustainable solutions for color matching

ü    Enhancement of fastness problems: Case study

ü    Elimination/minimization of shade variation: Case studies

ü    Process control in dyeing, printing and finishing

ü    Kaizen principles: theory and practice

ü    Effective material handling system

    iii.   Advances in Textile Material Processing Research and Development 

ü    Fabrication/development and applications of nanomaterials in textile wet-processing

 ü  Functional finishing of sports wear

ü    Improving thermo-physiological comfort characteristics sports wear

      iv.     Energy Management in Textile Industry

ü   Energy audit and saving analysis

ü  Energy management in textile industry

ü    Energy-Efficiency Improvement Opportunities for the chemical processing section of textile industry

ü   Renewable energy alternative for textile industry

ü   Process integration for maximum energy efficiency

    v.  Sustainable production of Leveled and Shade Variation Free Dyed Textiles

ü     Causes and Remedies of Batch to Batch Shade Variation in Dyeing Textile

ü    Causes and Remedies of Batch to Batch Shade Variation in Dyeing Textile

ü    Effect of fiber, yarn and fabric characteristics on color variation in woven fabric dyed with various dye types

ü      Effect of fiber, yarn and fabric characteristics on color variation in knitted fabric dyed with various dye types

ü     A Comparative Study on Effect of Shade Depth on Various Properties of Cotton Knitted Fabric Dyed

ü    Optimizations of processing recipes and conditions for selected processing

ü    Minimization and optimization of Liquor ratios in dyeing process

ü    Sustainable solutions for color matching

ü    Enhancement of fastness problems: Case study

ü    Elimination/minimization of shade variation: Case studies

ü    Process control in dyeing, printing and finishing

    vi.    Implementation of Appropriate Material Handling System in Textile Finishing

ü    Reuse of dyeing Water

ü  Designing of new material handling system in textile finishing

ü    Recovery of castoff textile chemicals

ü    Identifying Kaizen Techniques

ü    Effective use of raw materials in dyeing, printing and finishing

ü    Raw materials handling in finishing

ü    Mechanism development for textile chemicals and auxiliary handling.

      vii. Cost Effective and Eco-friendly Wet-Processing Techniques

ü    Study on energy and water consumption in textile finishing.

ü   Maintenance of broken-down machines and equipment in textile wet processing to reduce the extra cost.

ü    Reduction in processing cost.

ü    Reduction in wastewater treatment cost.

ü    Reduction in thermal energy consumption.

ü    Reduction in electrical energy consumption.

ü    Introducing new eco-friendly technology in textile wet processing.

ü    Textile processing with effluents treatment

ü    Environmental aspects of textile wet processing

ü    Pollution prevention studies in the textile Wet processing industry

ü    Textile processing industry

ü    Optimizations of processing recipes and conditions for selected processing

ü    Minimization and optimization of Liquor ratios in dyeing process

 

Completed Research Works:

    • Manufacture Of Unsaturated Polyester Composite Reinforced With Sisal Fibers For Furniture Manufacture: Optimization by Dr Rotich K. Gideo
    • Study on efficacy of seed extracts of MoringaStenopetala seed oil for anti-microbial activities on Textile materials GemedaGebino
    • Utilization of Coffee (CoffeaarabicaL ) Sludge extract as Mordant &  Dye for Dyeing Cotton. Prof. Dr. G. Nalankilli
    • Fiber Extraction and Characterization From The Stem Of Castor Oil Plant TerefeBelachew
    • Development of Antibacterial cotton textiles using colloidal solution of silver by Dr. Anil

 New and Ongoing Research works:

  1. Incineration of sewage sludge for the production of dyed concrete Blocks by Esubalew
  2. Value Addition of selected non-conventional Ethiopian plant fibers for Textile applications by Dr. Rotich k. Gideon
  3. Textile Effluent Treatment using Water Hyacinth Weed in Ethiopia (Phytoremediation) by Nuredin muhammed
  4. Wound healing textile fabric by Natinael Kokeb
  5. Simultaneous pretreatment and dyeing of cotton with VAT dyes by Tamene
  6. Development of Automatic Textile Fiber RecogntionStstem by Asfaw/ Tadele
  7. Study on availability of high value Added products from paper pulp industry By-products        [COE project]
  8. Bioactive from agricultural byproducts: greener approach for high value added products: Availability study of Agricultural products in Ethiopia [COE project]
  9. Extraction and characterization of tannins from water hyacinth plant in lake Tana basin for leather processing [COE project]

Recent Publications

Ethiopian IP Patents

ET/U/2020/3485- Metallization  of Cotton Fabric through Charcoal Coat by Esubalew K

List of trainings by TC-RiC

a)    Fiber Identification: Blend (Material Composition) Analysis both qualitatively and quantitatively

b)    Textile Wet Processing Machines

c)    CCM (Computer color matching)

d)    Spectroscopy Applications (FTIR, UV and AS techniques)

e)    Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer

f)    Extraction Techniques

g)   Elemental analysis

h)   Effluent characterization

i)    Advanced Microscopes and Imaging Techniques

j)    Thermal Analysis of Polymers and Fibers (DSC, TGA, DMA techniques)

k)   Process Control in Dyeing, Printing and Finishing

l)   Yarn Dyeing

m)  Shade and Recipe Prediction

n)  Screen Printing

o)  Kaizen Principles and Implementation

p)  Lab-Management System

q)   colour fastness to washing, perspiration, light, crocking, chlorine, heat and others.

s)   Conditioning of textile materials

8.    Services

    • T-shirt and Fabric printing
    • Fiber identification and testing
    • Industrial Pilot Plant Production of Dyed Goods
    •  Fiber structure analysis
    • Polymer and fiber Characterization
    • Dye testing
    • Color analysis
    • Computer color matching
    • Color fastness and fading measurement
    • Tie-dyeing and design production on fabrics and clothes
    • Transfer and sticker printing on different products

 10.    Laboratories/workshop

SN

Name of Laboratory

Description of Lab Equipments

Equipment Name

Brand/Serial Number

1

Fiber Research Lab

Optical Microscope

Leica/DM500

Thermogravimetric Analyzer

TGA-4000-Perkin Elmer/522A2010601

Differential Scanning Calorimeter

DSC-4000-Perkin Elmer/ 520A2010905

Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer

DMA-800-PerkinElmer/ 533L1303201

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

FTIR PerkinElmer-UATR-TWO (Spectrum Two)/ 91244

Flame  Photometer

CE-Type 198/ 01393/2012 and/ or 01392/2012

FAVIMAT+-Textile Testing Technology

TextTechno-Type FPE+/ 39622/2013

Scanning Min Spec

SL 177-Type 212/01221/2012

Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer

SL 176 Double Beam/ 00100 and 00101/2012

Conditioning Chamber

MESDAN

Microscopes

OPTIKA

2

Fiber Teaching Lab

Optical Microscope*

Leica/DM500

ETA Dryer

SDL 82/98/2057

Thermograph

MESDAN

Balances

*********

Stelometer

ZEWEGGLER

Etadry Moisture

HALIFAX

Fibrogram

SDL

Fiber Fineness Tester

WEIRA

Fiber Strength Machine

WEIRA

Vibroscope

LEINZING

Fiber Blender

SDL

Hydrostatic Tester

SDL

Psychometer

JAPAN

Microscope

NOVEX

Projection Microscope

SDL

Humytester

MESDAN

Presely Fiber Strength Tester

Fiber strength

Vibrotex

SDL

Thermo Detector

SDL

3

Wet Processing Lab

HTHP

MESDAN

Jigger

MESDAN

Wascator

F0M71CLS/ 517451 / 00522-0464465

Tumble Dryer

Type: 3111, Year 2013SN 1134.13

Padder

MESDAN

Mini Dryer (Stenter)

SDL

Autowash-16 Position

311F/2759

IR Dyer

MESDASN

4

Printing Lab

Sticker Transfer Printing

Preeta

Wascator

F0M71CLS/ 517451 / 00522-0464465

Padder

Mathis

Soil Tester

Halifax

Vertical Flammability Tester

Flame Test

Roller Printing

Mathis

Pad Printing

Small Objects

Flat Screen Printing

Mathis

Coating

Mesdan

Fusing Machine

Preeta

Mini-Dryer

Mesdan

Horizontal Flame Chamber

Atlas

Steaming Cylinder

Weira

5

Color Analysis Lab

Spectrophotometer

Color Eye 310- GRETAGMACBETH

Color Matching

Data Color 650/8809424

Autowash

311M/2762

Solarbox 1500

325A, 2013/ 0513235

Crocking Meter

Mesdan 2540/ 1250/6

Perspirometer

BH4000B

UV-Vis Spectroscopy

PerkinElmer- Lambda 25/ 501S1203190

Hot Press

TRU/ 147379

Oven Dryer

M250-/MY1304165F

6

Organic Chemistry Lab

Soxhlet Extractor

 

Ultrasound Extractor

 

7

Integrated Workshop

Drying Machine

MATHIS

Jet Dyeing Machine

SDL

Pad Stem Range

SDL

Washer

SDL

Peroxide Bleaching Unit

ROACHES

High Speed Extractor Dryer

SDL

7

Functional Finishing Lab

To be established in 2013 Budget Year (in New Building)

8

New Product Development Lab

To be established in 2014 Budget Year (in New Building)

Contact Person: 

TadeleAsmare [Lecturer] 

Director of Textile Chemistry RiC 

Ethiopian Institute of Textile and Fashion Technology

Bahir Dar University

P.O.Box: 1037

Mobile Phone: +251920774757 

e-mail: tadeleasmare@yahoo.com 

Fax No: +251 582 26 62 46

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