Developing new nonwoven fabrics from PVC/PET artificial leather waste could contribute to achieving global sustainability objectives while tackling environmental challenges. In this study, a new composite product made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polymer and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers was developed via the mechanical recycling process. Initially, PVC-coated polyethylene terephthalate scraps derived from artificial leather fabric wastes were chipped, grinded and pulverized to obtain PVC/PET particles. Secondly, three blends with various ratios of PVC and PET were selected and subjected to the hot compression molding process (at 190°C for 2 min), in order to produce new composite fabric. As a final step, the obtained fabrics were evaluated in terms of their physico-mechanical properties, such as thickness, weight per unit area, tensile strength, elongation, tear strength, and abrasion resistance. Therefore, the tensile properties of PVC/PET (92.39%:6.15%) are superior, with the tensile strength reaching an impressive 40 N/mm 2 and elongation measuring 48%. Additionally, the results showed that nonwoven fabrics produced from 83.75% PVC and 15.77% PET had excellent tear strength. Thus, raising the PVC powder proportion culminated considerably enhancing the physicomechanical properties of the recycled nonwoven fabric. Nevertheless, a high proportion of PET fibers (72%) in the produced nonwoven fabrics significantly improved the wear resistance regarding weight loss and visual appearance. Based on these results, an innovative and effective approach for repurposing PVC/PET artificial leather waste was demonstrated, which aligns with the principles of eco-friendly sustainability and responsible economic development promoted worldwide.

This study investigates the impact of two hydrophobic finishing agents—fluorocarbon-based Nuva FDS and fluorine-free Ruco-Dry ECO Plus—on the performance of polyamide 6 (PA6) nanofibrous layers fabricated via needle-less electrospinning (Nanospider™) and finished using a foulard process. Both finishes significantly enhanced water repellency, with Ruco-Dry ECO Plus achieving a maximum hydrostatic pressure resistance of 7360 ± 470 mm H 2 O. Contact angle measurements averaged ∼130° across all treated samples, indicating consistent hydrophobic surface modification. Water vapor resistance (Ret) ranged from 0.81 to 1.08 Pa·m 2 /W, and air permeability values remained relatively stable between 2.98 and 2.62 L/m 2 /s. These results confirm that both agents effectively balance water resistance and breathability. Moreover, the fluorine-free Ruco-Dry ECO Plus offers a sustainable alternative without compromising functional performance. This scalable finishing approach supports the development of environmentally responsible, waterproof-breathable textiles. Future research will focus on wash durability and long-term performance under real-world conditions.

As essential professional protective equipment, protective clothing plays a critical role across medical, industrial, chemical, environmental protection and other fields with its manufacturing and development attracting sustained attention. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of protective clothing research spanning 2015 to 2024, utilizing 2918 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection. Employing CiteSpace for co-citation, co-occurrence, and burst detection analyses, we delineate key research trajectories, identify influential contributors, and pinpoint emerging frontiers. Findings indicate sustained growth within the field, with Donghua University and the United States as the leading institutional and national contributors, respectively. Research evolution is characterized by three distinct phases: foundational studies (2015–2016), material innovation (2017–2020), and pandemic-driven medical applications (2021–2024). Central research themes encompass thermal performance optimization for flame-retardant clothing, barrier mechanism advancements in chemical protective apparel, ergonomic design for occupational wear, and antiviral functionality in medical protective suits, reflecting a shift from single-function solutions toward integrated, intelligent protective systems. Central themes include thermal performance, ergonomic design, and multifunctional material systems. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced recent research directions, particularly in enhancing comfort and viral protection for medical use, while progress in nanofiber technologies and sustainable materials benefits multiple protective clothing categories. Future research priorities should emphasize wearability across diverse hazardous environments, pandemic-responsive designs, and cross-application sustainable material systems. This analysis provides a systematic framework for understanding the field’s evolution and offers valuable insights to guide researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders in advancing protective clothing technology.

Protective clothing systems pose significant heat stress challenges in hot climate, limiting natural cooling through sweat evaporation. In such conditions, passive cooling systems could offer lightweight, silent, and energy-efficient solutions. However, their effectiveness and their physiological and psychological impact are influenced by specific operational conditions, including the type of clothing system used. This study assessed the thermophysiological effects of three passive cooling vests - Phase Change Material (PCM), Waterfill (WF), and Watersoak (WS) - worn under Belgian Defense clothing system with ballistic protection during wear trials at 30°C, 48% RH, 4 km/h, 120 min. The PCM vest with a transition temperature of 29°C provided the most effective cooling, significantly reducing torso microclimate temperature for 60 min. Over the total test duration, the torso microclimate temperature was lowered by an average of 1.5°C, accompanied by reduced cardiovascular strain, sweating, and enhanced thermal and wetness perception. Thus, the PCM can be a better solution than active cooling for operations up to 2 hours. Water-based cooling vests delivered mild cooling, with significant effect at 30 min, but temporary duration. They still showed reduced microclimate temperature by 0.5°C at 60 min, but became a thermal burden thereafter, confirming their limited performance under restrictive clothing. The results also showed that subjective experience did not fully align with objective data, confirming the importance of individual perception in comfort-related studies.

The aim of study was to review studies on the reusability of filter respirators and to evaluate their quantitative fit with respect to different respirator models and decontamination methods. We planned a search strategy according to the PICOT approach. We to find relevant publications, searched the electronic databases comprising Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed with appropriate keywords .After searching through 648 records in the databases, we found that 36 original studies met our eligibility criteria. Findings indicated that the UV, VHP , dry heat , and moist heat were the most investigated decontamination methods across included studies. The selected studies assessed 60 different respirator models. Results suggest some decontamination methods may work better on a certain model of respirator. However, we found that respirators decontaminated with VHP (also AHP and IHP, but based on limited studies), moist heat, and EtO or PAF (also based on limited studies) were the best performance in the fit factor. Furthermore, we observed some variation in fit factor between respirators and/or within individuals using dry heat, microwave, UV, ethanol immersion, MBL, and CIO2 methods. On the other hand, upon decontaminating the respirator models using autoclave, HPGP, VHP + O3, and LTSF methods, we found the fit performance unacceptable. Based on the change in fit performance, this study suggests that VHP and moist heat are the most promising ways to clean respirators for reuse. However, to account for individual differences, more research is necessary, particularly in clinical field studies with a larger number of participants.

This paper focusses on finding the delamination, morphological, impact, and damping behavior of composites reinforced with graphene nanofillers (0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 wt%). Different cutting settings and two distinct drill bits (TiAlN and CTiN) were utilized to assess the effect on the delamination properties. A scanning electron microscope was used to examine the drilled holes. The TiAlN drill bit showed a decrease in the delamination factor (Fd) for entrance and exit, from 1.038,296 to 1.021,103 and 1.069,418 to 1.006,036, respectively, as compared to 0 and 0.75 wt% graphene reinforcement. The TiAlN drill bit produced a mean thrust force of 28.76 N, while the CTiN drill bit produced a mean thrust force of 55.24 N. The composites demonstrated a 56.19% reduction in thrust force when compared to the TiAlN and CTiN drill bits. Furthermore, the impact energy of the composite increased with the addition of graphene, rising from 538.5 to 754.9 J/m, respectively. Additionally, the damping characteristics of the graphene-reinforced composites were investigated and found to have 6.4% higher values than those of the neat composites.

In this study, we developed and assessed band-embedded laterally wedged insoles designed to correct genu varum, a condition characterized by outwardly bent knees. The product was specifically developed to improve usability and wearability in both indoor and outdoor conditions, addressing the key limitations of existing correction products. The wedged insoles were integrated so the band could promote proper alignment by redistributing the body weight toward the medial side of the legs, thereby reducing knee strain. Through detailed testing, the band demonstrated an average reduction of 14.76% in the gap between the knees, indicating significant corrective efficacy. Among the three developed designs, the hooks-and-loop-based band appeared to be the most effective, achieving a 15.94% reduction in the gap between the knees and receiving the highest scores in user satisfaction regarding design, functionality, comfort, and ease of use. The use of breathable lightweight materials and a design that accommodates both barefoot and shod conditions ensures long-term comfort and practicality. This product provides a practical, versatile, and user-friendly solution for genu varum correction and a foundation for further advancements in corrective orthopedic design.

This study is aimed at the development and evaluation of carbon nanotube (CNT)-based planar heating systems for integration in automotive seats featuring ventilation channels to allow for an enhancement in energy efficiency, safety, and user comfort. Employing roll-to-roll (RTR) manufacturing techniques and advanced carbon nanotube coating technology, this research was successfully able to produce thin, flexible, and durable heating pads. These heaters are much more efficient than traditional wire heating systems, reducing energy consumption by up to 49%, with quick and uniform heating capabilities. The experiment was conducted by manufacturing two planar heating sheets (back sheet and bottom sheet). The experiments were conducted through stability and durability performance test evaluation, heat generation performance evaluation, and comparison analysis with third-party samples. Through the tests, consistent thickness, high precision, and uniform heat distribution were confirmed, indicating safety. The comparison with a third-party sample showed that the back and bottom sheets have a higher power consumption efficiency per unit area of about 45 % on average. Thus, the planar heater sheet developed in this study can be applied to various smart heating product development fields.

Numerous workers across various industries, from construction and transportation to agriculture and emergency response, face harsh working environments characterized by cold temperatures and intense winds. These conditions present serious health and safety risks, which may result in hypothermia. Although established standards, such as ISO 11092, are crucial in measuring the thermal resistance of textile assemblies, an essential factor is often overlooked: the influence of wind speed and direction. In this context, this article aimed to address this gap in current knowledge by investigating the effects of wind on the thermal resistance of nonwoven textile assemblies, to develop a more effective protective clothing system for harsh environments. This study investigated the effect of horizontal and vertical wind speeds on the thermal resistance of a technical bio-based nonwoven assembly, composed of milkweed, kapok and polylactic acid, aiming to understand how forced convection influences heat transfer in real-world conditions. Three samples (A, B, and C) were tested under wind speeds ranging from 0 to 4 m·s −1 , and their thermal resistance was measured in both horizontal and vertical wind directions. Results showed that increasing wind speed consistently decreased thermal resistance for all samples. Vertical wind demonstrated a more pronounced effect, with reductions in thermal resistance reaching 81% for Sample C compared to 51% under horizontal wind. Comparison of experimental and theoretically predicted thermal resistance values using the models presented in the ISO 9920 standard, indicated significant discrepancies.

The use of textile science and innovative approaches in the development and manufacturing of multifunctional fabrics for sports bras has continuously grown in the last decades, contributing to female well-being and health. The fabrics used for sports bras must be lightweight and have good heat and moisture management properties. A sports bra must provide appropriate stabilization, as the most important and original functionality, while providing optimal thermal comfort. In this work, we examined basic fabric properties influencing the key functionalities, stabilization, and drying. Besides properties such as mass, thickness, water vapor permeability, air permeability, and relative porosity, thermal comfort (water uptake and drying) and mechanical properties (stabilization and support) were investigated. Multiple-linear regression statistical analysis was conducted to identify the most relevant variables and fabric characteristics for stabilization and drying. In addition, a “five-point” benchmarking and ranking system was established for performance assessment of the investigated knitted fabrics. With the proposed approach, we were able to identify the most suitable fabric from a set of benchmarking materials. This fabric exhibited a quick drying time of 16 minutes, along with high air permeability (312 mm/s), excellent moisture management, and very good dynamic elastic recovery (89%) and support. We successfully identified key fabric properties that define fabric drying and stabilization performance by applying models based on Multiple-linear regression. This provides the basis for the informed selection of fabrics for the systematic development of sports bras.