Exploring the Possibilities to Change the Environment by Creating Zero Waste Sustainable Textiles

Overview

Microfibers are an ever-present issue in our air, water, and food systems. Their size prevents them from being collected in common filters, therefore creating an accumulation of plastic in nearly every aspect of day-to-day life. For our health and safety, we must eliminate microfiber formation. A proposed method to decreasing microfiber formation is using a newly developed fiber produced through wet spinning squid ring teeth (SRT) proteins. Due to the pliability issues of the SRT fibers, production is only possible when mixed with acrylic, although 100% SRT fibers can be achieved through the optimization of the wet spinning process.
Throughout this project our goal was to lay the foundation for promoting sustainability in fiber arts by optimizing the production of SRT proteins. We achieved this by using our budget to improve the washing bath in the current wet spinning process in Dr. Demirel’s lab by adding filtering, recirculating, and heat-treating processes. We also created several prototypes using multiple types of fiber including, wool, hemp, acrylic, cotton, and blends of the SRT proteins with these fibers to determine which was best for use in the fiber and textile art industries.

Objectives

-Improve heat treatment process of SRT fibers

-Design system to heat and recirculate water for heat treatment process

-Test different weaving techniques suitable for SRT fibers

Approach

-System was designed to filter and recirculate water of wet spinning process

-An induction rod was used to heat the water to desired temperature

-The team used pin loom weaving and finger weaving with test yarns such as acrylic, cotton, and hemp

Outcomes

-System was capable of both heating and recirculating the water, however extensive periods of testing led to system failure

-The team drew conclusions of improvements to be made such as welded stainless steel piping

-The weaving processes are feasible since they do not require much yarn, but current SRT fibers remain too brittle