Influence of Drying Method on the Properties of Bacterial Cellulose Nonwovens – Review on the Textile and Fashion Application Potential

ABSTRACT

Bacterial cellulose is a type of bio-cellulose material that has several application potentials in various industries including the textile and fashion industries. The most addressed benefits of higher water holding capacity and absorption capabilities are only in the wet stage. Extreme hydrophilic nature, bulky structure, and poor handling properties restrict the wet usage of bacterial cellulose within limited sectors like wound dressing. A dry state and long storage capacity without structural changes in the atmospheric condition are the essential requirements of textile material. Despite the highly sustainable nature, environment-friendly production methods, the poor structural and mechanical properties of bacterial cellulose nonwoven at dry state limit their application in the textile and fashion sector. This review aims to analyze the various drying techniques researched to understand their influence on the structure, mechanical, moisture, handle and comfort properties of the dried bacterial cellulose. The results showed that out of several drying methods, freeze-dried and room temperature dried samples showed better retainment of the original structure of bacterial cellulose. The higher temperature drying methods developed a compact, non-porous, stiff, hydrophobic, and brittle structure. Though the lower temperature drying methods possessed good properties, their higher rehydration ability was found to be not suitable for textile application. This review also outlines the need for future research by considering textile-related properties like water vapor permeability, air permeability, and handle-related aspects.

摘要

细菌纤维素是一种生物纤维素材料, 在纺织和时尚等行业具有多种应用潜力. 更高的持水能力和吸收能力的最大好处仅在湿阶段. 极端亲水性、笨重的结构和较差的处理性能限制了BC在伤口敷料等有限领域的湿使用. 干燥状态和在大气条件下不发生结构变化的长期储存能力是纺织材料的基本要求. 尽管BC非织造布具有高度可持续性、环境友好的生产方法, 但其在干燥状态下的结构和机械性能较差, 限制了其在纺织和时尚领域的应用. 本文旨在分析各种干燥技术, 以了解它们对干燥细菌纤维素的结构、机械、水分、手感和舒适性的影响. 结果表明, 在几种干燥方法中, 冷冻干燥和室温干燥的样品能够更好地保留细菌纤维素的原始结构. 高温干燥方法形成了致密、无孔、坚硬、疏水和易碎的结构. 虽然低温干燥方法具有良好的性能, 但其较高的再水化能力不适合纺织应用. 本综述还概述了未来研究的必要性, 考虑了与纺织品相关的性能, 如水蒸气渗透性、空气渗透性和手感相关方面.

KEYWORDS:

• Bacterial cellulose
• drying methods
• drying mechanism
• mechanical properties
• handle properties
• textile applications

关键词:

• 细菌纤维素
• 干燥方法
• 干燥机制
• 机械性能
• 处理属性
• 纺织应用

Highlights

• Different drying temperature and drying method significantly alters the chemical and physical properties of the bacterial cellulose

• High-temperature drying methods result in higher crystalline, hard and brittle structures due to the hydrogen bond formation in its structure during heat application

• Lower temperature drying of bacterial cellulose results in an amorphous structure with higher thickness, soft and lower tensile strength

• The rehydration ability of the high-temperature drying process was noted as poor and it is too high at lower temperature drying.

• The properties like handle, moisture management ability, vapour permeability and other textile characteristics have not been completely reported so far.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).