Articles tagged with Cotton
Researchers at Adelaide University are working to improve cotton fibre quality through genetic engineering, aiming to increase yield and reduce pesticide use. They are studying the genetic control of fibre development using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model organism.
A study presented at the American Chemical Society meeting found that high-temperature drying in clothes dryers can cause serious abrasions and cracking damage to cotton fabrics. This results in reduced fabric strength, faster wear-out, and increased lint production.
A new cotton additive with N-halamines effectively kills pathogenic and odor-causing bacteria and viruses. The treatment can be recharged by rinsing treated fabrics in a dilute bleach solution, offering a fast and cost-effective alternative to existing biocidal cottons.
Scientists have developed cotton fabrics with built-in pesticide detoxifiers that can be cleaned and reactivated by washing with bleach. The treatment reduces pesticide levels in garments to harmless fragments within minutes, offering a comfortable and protective solution for agricultural workers and gardeners.
A new finish for cotton fabric has been developed using citric acid and maleic acid, offering superior durable press performance and good laundering durability. The cost-effective method is a formaldehyde replacement and is now under commercial development.
Researchers at UC Davis discovered that plants with simulated leaf domatia attract beneficial insects, reducing spider mite populations and increasing cotton yield by 30%. This mutually beneficial relationship offers a natural biological control strategy to pesticides.