Antoneta Tomljenović, Ph.D., employed as assistant professor at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Textile Technology, Department of Materials, Fibres and Textile Testing, spent her research secondment within FP7 T-Pot project at the new premises of LEITAT Technological Center in Terrassa (Barcelona), from 28th February 2011 to 18th March 2011.
LEITAT is a Technological Center, member of TECNIO and recognized by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, that aims to collaborate with companies and institutions by adding technological value both to products and processes, and focuses its activity on research, development and industrial innovation (R+D+2i). As Technological Partner, the Center is clearly committed to adaptation to transform the technological challenges into economic and social value. Since its foundation in 1906, LEITAT has prioritized its vocation of proximity by strengthening the principles of professionalism and respect to people and environment at the same time. Since 1914 LEITAT has been located on Passeig 22 de Juliol and at present it is located in the Parc Científic i Tecnològic de Terrassa (Orbital 40) where they continue their work in this new headquarters building which is expected to meet the specific needs of a Center such as LEITAT: sustainability, technological innovation, functionality, environmental quality and integration in the environment.
LEITAT: New headquarters building
LEITAT RELIABILITY
Certifications
of the Center
·
Quality management
system (standard UNE EN ISO 9001: 2000)
·
Environmental
management system (standard UNE EN ISO 14001: 2004)
·
R+D management system
(standard UNE 166002: 2006)
·
Collaboration to the
Community system of management and environmental audit (EMAS) Governed by
Regulation EC No 731/2001
Accreditations
of the Center
Quality
management system (standard UNE EN ISO/IEC 17025: 2005), to the following
technical dossiers
·
Wool and textiles
products (18/LE026)
·
Behavior to burning
(18/LE274)
·
Personal protective
equipment PPE (18/LE705)
Self-Validation
of RENAULT for testing parts of the interior and exterior as well as mechanical
and electrical components
Laboratory
recognized by the International Federation of Automobile for testing on
protective clothing and gloves for pilots according to standard FIA 8856 - 2000
LEITAT RESEARCH UNITS
From a traditional structure to a flexible and dynamic organization, LEITAT seeks to ensure a rapid and effective response by reducing levels of decision-making and bureaucracy. Prioritizing teams work and projects with a horizontal communication and a definition of responsibilities in order to achieve meet the expectations of the client and society.
Biomed
R
& D into new drugs aimed at cancer therapy, generation of monoclonal
antibodies customized, Identification of new therapeutic indications for drugs,
design of biosensors and diagnostic kits.
Industrial Biotech
R
& D in biotechnological solutions (microorganisms and enzymes) with
application in industrial processes; Development and study of the effectiveness
of antimicrobial, antifungal and dust mite.
Nanomaterials
Customized
preparation and characterization of new nanomaterials, nanofibers and
nanofluids with new advanced properties for application in several industries.
Nanosecurity
Assessment
of risk to human health and the environment from the use of nanomaterials in
products, R & D production methods and recycling of nanomaterials.
Surface Treatments
R
& D and monitoring specific functionalization of surfaces with new advanced
technologies, optimization of formulations and industrial finishing processes
Smart Systems
R
& D in new concepts of intelligent systems based on sensors - actuators;
industrial application of the thermoelectricity; new generation and energy
transfer methods.
Renewable Energies
R
& D on new solar cells and solar concentrators, R & D on thermoelectric
materials for implementation of Energy Harvesting; biopiles and mass storage
Biorefinery.
Environment
Treatment
and Minimization of industrial water consumption for advanced technologies,
energy efficiency studies and life cycle analysis.
Textile Technologies
R
& D on new textile materials and textile applications through a full
investigation from fibres to clothing, technical textiles, personal protective
equipment and smart electronics integration.
Advanced Polymers
Preparation
of new polymers and biopolymers. R & D in composites and nanocomposites for
high performance and sustainable. Studies of recyclable and new applications.
Fast Moving Consumer Goods
R
& D aimed at adding value and sustainability for FMCG products. Methods and
technologies for the treatment, protection, maintenance and improve of
different products in the domestic and industrial sphere e industrial.
Analytical Chemistry
Development,
validation and application of new analytical methods. Studies of emerging
pollutants. R & D aimed at the recovery of waste and materials from
renewable sources, preparative and industrial chemistry Replacing highly
dangerous chemical reagents.
New Production Processes
(R+D)
and industrial support in new additive manufacturing processes. Design and
adequacy of industrial processes, productive tools and prototypes; Manufacturing
processes for obtaining new products of high performance
FIELDS OF KNOWLEDGE & MARKET
Today the transformation
of the LEITAT is continuous and draws a new model for the future, enabling them
to provide greater technological value long-term to their customers that enable
them to maintain their principles and values. From the collaboration they
harness synergies between their units research bringing a more critical mass to
deal with risk projects.
They
work to be ahead and transform the technological challenges and needs companies
and institutions face regarding their high value products and processes,
satisfying the market´s changing needs. Their mission is to transfer knowledge
to their clients, while guiding them and conducting a follow up of the
challenges they propose, achieving at the same time the consolidation of the
four working areas of the center:
·
R+D Transference (applied, competitive, and collaborative research)
·
Advanced Technological
Services (testing, material behavior under
extreme conditions and according to the regulations)
·
Notified Body (homologation and certification of products according to specifications
and regulations)
Innovation and new technologies (management models and tools to foster corporate
innovation)
STAY OF DR. ANTONETA TOMLJENOVIĆ IN LEITAT
·
Person
In-Charge: Dr. Roshan Paul, Principal Investigator of Textile
Technologies (TTE) Division
·
Objective:
- To carry out research activities for developing Multifunctional Protective
Uniforms. This includes the chitosan microcapsule/microsphere development for
its incorporation on textiles. A second part involves incorporation of
thermochromic pigments inside PLA polymer by extrusion.
- Additionally to learn about ECO-Label, LCA, Textile
R&D and Textile Testing.
Working
plan:
A. Plan for the week 28/02/2011 to 04/03/2011
DATE
|
TASKS
|
IN-CHARGE/ REMARKS
|
28/02/2011
|
Introduction
to TT activities and general themes
|
Roshan
Paul
|
01/03/2011
|
Development of chitosan microcapsules /microspheres by suspension crosslinking
|
Anna Surribas/Laia Crespo Solana
|
02/03/2011
|
Development
of chitosan microcapsules /microspheres by suspension crosslinking
|
Anna
Surribas / Laia Crespo Solana
|
03/03/2011
|
Development
of chitosan microcapsules /microspheres by suspension crosslinking
|
Anna
Surribas / Laia Crespo Solana
|
04/03/2011
|
Development
of chitosan microcapsules /microspheres by suspension crosslinking
|
Anna
Surribas / Laia Crespo Solana
|
B. Plan for the week 07/03/2011 to 11/03/2011
DATE
|
TASKS
|
IN-CHARGE/ REMARK
|
07/03/2011
|
Review
of previous week, introduction to TTE activities and general themes
|
Roshan
Paul
|
08/03/2011
|
Incorporation of thermochromic
pigments in PLA polymer by extrusion
|
Mercè
de la Fuente Jordà
|
09/03/2011
|
10/03/2011
|
11/03/2011
|
Injection of thermochromic pellets into plaques
|
Mercè de
la Fuente Jordà
|
C. Plan for the week 14/03/2011 to 18/03/2011
DATE
|
TASKS
|
IN-CHARGE/ REMARKS
|
14/03/2011
|
Review
of previous week, introduction to TTE activities and general themes
|
Roshan
Paul
|
15/03/2011
|
ECO-Label,
LCA and other certifications
|
Marta
Escamilia Monell
|
16/03/2011
|
17/03/2011
|
Textile
laboratories: R&D, testing and characterization
|
Helena
Esteve/ Roshan Paul
|
18/03/2011
|
General
review of the stay, conclusions and future plans of collaboration.
|
Roshan
Paul
|
RESEARCH REPORT
Outline of the prescribed work:
The general
goal for the project is to develop protective uniforms, incorporating
multiprotective properties. The protective uniforms will be able to protect
against the multiple hazards of risky situations: protection against wetting
and water permeation; protection against extreme environment temperatures;
protection against microbial contamination; protection against fire and
associated heat; protection against static electricity.
A. Development of
chitosan microcapsules/microspheres by suspension crosslinking
Microencapsulation
•
Microcapsules
are micrometer-sized particles formed by an external thin spherical polymeric
shell covering an active ingredient found in the interior (core), due to the
antimicrobial action and the polymeric nature of the chitosan microcapsules can
be formed exclusively of chitosan to form both the core and the shell.
•
Main objectives of
microencapsulation are:
-
Immobilize a compound
-
Protect it of external agents
-
Controlled release
Methods of
microencapsulation
1. Chemical
methods:
·
Interfacial polymerization:
Characterized by wall formation via the rapid polymerization of monomers at the
surface of the droplets or particles of dispersed core material.
·
Coacervation method:
MCs are formed by interionic interaction between oppositely charged polymers.
·
Ionotropic gelation:
Driven by a syringe pump, the chitosan solution flowed out of the hollow needle
and was divided into liquid droplets by the high voltage electrostatic force
that reacts with coagulation solution forming MC.
2. Physical
methods:
·
Spray-drying:
Chitosan solution is sprayed, air-dried followed by the addition of a
crosslinking agent The preparation parameters with the spray dryer technology (size
of nozzle, feeding pump rate, inlet temperature, and compressed air flow rate)
influence the particle size of the microsphere. Is a
versatile and economical method to encapsulated compounds.
 |
 |
Spray dryer |
Microcapsule
|
Cross-linking
agents
Chitosan can
be cross-linked either ionically or covalently:
•
Ionic cross-linkers: Polyanions
such as triphosphate (TPP), citrate or natural polymers like hyaluronic acid or
chondroitin sulfate.
•
Covalent cross-linkers: A
covalent network could be performed if the amino or the hydroxyl groups of
chitosan react with functional groups of the cross-linker molecules. Examples
of covalent cross-linkers: di- or polyaldehydes (glutaraldehyde) oxidised
starch and oxidised cyclodextrin, carboxylic acids, azides, epoxides,
diisocyanates and silanes.
Chitosan microspheres preparation by suspension crosslinking
Research activities
The
antibacterial functionalization of textiles will be addressed trough the
development and application of chitosan microspheres/microcapsules. Chitosan
microspheres/microcapsules may provide antibacterial properties. It
contemplates the development of chitosan microcapsules or microspheres using
the suspension crosslinking method and their subsequent application on
textiles. Following the suspension crosslinking method, an acetic aqueous of
chitosan is initially prepared and dispersed in a continuous organic phase.
Subsequently, the crosslinking agent is added to the dispersion and the
precipitated crosslinked microspheres are recovered. Different types of
bifunctional agents (glutaraldehyde and triphosphate)
are used for this purpose.
The crosslinked microspheres have the advantage of being insoluble in
all solvents, however if the crosslinking is performed through chitosan's amine
groups (e.g. using glutaralaldehide as a crosslinker), attention is required so
as to not fully crosslink the network. This is very important in order to
maintain free amine groups, as these provide to chitosan its antibacterial
properties. The application of higher mixing speeds or the use of homogenizers
may allow for better phase dispersion during micropaticles preparation and thus
lead to the preparation of smaller particles.
|
|
Chitosan
microspheres crosslinked with glutaraldehyde
|
We have obtained chitosan
microsphere powder by the suspension crosslinking method. We have tested two
different crosslinking agents - glutaraldehyde which causes covalent
crosslinking through amine groups and tripolyphosphate responsible of the ionic
crosslink through protoned amine groups. In case of glutaraldehyde
crosslinking, the color of the powder is directly related to the degree of
crosslinking (volume of crosslinking agent used).
 |
 |
 |
Chitosan micro-
spheres preparation |
Microscopic laboratory
|
Dispermat |
 |
 |
Microbiological laboratory |
Chemical laboratory |
Chitosan microspheres preparation by suspension crosslinking and spray-drying: Ana Serret and Antoneta Tomljenović.
B. Incorporation of thermochromic pigments in PLA
polymer by extrusion
Research activities
Monofilament yarns were prepared from the termochromic masterbatches by
melt spinning. The processing conditions were optimized through a series of
trials on the temperature and the velocity of the melting (extrusion) process
and the tension of elongation. The main objective was to obtain uniform and
resistant yarns avoiding the degradation of the chromic material during the
melt-spinning process. The % dilution of the masterbatch was also studied. PLA
monofilament yarns with a diameter in the range of 0.1 to 0.4 mm were obtained
with adequate color change properties.
|
|
Antoneta
Tomljenović
|
Roshan
Paul and Antoneta Tomljenović
|
|
|
Angel
Garcia Roman
|
High
security measures during the work
|
Twin screw extruder with polymerization reactor + melt spinning pellets
unit or melt spinning monofilament unit
|
|
PLA
pellets production
|
PLA
pellets + yarns
|
C1. ECO-Label, LCA and other certifications
The Environment Unit of LEITAT
Technological Center participates in regional, national and European projects regarding environment and
sustainability.The main fields of activity are the following:
Industrial Ecology
Sustainable combination of technology,
environment and economy. Assimilation of the function of industrial areas to natural ecosystems
with more efficient processes and with an interrelation between industries and environment closing
material cycles.
-
-
Energy Efficiency: Energy Analysis
of processes, installations and buildings
-
Water: Consumption reduction,
management, treatment and reutilisation of waste water
-
Waste (prevention, minimization and
recycling): Utilization of waste at the same industry, studies on waste
minimization, feasibility study on the reuse of generated waste.
-
Sustainable Mobility: sustainable
mobility studies
- REACH, CLP: Registration, evaluation
and authorization of chemical substances, classification and labelling.
Ecodesign
Incorporation of environmental criteria
into the design of a product/service in order to reduce the negative impact on
the environment.
-
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) LCA of a
product, a service...
-
Ecodesign of a product, a production
process, a package...
-
Carbon Footprint
-
Green procurement
-
Greening events
Awareness and Environmental Education
Good environmental training helps to
improve business competition, Corporate Identity and the relationships between interested groups.
-
Best Environmental Practices:
Consume reduction, Waste minimization ...
- Environmental awareness campaigns
Waste reduction campaign, resources minimization...
-
Green procurement and events:
Sustainable events ...
- Training sessions and Seminars.
Environmental Management, Ecodesign, Life Cycle Assessment, Best Available
Techniques, Energy Efficiency, Social Responsibility, Good environmental
practices, REACH, CLP...
Environmental Management and
Qualification
Voluntary instruments which enable the
organization to reach a high level of environmental protection and a compromise on a
continuous improvement.
-
-
Environmental Management Systems
(EMS) in accordance with the EU Regulation EMAS and the International standard ISO 14001
-
Energy Management Systems UNE 16001
, Ecodesign management UNE 150.301
- Social Responsibility Plan for equal
opportunities between men and women, court settlement f work and family life,
EFR, SGE21...
-
Ecological Label of the European
Union (Ecolabel)
-
Emblem of Guarantee of Environmental
Quality of the Catalan Government (DGQA)
-
Environmental product declarations
(EPD)
LEITAT Technological Center is an associate body of the Catalan Government
with the goal to carry out tests, controls and verifications of evaluation
results of the following product/service categories:
|
Emblem of Gaurantee of Environmmental Quality European Union
|
o Water Saving Systems
o Recyclable products made of cardboard
o Rural tourism establishment
o Service and delivery stations
o Establishment of a perfect photo finishing
o Products made of brushwood
o Dry cleaner's
o Dry recycling products
o Customer Services Offices
o Office Buildings
|
Eco Label of European Union
|
o Textile Products
o Laundry Detergent
o Soil Amendments
o Cultivation Substrates
o Interior paints and varnish
o General cleaning products
o
Soaps and Shampoos
Members of the Environment Unit of LEITAT
(Gertri Ferrer Vinardell, Marc Torrentellé Soler, Natalia Fuenes Cortés, Raquel
Villalba Gonzāles) and Antoneta Tomljenović
C2.Textile laboratories: R&D, testing and
characterization
R&D
Textile Technologies Division works in different textile subareas from
traditional textiles to the new technologies and trends of the market. The
research activities of the Division include new fibres, spinning, weaving,
textile finishing, technical textiles, PPEs and smart textile structures.
- Fibres: Division works with all
kind of fibres; Study of innovative and sustainable processes
- Spinning: Expertise in the
spinning sector
- Knitting and weaving with
convectional fibres or with modified and new fibres
- Dyeing and finishing:
Microencapsulation (microcapsules development with new properties, microencapsulation,
application on textile substrates); Nano-finishing (Ultraviolet protective
textiles, Lotus effect textiles, Self cleaning textiles); Eco-treatments
(Anti-odour textiles, Antimicrobial textiles, Flame retardant nonwovens, Textiles
dyed with natural mordants and dyes, Textile dyeing incorporating
hydrolyzed protein, Optical brightening incorporating hydrolyzed protein);
Bio-finishing (Cotton bio-finishing; Hydrophilic and easy-care bio
finishing); Special pigments (Thermochromic textiles, Photochromic
textiles, Phosphorescent textiles, Optically variable textiles)
- Smart Textiles (Electronic
parts in textiles; Intelligent materials)
- Personal Protective Equipments (different
application fields)
- Technical textiles (different
application fields)
 |
 |
a. Printing equipment - application
of phosphorescent pigments
|
b. Electrolux Wascator FOM71LP-lab
|
|
|
c. Finishing powder spray equipment
|
d. Laundry
|
|
|
e. ATLAS Xenotest ALPHA
|
f. Salt spray cabinet
|
LEITAT laboratories: a. Marolda Brouta-Agnésa and Antoneta Tomljenović, b., c.
Antoneta Tomljenović, d. Ester Delgado, e. Marolda Brouta-Agnésa, f. Provi Ortiz
CONCLUSION
The overall aim of the FP7 Project-REGPOT-2008-1: Unlocking the Croatian
Research Potentials (T-Pot) is to strengthen the scientific potential of the Faculty of
Textile Technology of University of Zagreb -in that will allow greater
inclusion of the Croatian textile organizations in the research activities at
European level and thus support the process of harmonization and integration of
European research (European Research Area - ERA). With purpose of mobilization of human resources and given the
current trend of lifelong education and the necessity of permanent adoption of
new knowledge and skills, the T-Pot project organize shorter visits of Croatian
researchers in European institutions, and vice versa, for the purpose of the
transfer and application of new knowledge. We hope that stay of Antoneta
Tomljenović in LEITAT Technological Center,
Spain will result
with good future cooperation between our two institutions and scientists primarily
through joint publications and projects.
Comfortable LEITAT work areas: a. Roshan Paul and Antoneta Tomljenović,
b. Roshan Paul, Lorenzo Bautista and Antoneta Tomljenović, c. Anna Surribas,
Laia Crespo Solana and Antoneta Tomljenović, d. Antoneta. Tomljenović; and
LEITAT restaurant: e. Roshan Paul, Moisés Moron and Antoneta Tomljenović and f. Laia Crespo Solana, Mercè de
la Fuente Jordà and Helena Esteve
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I, Assist.
Prof. Antoneta Tomljenović, Ph.D. would like to thank Prof. Sandra Bischof
Vukušić, Ph.D. (FP7 T-Pot European project coordinator) for professional
support. I would like to express special thanks to Dr. Roshan Paul, Principal
Investigator of Textile Technologies Division, LEITAT, for professional and
friendly help. Additionally I would like to thank Mrs. Meritxell De la Varga
Ortiz, Manager, R&D Department for professional support and all the employees
of LEITAT who provided my pleasant stay in LEITAT.
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|