MEDIA
RELEASE
University
Communications
View RMIT media
releases and
find experts:
rmit.edu.au/newsroom
MELBOURNE
BRUNSWICK
BUNDOORA
FISHERMANS BEND
POINT COOK
HAMILTON
HO CHI MINH CITY
HANOI
Crustaceans create smarter fabrics
RMIT University researchers are using a natural biopolymer found in crustaceans
to create odour-repellent fabrics for use in the automotive industry.
The researchers are studying how specialised fabrics could provide smart solutions
for car interiors, resisting odours and staying cleaner for longer.
Dr Rajiv Padhye, Discipline Head, Higher Education in RMIT’s School of Fashion
and Textiles, said the researchers were working on various concepts for a number
of automotive companies.
“These include automotive fabrics that have anti-odour and antimicrobial
properties, and anti-stain fabrics,” Dr Padhye said.
For the anti-odour research, various fragrance oils were applied to 100 per cent
polyester woven automotive fabric – the predominant fabric used in the industry –
in combination with chitosan.
Chitosan, a natural biopolymer sourced from the structural element in the
exoskeleton of crustaceans such as crabs and shrimps, was selected because of
its filmforming ability and antimicrobial attributes.
The study found combining chitosan with the fragrance oil produced a durable
fragrance finish in the fabric and gave it excellent antimicrobial properties.
“We would also like to undertake research on reducing the consumption of fuel by
running car airconditioners for shorter periods of time using phase change
materials (PCM) in car designs,” Dr Padhye said.
“These materials will help to have a big impact on environmental issues.”
Based in Brunswick, RMIT’s School of Fashion and Textiles is a major provider of
education and training for the textiles, clothing and footwear industry, both in
Australia and internationally.
The School’s core research focuses on digital design and technology for functional
performance textiles, with research clusters based around advanced technology,
performance and sports apparel textiles, fashion and merchandising, sustainability,
and textile design.
Projects range from intelligent protective textiles to wearable technologies and
textiles for monitoring human body performance.
For interviews: Dr Rajiv Padhye, 0417 510 853.
For general media enquiries: RMIT University Communications, Gosia
Kaszubska, (03) 9925 3176 or 0417 510 735.
11 January, 2010
NEWS 
