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Properties and performance of textiles
Emerging textile technologies: OPTIM™ fibre treatment
In the Area of study: Properties and performance of textiles you will develop a critical approach towards the effects of innovations and emerging technologies. These innovations and technological advances occur in the use of textiles to enhance performance, machinery to improve construction or to save time, decorative techniques and finishing techniques. This tutorial focuses on an innovation to enhance the performance of a fibre.
Outcomes
This material addresses aspects of the following syllabus
outcome:
H3.2 The student develops knowledge and awareness of
emerging textile technologies.
Extract from Stage 6 Textiles and Design Syllabus
© Board of Studies NSW 2007.
The CSIRO Textile and Fibre Technology unit has developed a treatment to modify or re-engineer wool at the fibre level. There are three variations of this innovation:
- OPTIM™
- OPTIM Fine™
- OPTIM Max™
Activity 1
Complete the following questions about OPTIM™ 
.
- Why does the wool fibre once treated with OPTIM™
have a silk-like quality?
- What does it mean on the web site when it says produced
as tops?
- What is the effect of a finer, stronger fibre for yarn
production?
- Draw the cross-section of an untreated fibre and that
of OPTIM™ fibre.
Activity 2
OPTIM Fine™ and OPTIM Max™ offer value-added features to wool. Complete the following questions to explore their characteristics.
- List the properties of
OPTIM Fine™ fibres.
- Identify in point form the steps involved in making an
OPTIM Fine™ fibre.
-
OPTIM Max™ is designed to develop volume and bulk
in wool yarns.
Explain how this is achieved.
- Why do yarns blended with OPTIM Max™ fibres offer
better insulating properties?
Activity 3
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the OPTIM™ range of innovations on the:
- consumer
- manufacturer
- employee
- environment.
Answers for activity 1
- Why does the wool fibre once treated with OPTIM™
have a silk-like quality?
The cross-section of the fibre has been altered to more closely resemble the rounded triangular shape of silk. - What does it mean on the web site when it says produced
as tops?
The fibres resemble the fibres after carding and combing have occured. - What is the effect of a finer, stronger fibre for yarn
production?
It is possible to produce lightweight yarns that are soft but strong and offer warmth when made into fabric.
Answers for activity 2
-
List the properties of
OPTIM Fine™ fibres.
OPTIM Fine™ fibres:- are lustrous
- offer a distinctive sheen
- have a fluid drape
- feel like silk
- offer the usual properties of wool.
-
Identify in point form the steps involved in making an
OPTIM Fine™ fibre.
- wool sliver wrapped around fibres
- wool fibres are stretched by 4050% to make the fibre finer
- fibre is chemically set.
-
OPTIM Max™ is designed to develop volume and bulk
in wool yarns.
Explain how this is achieved.
Twisted wool sliver are temporarily set with an average extension of 20-30%. The fibre is blended with regular wool then finished in hot water which causes the OPTIM Max™ fibres to retract. The result is a soft, bulky yarn that is lightweight.
- Why do yarns blended with OPTIM Max™ fibres offer
better insulating properties?
OPTIM Max™ fibres offer better insulating properties because more air is trapped in the arrangement of fibres.
Answers for activity 3
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the OPTIM™ range of innovations on the:
- consumer
- manufacturer
- employee
- environment.
The advantages for the consumer of the OPTIM™ range would be lighter-weight fabrics with each offering special qualities. OPTIM Max™ would offer a warmer end-product with less weight. OPTIM Fine™ would offer silk-like qualities but with the warmth of wool. The main disadvantage would be cost until the technology is more widely available.
The advantage for the manufacturer would be the production of a new product and new opportunities for other uses. The disadvantage would be the cost of setting up additional equipment.
The advantage to the employee is that the new technology may result in increased sales and therefore better job security. Also employees may develop a new set of production skills. The disadvantages could be changes to current work practices which may reduce job opportunities. This would depend on the employees set of skills and ability to be re-trained.
The advantage for the environment is that the yarn is lightweight therefore transportation costs may be reduced. The disadvantage could be the impact of the chemicals used to set OPTIM Fine™ or the energy costs of using hot water for OPTIM Max™. If the water could be re-used this would be a positive feature.
Technology update/Tutorial extension: View the CSIRO article regarding OPTIM for further understanding of this ‘silk like touch and lustre’ treatment for wool found at http://www.csiro.au/files/files/p6py.pdf
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