STOP fibrous microplastic pollution from textiles by elucidating fibre damage and manufacturing novel textiles

从深海到极地冰带，在所有水生栖息地都检测到了微塑料，在水生动物的肠道和组织中也可以找到微塑料。在世界海洋中发现的三分之一以上的微塑料是来自纺织品的纤维微塑料[1]。纤维状微塑料在纺织品的整个生命周期中被释放，它们在水生和陆地环境中的存在现在是众所周知的现象。每年清洗纺织品估计会释放50万吨纤维微塑料海洋污染，按照目前的速度，预计到2050年将累积到2200万吨[2]。考虑到纺织品中纤维状微塑料无处不在，任何补救措施都是具有挑战性的。改善塑料，减少对环境的影响，塑料回收和减少消耗是极其重要的，但从纺织品中释放纤维微塑料仍然是一个挑战。在这里，我们通过将纺织技术、计算建模和摩擦学学科结合到一个系统的研究计划中来应对这一挑战。该项目的首要目标是通过实验和计算阐明导致纤维微塑料产生的纤维损伤，并使用预测计算模型向工程学提供信息，以创新的纺织结构阻止纤维微塑料从纺织品中释放。关于纤维微塑料从纺织品中释放的研究很多，但纤维微塑料污染的产生原因还没有完全阐明。在我们系统研究的前期工作的基础上，一系列定制的纺织材料和结构将暴露在纺织品通常经历的条件下，以阐明纤维损伤和纺织材料微观结构的动态变化。Gap Inc.和超细纤维联盟将帮助识别和供应常用纺织品，以确保研究的工业相关性。首次，基于纺织品结构的无损断层扫描数据的计算磨损模型将预测纤维损伤。利兹大学和爱丁堡大学的互补专业知识将有助于开发一种新的建模方法。对纤维损伤的实验和计算理解也将有助于制定干预策略，以产生新的纺织品结构，阻止在通常暴露条件下从纺织品中释放纤维微塑料。专家的意见和获得工业规模的纺织制造设备在英国库利梅塔将确保已开发的技术的商业意义。物理和/或化学策略可能涉及挤出过程中的聚合物修改、纤维组件中纤维的新结构排列以及表面整理/处理的应用。该项目的成功将--建立对纤维损伤(导致纤维微塑料的产生)和纺织品微观结构变化的基本了解。-建立纺织材料的现实和预测的计算磨损模型，并开辟新的研究途径。-开发工业和商业上相关的解决方案，以阻止纤维微塑料从纺织品中释放。[1]Boucher J和Friot D.海洋中的初级微塑料：对来源的全球评估。IUCN Gland，瑞士，2017年。[2]艾伦·麦克阿瑟基金会。新纺织经济：重新设计时尚的未来。2017年。

Microplastics have been detected in all aquatic habitats, from deep oceans to polar icemelt and can be found in the guts and tissues of aquatic animals. More than one third of the microplastics found in the world oceans are fibrous microplastics from textiles [1]. The fibrous microplastics are released throughout the lifecycle of a textile and their presence in aquatic and terrestrial environments is now well-established phenomena. The washing of textiles annual releases an estimated 0.5 million tonnes fibrous microplastics ocean pollution, which at current rates is expected to accumulate to 22 million tonnes by 2050 [2]. Any remedial measures are challenging given the ubiquity of fibrous microplastics from textiles. Improved plastics with reduced environmental impact, plastic recycling and reduced consumption are extremely important but the release of fibrous microplastics from textiles remains a challenge. Here, we address this challenge by bringing together textile technology, computational modelling and tribology disciplines into a systematic programme of research. The overarching goal of this project is to experimentally and computationally elucidate fibre damage that leads to the generation of fibrous microplastics and use predictive computational modelling to inform the engineering of innovative textile structures which STOP the release of fibrous microplastics from textiles. There are numerous studies on the release of fibrous microplastics from textiles but the reasons for the generation of fibrous microplastic pollution are not fully elucidated. Building on our preliminary work in a systematic study, a range of bespoke textile materials and structures will be exposed to conditions commonly experienced by textiles to elucidate fibre damage and dynamic changes in the microstructure of textile materials. Gap Inc. and The Microfibre Consortium will help to identify and supply commonly employed textiles to ensure the industrial relevance of the research.For the first time, the computational wear modelling, based on non-destructive tomographic data of textile structures, will predict fibre damage. The complementary expertise of the University of Leeds and the University of Edinburgh will enable the development of a novel modelling approach. The experimental and computational understanding of fibre damage will also inform the intervention strategies to produce novel textile structures which STOP the release of fibrous microplastics from textiles under usual exposure conditions. The expert input and access to industrial-scale textile manufacturing equipment at Culimeta Saveguard UK will ensure the commercial relevance of developed technologies. The physical and/or chemical strategies can involve polymer modification during extrusion, the novel structural arrangement of fibres in fibrous assemblies, and application of surface finishes/treatment.The success of the project will - create a fundamental understanding of the fibre damage (that leads to the generation of fibrous microplastics) and microstructural changes in textiles.- build realistic and predictive computational wear models of the textile materials and open new avenues for research.- develop industrially and commercially relevant solutions to STOP the release of fibrous microplastics from textiles.[1] Boucher J and Friot D. Primary microplastics in the oceans: a global evaluation of sources. IUCN Gland, Switzerland, 2017. [2] Ellen MacArthur Foundation. A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning Fashion's Future. 2017.