Fashion meets science is the theme of the original article pertaining to the collaboration of a fashion design student and fiber scientists at Cornell. The article describes functional clothing designed to prevent colds, flu, the need for further washing, and a clothing that destroys harmful gases and which could also protect the wearer from smog and air pollution.
Nanoparticles give functional qualities to cotton fabrics used in the design and which fashion world has never seen before. Fiber scientists used digital student microscopes in creating and studying the nanotechnology fiber. As estimated in the original article, one square yard of nano-treated cotton will cost as much as ten thousand dollars.
A student of fashion design, Olivia Ong made her fashion line, called “Glitterati”, look hip and cool. With the use digital student microscopes, one could inspect further the army of electrostatically charged nanoparticles that creates a protective shield around the cotton fibers. It is seen on the top part of the dresses, the sleeves, hood and jacket pockets. Futuristic in looks, Ong’s fashion line could have potential in th future of the fashion world.
The fabrics, according to Hong Dong (a postdoctoral researcher for fiber scientist Juan Hinestroza), were made by having the fabrics dipped into solutions that contain nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were synthesized in the laboratory of Hinestroza. The fabric colors were a result the reflections of having the particle size or arrangement manipulated.
The complex method of making nanoparticles fabrics were explained by Dong. He explained that the upper portion of the dress contained silver-coated cotton particles. He further explained that by first creating a positively charged fiber with the use of ammonium and epoxy reactions, he was able to induce positive ionization. In order to prevent nanoparticles agglomeration, Ding synthesized the nanoparticles in citric acid.
For the particles to cling into the cotton fibers, the positively charged cotton was dippd into the negatively charged silver nanoparticles solution. With the use of digital student microscopes, it was learned that silver possesses natural antibacterial properties. Thus, silver being reinforced at the nanoscale, gave Ong’s dresses the power to prevent and reduce harmful bacteria and other microorganisms. The need for washing is also reducd because the silver infusion destroys bacteria while the small particle size can prevent soils and stains.
The denim jacket, also included in the fashion line, has embedded palladium particles that are included in the hood, sleeves, and pockets of the soft gray tweed cotton. Negatively-charged palladium crystals were placed unto positively charged cotton fibers for this fabric. The palladium nanoparticles which are about en nanometers in length can be scrutinized using digital student microscopes.
The anti-smog jacket is made up by incorporating palladium nanoparticles into the fiber and then fitting it in the jacket to oxidize smog. Aside from anti-smog properties, the jacket could be useful to people with allergies, and those who ant protection from harmful gases in the environment. In the future, we could expect more nanotechnology fiber creations not just in fashion but also in other fields. Original article