Surface Modification of Cellulose Acetate with Cutinase and ...

General Discussion and Future perspectives
General Discussion and Future Perspectives
The introduction of synthetic fibers in textile industry, like polyethylene
terephthalate, nylons or acrylics, had a significant impact on the quality of life.
However, nowadays, there is an increased demand for natural fibers, especially for
their properties including aesthetics, comfort, and biodegradability. Besides the
traditional natural materials like cotton, wool and silk, many researches are also
focused on exploring fibers from alternative sources like agricultural by-products,
which are often underutilized (Collier et al., 1992).
Independently on the use of natural or synthetic fibers, with old or new agricultural
materials, the textile industry must search for sustainable technologies and develop
methods of processing and finishing fabrics that meet customer expectations with the
finished products performance, human health and environmental safety. Fiber surface
modification has been one of the main areas of research in the development of
functional fibers. In addition to research in developing/synthesizing new fiber
forming polymers with specialized properties, surface modification offers many new
opportunities.
Properties of fibers such as anti-shrinkage, anti-microbial, anti-odor, anti-fungal,
anti-static, higher hidrophylicity, dyeing, soil resistance, adhesion, biocompatibility,
are all function of fiber surface properties.
For the last years chemical modification has been employed with variable level of
success. Chemical modification relates to an alteration of chemical structure. It can
be conducted in the stage of synthesis of fibre-forming polymers by 3 methods: (1)
copolymerization of the initial fibre-forming monomer with second comonomers
containing the functional groups that carry new properties; (2) by addition of new
side functional groups and (3) inclusion of new substances that react with the fibres
during processing (Kozlowski, 1998; Rouette, 2001). Chemical modification is also
possible in the stage of finishing materials being effective giving new properties to
the fibres (Carr, 1992; Lee et al., 2005; Freddy et al., 2002; Freddy et al., 1999).
However, these treatments are not environmentally benign and frequently reduce the
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