A team of researchers has designed a solution to reduce the amount of microplastic fibres that are shed when clothes made of synthetic fabrics are washed.
- The researchers from the University of Toronto (UoT) Engineering have shared their findings in a new paper published in Nature Sustainability.
The Project: Prof Kevin Golovin and his team at UoT Engineering have created a two-layer coating made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) brushes, which are linear, single polymer chains grown from a substrate to form a nanoscale surface layer. Experiments showed that this coating can significantly reduce microfibre shedding of nylon clothing after repeated laundering.
- PDMS is a silicon-based organic polymer that is found in many household products. Its presence in shampoos makes hair shiny and slippery. It is also used as a food additive in oils to prevent liquids from foaming when bottled.
- The project had roots in the idea that if they could reduce the friction that occurs during wash cycles with a PDMS-based fabric finish, then that could stop fibres from rubbing together and breaking off during laundering.
- One of the biggest challenges, however, was ensuring the PDMS brushes stayed on the fabric. They reasoned that the type of bonding responsible for keeping dyed apparel colourful after repeated washes could work for the PDMS coating as well.
- Neither the primer nor the PDMS brushes work separately to decrease the microplastic-fibre shedding. But together, they created a strong finish that reduced the release of microfibres by more than 90% after nine washes.
- PDMS brushes are environmentally friendly because they are not derived from petroleum like many polymers used today. With addition of a primer, the coating is robust enough to remain on the garment and continues to reduce micro-fibre shedding over time.
- Since PDMS is naturally a hydrophobic (water-repellent) material, the researchers are currently working on making the coating hydrophilic, so that coated fabrics will be better able to wick away sweat.
- The team has also expanded the research to look beyond nylon fabrics, including polyester and synthetic-fabric blends.
- Sudip Kumar Lahiri, a postdoctoral researcher in Golovin’s lab, was the lead author of the study.
The Context: More than two-thirds of clothes are now made of synthetic fabrics. When clothes made from synthetic fabrics, such as nylon, polyester, acrylic and rayon, are laundered in washing machines, the friction caused by cleaning cycles produces tiny tears in the fabric.
- These tears in turn cause microplastic fibres measuring less than 500 micrometres in length to break off and make their way down laundry drains to enter waterways.
- Once microplastics end up in oceans and freshwater lakes and rivers, the particles are difficult to remove and will take decades or more to fully break down.
- The accumulation of this debris in bodies of water can threaten marine life. It can also become part of the human food chain through its presence in food and tap water, with effects on human health that are not yet clear.
What They Said:
And yet, when we look at what governments around the world are doing, there is no trend towards preventing the creation of microplastic fibres in the first place. Our research is pushing in a different direction, where we actually solve the problem rather than putting a Band-Aid on the issue.
— Kevin Golovin
University of Toronto (UoT) Engineering
