L. Čepukonė “Development of peat fibre knits and investigation of their properties” doctoral thesis defence

Author, Institution: Lina Čepukonė, Kaunas University of Technology

Science area, field of science: Technological Sciences, Materials Engineering, 08T

Scientific Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Daiva Mikučionienė (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Materials Engineering, 08 T).

Dissertation Defence Board of Materials Engineering Science Field:
Prof. Dr. Rimvydas Milašius (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Materials Engineering, 08T) – chairman;
Prof. Dr. Habil. Katarzyna Grabowska, (Lodz University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Materials Engineering, 08T);
Dr. Habil. Małgorzata Matusiak (Lodz University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Materials Engineering, 08T);
Prof. Dr. Jolita Ostrauskaitė (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Materials Engineering, 08T);
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Audronė Ragaišienė (Kaunas University of Technology, Technological Sciences, Materials Engineering, 08T).

The doctoral dissertation is available at the library of Kaunas University of Technology (K. Donelaičio St. 20, Kaunas).

Annotation:

During the last decade, the growing awareness of users and the increasing demand for organic materials demands the dedication of special interest to natural fibres of organic origin in the production of textiles. The present doctoral thesis chooses the peat fibre as the main object of research, because its source is renewable, due to the harvested peatlands natural recovery. To determine the peat fibre morphology and the chemical structure, as well as the establishment of the impact of the peat fibre on the structural, mechanical and physical properties of knitted fabrics. The conducted research and the obtained results demonstrated that threads containing peat fibre are suitable for knitting. The research established an exceptional quality of peat fibre, notably that the timespan of its burn through (which is a characteristic of supreme importance) is prominently longer than that of knitted cotton fabrics. Having considered the fact that the peat fibre is exceptionally of organic origin, its use instead of similar lignocellulose fibres (whose growth is resource-demanding) should be highly promoted, due to excellent future prospects. The thesis research results expands the knowledge about the properties of peat fibre, the feasibility of its application in the knitting industry and the scope of the usage benefits stemming from the mechanical, consumption and functional properties of knitted structures containing peat fibre. The obtained results may be practically employed and used for further research, promotion of environmentally-friendly production and the enhancement of environment protection.