Functionalizing regenerated cellulose and bio-based polyamide textile fibers towards active environmental responsiveness

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School of Chemical Engineering | Doctoral thesis (article-based) | Defence date: 2025-12-05
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Date

2025

Department

Kemian ja materiaalitieteen laitos
Department of Chemistry and Materials Science

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Mcode

Degree programme

Language

en

Pages

75 + app. 39

Series

Aalto University publication series Doctoral Theses, 232/2025

Abstract

In response to increasing environmental and consumer demands, the textile industry must adopt sustainable solutions to mitigate the challenges of resource depletion and waste generation by emphasizing eco-friendly materials and efficient manufacturing processes. Beyond basic protection, functional textiles enhance comfort and durability, minimizing the need for frequent replacements and contributing to waste reduction. This thesis focuses on the development of sustainable, functional fibers by synthesizing bio-based polyamides with tailored functionalities and enhancing man-made cellulosic fibers through the incorporation of functional additives, thereby improving performance and adding value to conventional textiles. In approach one, two different bio-based shape-changing polyamides were developed: in one, starch was incorporated to increase biosourced content, with heat used to activate the shape-changing performance; in the other, a polypyrrole/graphene oxide composite was incorporated to enable light-responsive shape-changing actuation. In the second approach, Ioncell® fibers, derived through an environmentally friendly cellulose fiber production process, served as the base material for functionalization. Thermal regulation and hydrophobicity were introduced through phase change materials and an eco-friendly hydrophobizing coating, namely octadecenyl succinic anhydride. Additionally, pectin was incorporated to impart photothermal properties, enabling the fibers to harness solar energy for heat generation. As showcased by the above mentioned examples, combining sustainability with functionality paves the way for a more responsible textile production. In the presented scenarios, the environmental impact of textile production is decreased, while simultaneously catering to evolving consumer demands. One key achievement of this dissertation is the development of stimuli-responsive, shapechanging fibers for smart textile applications. These types of textiles can enable new use cases, such as indoor curtains that modify the lighting and acoustics of the space. Beyond this, the developed multifunctional cellulosic textiles are expected to enhance thermal comfort of the future users, particularly in cold outdoor environments. Overall, by combining two conventional but rather different textile raw materials, this thesis demonstrates how both polyamide and cellulosic fibers can be effectively enhanced to meet demanding functionality and sustainability goals, showcasing their potential in next-generation smart textiles.

Description

Supervising professor

Vapaavuori, Jaana, Prof., Aalto University, Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Finland

Thesis advisor

Baniasadi, Hossein, Dr., Aalto University, Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Finland
Basarir, Fevzihan, Dr., Aalto University, Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Finland

Keywords

multifunctional textiles, polyamide filaments, man-made cellulosic fibers, polymer composites

Other note

Parts

  • [Publication 1]: Hossein Baniasadi, Zahra Madani, Mithila Mohan, Maija Vaara, Sami Lipponen, Jaana Vapaavuori and Jukka. V Seppälä. Heat-Induced Actuator Fibers: Starch-Containing Biopolyamide Composites for Functional Textiles. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 2023, 15, 48584-48600.
    Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202310186531
    DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c08774 View at publisher
  • [Publication 2]: Zahra Madani, Pedro E. S. Silva, Hossein Baniasadi, Maija Vaara, Susobhan Das, Juan Camilo Arias, Jukka. V Seppälä, Zhipei Sun, and Jaana Vapaavuori. Light-Driven Multidirectional Bending in Artificial Muscles. Advanced Materials. 2024, 36, 2405917.
    Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202410236827
    DOI: 10.1002/adma.202405917 View at publisher
  • [Publication 3]: Zahra Madani, Hossein Baniasadi, Pedro E. S. Silva, Maija Vaara, Marike Langhans, Inge Schlapp-Hackl, Lars Evenäs, Michael Hummel, and Jaana Vapaavuori. Multifunctional Thermoregulating and Water Repellent Cellulosic Textile. Green Chemistry. 2025, 27, 6482-6492.
    Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202506195029
    DOI: 10.1039/D5GC00943J View at publisher

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https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-64-2836-9

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[diss] Kemian tekniikan korkeakoulu / CHEM