Some new synthetic routes for the preparation of poly (isobutyl vinyl ether) (P(IBVE)) having a controllable molar mass with narrow distribution via catalytic or photoinduced living cationic polymerization and their conversion to corresponding PVA have been developed. It was found that the combination of iodomethyl methyl ether (IMME)-zinc iodide is effective in the initiation of the catalytic and the various combinations of diphenyliodonium halides, well known photocationic initiators (DPIX) with zinc halides (ZnX$_2$) are also useful in photoinduced living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE). Polymerization both in the catalytic and photoinduced systems precede until the full consumption of the monomer and the rate of polymerization increases as the concentration of the catalyst or photoinitiator. The number average molar mass of the resulting polymer is proportional with % conversion, which is determined by the ratio of monomer consumed and the initial values of the catalyst or initiator. The living nature was also confirmed by subsequent monomer addition technique.

The recent aspects of eco-friendly textile processing, in particular bio-scouring of cotton and shrinkproofing of wool are described.

Kinetic study on the colloidal crystallization of single component and mixture of different sizes or densities of spheres was made in the exhaustively deionized suspensions and in microgravity, and compared with the results in normal gravity. Colloidal crystallization rates were retarded in microgravity for single component of spheres, whereas rates of alloy crystallization were enhanced substantially in microgravity. The rotational diffusion coefficients of colloids and the formation reaction rates of colloidal silica spheres were also studied in microgravity.

Since PVDF/poly(1,4-butylene adipate) blend shows much lower LCST curve compared with PVDF/PMMA blend, the PVDF/PBA blend can be a good candidate for investigating the effect of the electric field on the phase separation and dissolution behavior of an electro-active polymer and electro-inactive polymer blend. (omitted)

Cellulose/chitosan and sericin/chitosan blend films with various mixing ratios were prepared and tensile properties, solubilities to the aqueous solution of acetic acid and the degree of swelling by the distilled water were measured. The interaction between the components of blend film and the blending effect were investigated.

The reinforcing effect of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber were investigated. The tensile fracture images of the composite fibers demonstrate that SWNTs are well dispersed in PAN matrix as bundles (ropes) ca. 20nm in thickness. It was found that SWNTs play a role not only to reinforce but also to toughen the PAN fiber by increasing breaking strain as well as modulus and strength of the fiebrs. The composite fibers exhibited improved dimensional stability at elevated temperature compared to the neat PAN fiber.

Cellulosic graft copolymers were synthesized to use them as the functional materials. Three methods containing atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), macro-azo-initiator (MAI) method, and the polymerization catalyzed by tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) were performed in this work.

When textiles are buried in soil, soil resident microorganisms take part in degradation of textile material, which is called biodegradation, and the biodegradability is often used as a standard for the environment-friendliness of textile products.(omitted)

Swelling behaviors of Lyocell and Polynosic fibers are investigated by measuring fiber sizes in ferric sodium tartrate complex (FeTNa) and NaOH solution. They showed an anisotropic swelling behavior, i.e., a large expansion in a radius and small shrinking in a longitudinal direction. Birefringent structure was maintained in Lyocell fibers in the swollen state but not in Polynosic fibers for both solvent systems.

New gemini organogelators linked by an oxall amide that can be easily, effectively, and cheaply synthesized have good organogelation abilities and their cyclohexane gels have superior thermal stabilities; especially 7 possessing the branched alkyl ester can gel at 0.7 wt% cyclohexane even at 70$^{\circ}C$.

4 types rubber related geosynthetics were manufactured to examine the performance to for applications to the civil and geotechnical fields, especially to the road construction. Reinforcement and water barrier function of these geosynthetics were interpreted as the important properties. Fiber glass mat based and geogrid based geosynthetics showed the excellent mechanical properties as. Also elastomeric bitumen based geosynthetic showed the highest permittivity. From this, it i s thought that this geosynthetic is suitable for water barrier under specific load condition.

We synthesized a poly[2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl) benzoxazole] under the two step procedures of Suzuki coupling polymerization with corresponding monomers followed by the deprotection of benzyl group. The polymer in DMF solution is applicable to colorimetric sensing fluoride anion, which shows a color change from colorless to yellow. High sensitivity to fluoride anion compared to other anions such as phosphate, chloride, and sulfate is ascribed to the high coordination ability of the 2-(2'-hydroxy phenyl)benzoxazole moiety in the polymer chain. Emission shift by metal cations, which can be applied to fluorescent sensing w as also observed in the polymer solution.

Electrically conducting polymers such as polypyrrole(PPy) or poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene)(PEDOT) were sequentially polymerized chemically and electrochemically on various kinds of woven fabrics, giving rise to the fabrics with high electrical conductivity. The specific volume resistivity of the fabric prepared in this study was extremely low as 0.2 $\Omega$-cm. We figured out the electrically conducting fabrics were practically useful for many applications such as an EMI shielding material, a flexible surface heating element or a strain sensor for large deformation.

Synthesis and properties of novel excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) materials recently developed in our group are described. Highly efficient ESIPT in polymeric system has been investigated theoretically and experimentally with a semi-rigid polyquinoline (PQH, PQDH) possessing an intramolecular tautomerizable hydrogen bond. Poly(aryl ether) dendrimers of three different generations that are cored with photo-tautomerizable quinoline (QGn, n=1,2,3) were also synthesized and characterized to investigate the effect of dendritic architecture on the ESIPT activity. Stimulated emission and amplified spontaneous emission in these organic materials system are discussed in terms of ESIPT activity.

Several forms of nanonetworked carbon materials were synthesized by high pressure and high temperature treatments of fullerene C$\_$60/ and single-walled carbon nanotube bundles. Structural properties (e.g. thermal expansion coefficients and compressibilities) of the synthesized materials were investigated by XRD measurements using synchrotron X-ray. Their formation mechanisms are also discussed.

The fixation of reactive dyes onto cotton fabrics by means of dry heat treatment was examined in terms of water regain in fabrics. Dye liquors were applied to fabrics by ink-jet printer. The fixation strongly depended on water regain. At certain level of water regain the fixation showed stepwise increase. After this point the fixation reached to saturated value. The observed results were interpreted by the aggregation behavior of dyes and reactivity of hydroxyl group of cellulose depending on the amount of the surrounding water molecules. Urea molecules played a role of water at low water regain to increase the fixation.

Lyocell yarns were treated with NaOH, liquid ammonia, high pressure steam and polycarboxylic acids, and dyed with five reactive dyes. The water content of the samples was also measured by the centrifugal and chromatographic techniques. The total pore volume w as substantially increased by NaOH treatment, while decreased by high pressure steaming. The pore size distributions for the dyed samples were affected by the dyes used.

The purpose of this work is to investigate the surface modification of LDPE film via corona discharge treatment and subsequent graft polymerization, and their effect on the resulting dyeability is studied in terms of the surface functional groups, surface energetics, and acid-base interaction between the modified LDPE and the dyes used.

Melamine resin microcapsules with mean sizes from 500 to 600 m were prepared by using a micro-tubular reactor (microreactor) with toluene and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) as emulsifiers. Conventional stirring method with telomeric surfactant in place of SDS produced microcapsules with mean sizes from 100 to 200 nm. Preparation by means of microreactor method with telomeric surfactant gave microcapsules with sizes below 200 nm in narrow particle size distribution. TG analysis revealed that the microcapsules contained 50 wt% of toluene.

This research surveys the effects of POY physical properties and processing conditions of belt texturing machine to the draw textured yarns. The various textured yarns are made with variation of 1st heater temperature, draw ratio and velocity ratio, and the physical properties of these specimens such as yarn linear density, tensile properties and wet and dry thermal shrinkages are measured and analyzed with POY physical properties and processing conditions of texturing machine. Especially yarn mechanical properties of DTY are analysed with the variation of untwisting tension (T$_2$) on the untwisting part in DTY process and thin and thick DTY yam model are proposed with surging phenomena in DTY process.

Osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) were cultured on polysaccharide type polyelectrolyte complex (PEC). The growth of the MC3T3-E1 on the PEC with carbxyl group (c-type) was slightly suppressed and exhibited aggregation morphology. On the other hand, cell growth on the PEC with sulfate group (s-type) was enhanced and the cell exhibited spreading form. Differentiation markers of osteoblast (ALPase activity, calcification, expression of osteocalsin) were enhanced and localized around cell aggregates on c-type PECs. These results suggest that PEC has the ability to control osteoblast proliferation and differentiation.

The new method for preparing hybrid fibers from aqueous solution is described. The method is based on interfacial polyionic complexation between the counter-charged polymers. Polysaccharides, chitosan and gellan, and polypeptides, poly(L-lysine) and poly(L-glutamic acid) were utilized as the components of the fibers. The chitosan-gellan and poly(L-lysine)-gellan hybrid fibers exhibited a high level biodegradability.

A process control system has been developed for measurement and characterization of the nanofiber web qualities. The nano-fiber information system (NAFIS) developed consists of a measurement device and an analysis algorithm, which are a microscope-laser sensor fusion system and a process information system, respectively. It has been found that NAFIS is so successful in detecting irregularities of pore and diameter that the resulting product has been quitely under control even at the high production rate. Pore distribution, fiber diameter and mass uniformity have been readily measured and analyzed by integrating the non-contact measurement technology and the random function-based time domain signal/image processing algorithm. Qualifies of the nano-fiber webs have been revealed in a way that the statistical parameters for the characteristics above are calculated and stored in a certain interval along with the time-specific information. Quality matrix, scale of homogeneity is easily obtained through the easy-to-use GUI information. Finally, ANFIS has been evaluated both for the real-time measurement and analysis, and for the process monitoring.

Dilute bubble suspensions are prepared by introducing carbon dioxide bubbles into polyol resin. The apparent shear viscosity is measured with a wide gap parallel plate rheometer. A numerical simulation for deformation of a single bubble suspended in a Newtonian fluid is conducted by using a finite volume method (FVM) where multigrid algorithms are incorporated. Transient and steady results of bubble deformation were obtained and were in good agreement with experimental results. At high capillary number, viscosity of the suspension increases as the volume fraction increases, while at low capillary number, the viscosity decreases as the volume fraction increases.

In this paper, we describe a precise relationship between measured mechanical properties of cloth and the particle model. T he proposed cloth model is compared with the tablecloth drape, furthermore it is validated by the visualization of cloth 3-D drapeability.

In order to understand the buffering behavior of hygroscopic fabric under subzero conditions, microclimates of the wool and PET clothing system were measured and compared. Vertical type Man-Clothing-Environment simulator was used to measure the microclimate at the environmental temperature of -10$^{\circ}C$. Buffering capacity was quantified by calculating from the depth and width of the hyperbolic curve of the graph. Hydrophilic wool fabrics showed better buffering capacity at the transient state than hydrophobic PET fabrics; which is attributed to the heat of sorption.

Fukusuke applied for beginning "Civil affairs reproduction procedure" on June 21, 2003. It′s bankrupt. After obtaining the data of "Commodity Attribute, Sales, Sates Cost, Stock, Ordinary Profit, And Special Loss" based on the financial statement at the time of the bankruptcy, the influence of the production method improves checking. They are compared with a similar apparel company. The production method is close with the distribution circumstances. As a result, it searches for the limit of "Mass-Sail system" in fiber ＆ fashion product by "Make To Stock(MTS) Production Method".

An old castle in a tranquil setting. At first glance, no-one would suspect that this was the backdrop for the research and services centre providing expertise from all areas of the textile-clothing supply chain, textile care and other associated sectors. The Hohenstein Institutes are a modern communications centre with the latest research equipment where highly qualified scientists carry out their research and exchange knowledge. This combination of high-calibre staff and the philosophy of the unity of research, training and application have guaranteed the Hohenstein team of their position as an internationally respected institution offering high levels of expertise in all areas of the textile-clothing chain. At the beginning of the 21st century, the team of scientists at Hohenstein made the research and development of high-tech textile and garment innovations their number one priority. They recognise a rapidly developing market for "intelligent textiles" and "Smart Clothes" capable of adapting their function to the existing environmental conditions. Clients for the research projects, which are often carried out in conjunction with other institutions and industry, are research associations, federal ministries, the European Union and numerous leading companies both in Germany and abroad. The Hohenstein Institutes dispose of four international offices at the moment: in Turkey (since 1996), USA (since 1999), Lima (since 2002) and Mexico (since 2003).

Thin coating layer of clay minerals was fabricated on nylon fiber and uv-light resistivity of the clay-coated nylons, schematically shown in Figure 1, were investigated. Clay minerals with higher absorbance protect the nylon fibers more effectively from uv light. The coating process is expected as safe and stable procedure because clay and aqueous dispersion of the clay used for the process is innocuous.

The undrawn monofilament of poly (trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) was obtained by melt-spinning. After being annealed at 40 C it was analyzed by the measurements of DSC, DMA, WAXD and ATR FT-IR. Tg of PTT fiber after annealing for more than 96 hours was 20 C higher than that before annealing as determined by the DSC and DMA measurements. The WAXD analysis showed very weak diffraction peaks at 2$\theta$=17$^{\circ}$ and 2$\theta$=24$^{\circ}$ for the annealing time of more than 96 hours. The ATR FT-IR measurements made clear the conformational change of methylene chains of PTT glycol residue from random to gauche-gauche conformation.

To identify the effect of critical molecular parameters of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) such as syndiotacticity, degree of saponification, and molecular weight on the change of morphology, we prepared various PVAs. Also, the structures of these PVA were investigated.

As a part of a research on the development of polymeric textile finishing agents, polymerization of low molecular weight copolymers containing maleic anhydride residues have been studied. In order to obtain low molecular weight poly(maleic anhydride-co-vinyl acetate) copolymers, the feed ratio of the two monomers and the concentrations of initiator and chain transfer agent were varied in the copolymerization. The copolymers were characterized using GPC, NMR, FTIR, DSC, and TGA. Copolymers with molecular weights in the range 2,150 to 6,630 have been prepared and characterized. The hydrolysis of the anhydride groups of the copolymer in water is also discussed.

Ternary blend fibers (TBFs) based on melt blends of PEN, PET, and TLCP were prepared by melt blending and spinning to achieve high performance fibers. The reinforcement effect and the TLCP fibrillar structure resulted in the improvement of mechanical properties for TBFs. Molecular orientation was an important factor in determining the tensile strength and modulus of TBFs. Another part of this research is silica nano-particle filled PEN composites were melt-blended to improve mechanical and physicalproperties, and processability. The tensile modulus and strength were improved adding silica nano-particles to the PEN. The decreased melt viscosity by the fumed silica resulted in the improvement of the processability. The fumed silica may act as a nucleating agent in the PEN matrix.

Native corn starch and montmorillonite caly nanocomposites were prepared using the glycerol as the plasticizer. These were characterized by mechanical analysis, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy. The tensile strength increased with the clay content to a maximum point and then decreased due to gapping between the two phases. Dispersion of the layered silicate within the starch was verified using X-ray diffraction pattern. Examination of these materials by scanning electron showed that intercalates have good wetting to the starch surface.

10 wt.% of PAN was dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and 1 wt. % of the multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was evenly dispersed in PAN solution by using ultrasonic miner. The 1 wt.% addition of MWCNT increased the specific capacitance by two times more from 82 to 160 F/g. The specific capacitance of carbon nanofiber(CNF)/carbon nanotube(CNT) composite capacitors was about 90 F/g at the current density of 500 mA/g. This value is even larger than the capacitance from the CNF electrode at the current density of 5 mA. The relatively high capacitance at the high current density is a practical importance for applications to supercapacitor in motor vehicle.

The aim of our study is to prepare nanocomposites consisting polymer/inorganic nanoparticles and investigate their physical properties as a functional material. In this study, a nanocomposite of copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles introduced into a poly(acrylic acid) matrix was prepared and the optical absorption property was measured. The composite exhibited strong absorption of both ultraviolet and near-infrared rays, indicating that the composite is applicable to a solar radiation shielding filter. The wavelength of the near infrared absorption was controlled from ca.1000 nm to 1700 nm by heat and acidic solution treatments.

Silkworms construct cocoons that are strong and resilient structure by their masterful behavior. Knowing the essentials of their skill, we could apply them to building many types of objects. In this research we focused on the some properties of silkworm′s spinneret and body position in their cocoon construction process. Silkworm′s spinning process was measured by two Video camera system and then analyzed to find out some appropriate statistical models representing the behavior. Furthermore, we interested in the locus pattern of spinneret based on "8" and "S" character. We modeled this pattern to the Lemniscate′s curve function, and tried to make a design of plane surface.

Current efforts to establish links between geometrical features and mechanical performance of nonwoven fabrics in general, and of point-bonded (spot-bonded) nonwovens in particular, would be served significantly by the measurements of Fiber Orientation Distribution Function (ODF) and tensile modulus which occurs during controlled-deformation experiments. Image analysis technique (using the Fast Furier Transform) is used to quantify the fiber orientation distribution. The results suggest that, within a typical window of processing conditions, ODF has a significant influence on the mechanical anisotropy. The data also suggest that mechanical anisotropy of thermally point-bonded nonwovens is likely to be governed by different stress mode according to the applied macroscopic tensile direction.

The surface evenness and texture of textile products are closely related with the irregularity of yarn thickness which has an important role to influence the quality and the process efficiency. For measuring yam thickness the capacitive method is known to dominate the market, delivering results that are in a close relation with the mechanical properties of yarn, while the optical method offers information that seems related rather with the apparent quality of yarn. If a thin light beam is applied for the optoelectrical measurement, it is very possible that this method can provide us with important information which is not obtainable from the capacitive type measurement. This paper reports the results of a study about the yarn thickness and its variation on the basis of a new measurement system using a laser slit beam. Analysis of the new system confirms that we can extract new information on the yarn irregularity ranging into much short wavelengths. Even the visual shade created by the yam doubling and twisting can be measured and represented well. Depending on the yam types, the thickness measurements show their own characteristics.

In order to develop an indoor assistive mobility equipment, we paid attention to the mechanism of locomotion in a snail, or a terrestrial gastropod molluscs. It is known that the snail moves by propagation of a pedal wave generating on a pedal surface of the snail and a pedal locomotion has flexibility far ground condition. An air mattress with a function of a pedal-like locomotion mechanism was developed and the performance of the pedal locomotory air mattress as mobility equipment was discussed.

Two antibiotics, doxycycline (doxy) and ciprofloxacin (cipro) were applied under a variety of conditions to silk, and to silk that had previously been hydrolyzed. FTIR-ATR analyses indicated that the drastic increase in sorption of antibiotics by hydrolyzed silk was attributable to both chemical and conformational changes that occurred on hydrolysis. A high sorption of doxy by hydrolyzed silk did not necessarily give a more infection-resistant material as determined by a zone of inhibition test. Conversely, the same hydrolysis considerably increased both sorption of cipro and zone of inhibition of cipro-treated silk dyed at 65$^{\circ}C$ and 85$^{\circ}C$.

The microstructure and tensile properties of ramie treated with NaOH and crosslinked with 1, 2, 3, 4-butanetetracarboxylic acid were characterised. X-ray diffraction and FTIR were used to study the crystalline structure o f the resultant ramie yarns. Results showed that the maximum change in the structure of the modified ramie took place at 16% NaOH, which would completely transform Cellulose I to Cellulose II. Also, the crystallinity index and fibre orientation decreased to the minimum value while the absorption properties were enhanced. The average degree of polymerization of the treated ramie yams slightly decreased after NaOH treatment.

Shrink-proofing processing of wool fabrics is practically carried out by means of oxidation of wool with choline and/or covering of wool surface with resins. But, these are not necessarily environmentally friendly process causing a waste fluid containing organic chlorine compounds. Development of alternative method using more environmentally friendly process is desired. In this study, utilization of titanium oxide, TiO$_2$, photocatalytic reaction for the shrink-proofing of wool has been examined. It was found that the treatment of wool by TiO$_2$ photocatalytic reaction gave good shrink-proofing characteristics to wool fabrics.

Three kinds of acrylic polymers containing silk protein were synthesized, which are (1) blending of silk fibroin (SF) fiber and polyacrylonitrile (PAN); (2) graft-copolymer of PAN onto SFs; (3) random-copolymer synthesized by copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) and silk fibroin peptide (SFP) with vinyl groups, and their solubility, thermal property, and moisture absorption was investigated, respectively. These polymers have difference solubility and attributable to their structure. Their excellent thermal stabilities and better moisture absorptions were indicated.

A series of novel spinning acrylic polymer containing silk protein were synthesized by copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) and silk fibroin peptide (SFP) modified by acryloyl chloride (AC) with vinyl groups. The viscosity values of these copolymers showed that the copolymers have good spinnability, which are synthesized under the condition of putting a micro amount of metal ions into synthesizing solvent. The fiber based on the poly (AN-co-SFP) was prepared and characterized by SEM, FTIR measurement of its shell and core flakes, and moisture absorption. The fiber appeared a smooth surface and could be assumed to have excellent adhesive between SFP and PAN. Furthermore, these fibers showed a shell-core structure and excellent moisture absorption.

Living nature was appeared in the cationic polymerization of tort-butyl vinyl ether (TBVE), initiated by iodine, carried out in toluene at -78$^{\circ}C$. It was found that the number average molar mass of the resulting polymer (equation omitted) increases linearly as the conversion to polymer increase which reveals that there is no operation of chain transfer or termination process in this system. The polymers having narrow distribution and having molar mass of the resulting polymers are dependent on molar ratio of monomer and iodine.

Major factors including solvent and reaction temperature in the cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE), photoinduced in the presence of diphenyliodonium iodide (DPII) zinc iodide in toluene/diethyl ether mixed solvent has been investigated. It was found that the living nature of the propagating species and the tacticity of the resulting polymer is significantly dependent on these factors. The addition of diethyl ether (DEE) results in not only the loss of the cationic living nature but also decrease in the isotactic content.

poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) was synthesized via condensation polymerization using different molar ratios of 1,3-propane diol (PDO)/terephthalic acid (TPA) in the presence of tetraisopropyl titanate (TiPT) as a polyesterifi-cation catalyst. The effect of reaction conditions on the characteristics of as-polymerized PTT was investigated.

Electrically conducting polyaniline/cyanoethyl resin (PANI/Cyan) blends were prepared by in situ polymerization. The mechanical properties of the blend films increased with increasing cyanoethyl resin and the blend films have moderate conductivity.

Cross-linked polystyrene (PS) particles with carboxyl and/or poly(ethylene glycol) units on surface were formed by an emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization using styrene, methacrylic acid (MA), and poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEG-diMMA) at pH 7, and followed by freeze-drying to give the corresponding powders. Monodisperse polymer particles could be obtained at a concentration of PEG-diMMA 1 mol% relative to styrene. Zeta potential of polymer surface was measured to be 91 mV at a polymer of PEG-diMMA 1 mol% and was dropped as the content of MA increased.

In this study, the influences of organic solvent viscosity on absorption properties of split-type micro fiber fabrics is examined with real time absorption measurement device built by our research group recently. And the absorption behavior of these fabrics is analyzed by material, fineness, construction, weight, thickness, and density of fabrics.

In this article modification of wool fibers and fabrics by pulse corona discharge and enzymes, in particular purified keratinase with a single component has been carried out to improve their surface properties. The shrinkproofing, tensile strength, weight loss, and the primary hand values calculated from the mechanical properties of the dual treated wool fabrics were investigated. In addition, the surface morphology of wool fiber was observed under the dry and wet conditions using an environmental SEM, ESEM.

Recently, attention has been paid to biodegradable polymers in relation to the global environment. Poly-lactide (PLA) is one of such polymers and has studied by some investigators. In this study, the changes of crystal structure, crystal orientation and supermolecular structure of Poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) during drawing or annealing have been investigated.

Mechanical Properties of NR/PET fiber composite were studied. First, PET fiber was grafted under EB irradiation. The mechanical properties of composite were improved with the addition of grafted fiber into NR.

We have investigated the properties of poly (vinyl alcohol)-film obtained by casting from the solution PVA/electrolytes (NaCl, KCl, MgCl$_2$, CaCl$_2$)/water systems at room temperature. The removed electrolytes films have got high crystallinity as well as high draw ratio. The removed electrolytes films had layer-structure while a film without electrolytes didn't have it. A relation between draw ratio and thickness or number of layers, were recognized.

An image processing algorithm has been developed in order to analyze the nanofiber web images obtained from a high magnification microscope. It has been known that precise pore detection on thick webs is extremely difficult mainly due to lack of light uniformity, difficulty of fine focusing and translucency of nanofiber web. The pore detection algorithm developed has been found to show excellent performance in characterizing the porous structure, thus being a promising tool for on-line quality control system under mass production. Since the images obtained from an optical microscope represent only web surface, a scale factor has been introduced to estimate the web structure as a whole. Resulting web structures have been compared to those by mercury porosimetry, especially in pore size distribution. It has been shown that those two structures have a strong correlation, indicating that scaling of a single layer web structure can be an effective way of estimating the structure of thick fiber webs.

TLCP/Polyester binary blends were prepared by melt blending. Rheological, morphological, and thermal properties of of TLCP/polyester blends were investigated with viscosity ratio. Diameter of TLCP fibrils decreased with viscosity ratio. More and smaller TLCP fibrils were obtained at higher shear rate. Lower viscosity ratio was necessary for the fibrillation of TLCP in the binary blends.

TLCP/polyester composite fibers (TPCFs) based on melt blends of PEN, PET, and TLCP were prepared by melt blending and spinning process to achieve high performance fibers. Reinforcement effect and TLCP fibrillar structure resulted in improvement of mechanical properties for TPCFs. The increase in the apparent crystallite size was attributed to the development of larger crystallites and more ordered crystalline structures in the annealed TPCFs. Molecular orientation was an important factor to determine mechanical property of TPCFs.

A newly developed contact angle measurement instrument by laser beam projection allows for rapid and direct determination of contact angles. From the result of comparative experiment and questionnaire, the laser contact angle.

Geosynthetic Reinforcements - membrane drawn type, warp/knitted type, junction bonded type and composite type geogrids, strip type reinforcement - were used to compare the long-term perfor-mance by total factor of safety with reduction factors during service periods. To evaluate the reduction factors, wide-width tensile property, installation damage, creep deformation, chemical and biological degradation tests were performed. Long-term design strengths of geosynthetic reinforcements were calculated by using GRI standard Test Method GG4.

Theoretical studies have been performed for drainage and filtration characteristics, low consolidation rate of sandmat and prefabricated horizontal and vertical drain. Discussion on quality control and methodology, cost analysis for sandmat and prefabricated horizontal drains were performed.

6 woven geotextiles for reinforcement were used to examine the effects of weatherability and reduction factor on the tensile properties. Decrease of tensile strength as the tool of these evaluations of woven geotextile was examined.

This paper argues for the immediate use of Kansei engineering to help deal with the chaotic situation of poorly implemented and disconnected technologies. A theoretical criticism of the current industrial capitalism, together with the promotion of a new post-industrial form of capitalism lays the foundation for a explanation of how this transition can be achieved through a proper understanding of Kansei. A detailed explanation of the Interactive Production System Apparel demonstrates the benefits to both manufacturers and consumers. The paper concludes that the application to apparel is just one many potential applications to improving the lifestyle and enjoyment of individuals throughout society.

We attempted to establish the pattern remaking system using the three-dimensional data of the shape of clothes being worn, especially based on the knowledge of pattern construction. Moreover we tried to develop the deformable body model which can represent customers' body shape in the screen.

In our experiments using a new apparatus, the drape formation process was found to consist of three stages, seeds generation, their development and the final stabilizing stages. A new parameter R evaluating the shape of the drape was defined in terms of the vertical projection of the drape. Both drape coefficient and R-parameter are expected to be useful for analyzing the formation process of the fabric drape quantitatively.

A Web-based fabric information system has been developed. Recently the numbers of textile companies that have their own homepage to advertise their product fabrics for apparel through the Web-based E-commerce rapidly increase.(omitted)

Four main factors, cling force, wicking force, water retention and water transport, affecting the clinginess of the sportswear fabric have been identified and measured by combining a new equipment and a statistical analysis. A classification model based on those factors has been developed in order to evaluate and standardize fabric wear comforts during heavy physical acting. Ten sportswear fabrics assumed different in their wear characteristics have been employed to investigate the relationship between the measurements and actual performance. It has been shown that the subjective evaluation ratings were well agreed with the measurement.

Fiber bundles output from a draft operation have linear density irregularity. This study is dealing with modeling the dynamics of fiber bundle during roll drafting based on continuity, momentum balance, and a constitutive assumption. The simulation results from this model are compared with experimental results and analyzed by applying the concept of the Describing Function(DF). It can be confirmed that the simulation results agree well with experiments in a steady state, if the model parameters are good adjusted.