Studies of the production of fiber-forming polyamide 6 (PA6)/graphene composite material and melt-spun textile fibers are scarce, but research to date reveals that achieving the high dispersion state of graphene is the main challenge to nanocomposite production. Considering the significant progress made in the industrial mass production of graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs), this study explored the feasibility of production of PA6/GnPs composite fibers using the commercially available few-layer GnPs. To this aim, the GnPs were pre-dispersed in molten ε-caprolactam at concentrations equal to 1 and 2 wt %, and incorporated into the PA6 matrix by the in situ water-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactam, which was followed by melt spinning. The results showed that the incorporated GnPs did not markedly influence the melting temperature of PA6 but affected the crystallization temperature, fiber bulk structure, crystallinity, and mechanical properties. Furthermore, GnPs increased the PA6 complex viscosity, which resulted in the need to adjust the parameters of melt spinning to enable continuous filament production. Although the incorporation of GnPs did not provide a reinforcing effect of PA6 fibers and reduced fiber tensile properties, the thermal stability of the PA6 fiber increased. The increased melt viscosity and graphene anti-dripping properties postponed melt dripping in the vertical flame spread test, which consequently prolonged burning within the samples.

Elasticity and recovery are important for clothing comfort, especially in the manufacture of apparel and sportswear. Recently, yarns containing PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), which are able to develop good elastic properties with high recovery after a finishing process (e.g., thermal treatment), have been used for this purpose. The aim of this work is to give a comprehensive overview of the use of PBT yarns in woven structure, with the aim of improving the elastic properties of cotton-like fabrics. The experimental part was divided into three main sequences to investigate the fabric properties (physical, elastic, UPF, comfort) influenced by (1) PBT-containing yarn structure, (2) weave and fabric structure (basic weaves and complex weaves) with PBT in weft direction, and (3) processing sequence—thermal treatment of PBT yarns or fabrics after weaving. According to the results, PBT-containing yarns have great potential for the production of lightweight elastic fabrics. The advantages of improving the elastic properties of fabrics by incorporating a relatively small amount of PBT yarns into the fabric only in certain areas, thereby minimally affecting the production costs, are demonstrated by a product with partially elastic areas obtained after thermal treatment.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal activity, cytotoxicity, leaching, and ecotoxicity of novel flame retardant polyamide 6 (PA6) textile fibers developed by our research group. The textile fibers were produced by the incorporation of flame-retardant bridged 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) derivative (PHED) in the PA6 matrix during the in situ polymerization process at concentrations equal to 10 and 15 wt% (PA6/10PHED and PA6/15PHED, respectively). Whilst the nanodispersed PHED provided highly efficient flame retardancy, its biological activity led to excellent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as excellent antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. The results confirmed leaching of the PHED, but the tested leachates did not cause any measurable toxic effect to the duckweed Lemna minor. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the leached PHED from the PA6/15PHED sample was confirmed for human cells from adipose tissue in direct and prolonged contact. The targeted biological activity of the organophosphinate flame retardant could be beneficial for the development of PA6 textile materials with multifunctional properties and the low ecotoxicity profile, while the PHED’s leaching and cytotoxicity limit their application involving the washing processes and direct contact with the skin.

The most important tool for the responsible development of the future world is education. With education of new generations, we shape the future of the world. The most important part of education are pupils and in the case of higher education students. The future world belongs to them! Do we know who are they and what they really want? For this reason, the survey has been performed on the engineering faculty in Slovenia in which the students have been asked questions on the basis of which it would be possible to recognize their opinion and position which we should take in to account in the design of education in the future.