Due to the increased public awareness in ensuring a sustainable and long-lasting world, both academic and industrial researchers are trying to use eco-friendly and biodegradable materials in every sphere of life. Petroleum-based synthetic materials are nonrenewable, hazardous, and costly. In contrast, natural fibers are mainly derived from plant-based sources, which are recyclable, renewable, sustainable, abundantly available, and cheap. Hence, the use of natural fibers in the fabrication of composite materials is increasing dramatically. These are used as a reinforcement with the polymer matrix to fabricate the composites. Although a massive amount of research works has been performed to develop green composites, until now the composite fabrication process is facing some terrific problems such as the lower adhesion tendency of the composites, due to the presence of the hydrophilic natural fibers and hydrophobic polymer matrix. Researchers are trying to find out the optimum combination of the composites that can be able to exhibit excellent mechanical properties for the application areas where greater strength is a must. This review is focusing on the composite materials fabricated from the bast fibers, a branch of the natural fibers, with various thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers, and their potential application areas.

Absorption and transportation of moisture from sweat are the crucial properties of the fabrics used in performance clothing. Sweat moisture is a significant factor that may cause discomfort to the wearer. The majority of the injuries and fatalities that happen to the high-risk sector workers in their line of duty may be caused by inadequate comfort provided by the protective uniform. The purpose of this study is to scientifically investigate the sweat drying performance of the different protective fabrics used in high-risk sectors’ workers’ clothing. Firstly, this study experimentally analyzed the sweat drying of protective fabrics with different attributes under various ambient environments and wearers’ internal physiology. Secondly, this study explained the phenomena of sweat drying in protective fabric through the theory of heat and mass transfer. Sweat drying performance of the fabrics used in functional clothing mainly depends on the evaporative resistance regardless of the presence of water and oil repellent coating on the fabric surface. The drying performance increases with the increased wetted area and increased air flow. The wetted area depends on the absorption and wicking properties of the fabrics. The findings of this research will advance the field by developing knowledge on sweat drying performance of fabrics used in protective clothing; in turn, this could provide better comfort and safety to high-risk sectors’ workers.

The color appearance of residential carpets under different illuminants can influence the purchase decisions of consumers, visual merchandisers, and interior designers. This study was designed to investigate and characterize the color appearance of residential carpets under average Noon Daylight (D65), Incandescent (A), and Cool White Fluorescent (F02) illuminants commonly used in retail and household settings. The objective of this study was to identify the key features significantly affecting the apparent color of the carpets under those three illuminants. Four different carpets were dyed with light, medium, and dark shades of red and green colors to identify the difference in color perception when illuminated by different lighting arrangements. A spectrophotometer was used to measure the lightness, chroma, and hue of the carpets via the CIELAB scale developed by Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE). Statistically significant differences among the L*, a*, and b* values of the carpets were evaluated using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Regression analyses were carried out to identify key parameters affecting the L*, a* and b* values. Multiple linear regression (MLR) was applied to generate equations to predict L*, a* and b* values under different illuminant for different carpet features. A decreasing trend in the L*, a*, and b* values have been observed from lighter to darker shades under the illuminants for all the carpets. The deposition of dye molecules over the carpet surface had significant effects on the CIELAB values, and the distribution of dye molecules over the carpet surface was influenced by the constructional parameters of the carpets. The study provides an overview of the effects of carpet structures on color perception under different illuminants, which could help the researcher to determine the apparent color of different carpets under various illuminants.

Thermal protective clothing (TPC) plays an important role in safeguarding firefighters exposed to high-temperature hazards. However, existing TPC systems lack the ability to address the comprehensive safety needs of working in a hazardous thermal environment. Limitations such as poor breathability, unstable insulation under different exposure conditions, and limited capability to mitigate carcinogenic particle exposure often contribute to heat stress, burn-related injuries, and cancer-related health effects among firefighters. In recent years, nanotechnology has attracted growing attention as a possible route toward more advanced TPC systems. Nanoscale materials offer significant pathways to engineer the thermal, moisture-management, and particle-filtration attributes of textile systems, making them highly relevant for improving TPC performance. This review analyzes current nanotechnology in terms of composition, processing, structure, properties, and performance. A total of 88 selected studies were reviewed and classified according to the nanosystem used to achieve relevant TPC functions. The performance domains investigated include flame retardancy, thermal management, moisture transport, filtration, and additional functions, to evaluate their potential for TPC applications. Nanotechnology can expand the TPC design space through multidomain protection and performance optimization; however, research remains largely fragmented. This review integrates findings and identifies design challenges and limitations, providing a coherent basis for comparing and guiding future TPC material design.