Chemical protective clothing (CPC) has become mandatory when performing various tasks to ensure user protection and prevent chemicals from contacting the skin and causing severe injuries. In addition to protection, there is a need to develop a simple mechanism that can be attached to CPC and be capable of detecting and alerting the user to the presence of harmful chemical agents. In this study, a double-sensor strategy was investigated, using six different pH indicators stamped on cotton and polyester knits to detect acidic and alkaline substances, both liquid and gaseous. Functionalized knits underwent microscopic characterization, air permeability and contact angle evaluation. All samples exhibited hydrophobic behavior (contact angle > 90°) and air permeability values above 2400 L/min/cm²/bar, with the best condition demonstrating a contact angle of 123° and an air permeability of 2412.5 L/min/cm²/bar when the sensor methyl orange and bromocresol purple (MO:BP) was stamped on polyester. The performed tests proved the functionality of the sensors and showed a visible response of all knits when contacting with different chemicals (acids and bases). Polyester functionalized with MO:BP showed the greatest potential, due to its preeminent color change. Herein, the fiber coating process was optimized, enabling the industrial application of the sensors via a stamping method, an alternative to other time- and resource-consuming techniques.

The mainstream to be achieved in the development of this scientific research was the development of terry towels based on structural engineering concepts, to increase durability and reduce weight. For this purpose, two different studies were conducted. One of them to evaluate the influence of the height of the loop – where the same height of the loop was kept – and the second prep to assess the impact of weight – in this part the produced terry structures presented similar aerial mass. These studies presented allowed a sample range of 14 different terry structures – all of them produced with a 100% cotton yarn (Ne 16), thus eliminating the parameter of influence of the raw material – that have been characterized in terms of mechanical, permeability, absorption, and capillarity properties, and subsequently compared to a standard terry towel (3-pick terry, 18 ends/cm, 411 gsm). Analyzing the study of the influence of the height of the loop it was possible to conclude that some variations can be introduced in terms of aerial mass by the change of weaving parameters, which resulted in aerial mass losses of up to 10% in some of the cases. Regarding the study of the impact of weight, was possible to verify that with a similar aerial mass between structures, the capillary and moisture release properties were increased by 19% and 12%, respectively.