Technological watch

A fascinating array of nominations for the Discover Natural Fibres Initiative (DNFI) Innovation in Natural Fibres Award 2020 were received by the deadline on 11 September, and eight finalists have been identified. Final judging is underway, and the winner of the 2020 Award will be announced in early October.

The eight finalists for the 2020 Award fall into three broad categories, including the use of natural fibres in the manufacturing of biodegradable plastics and composites, practical techniques for the application of Integrated Pest Management in small-holder cotton production, and new uses or expanded uses for natural fibre materials. Researchers and institutions located in Germany, India, Iran, and the United States are among the finalists for the 2020 award.

Finalists for the 2020 DNFI Innovation Award include:

• Dr. Noureddine Abidi, Professor and Director, Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA: “Production of bioplastic films from low micronaire cotton fibers.”
• Mr. Erik Bell, Scientific Assistant, Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) der RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany (with partners from The City University of Applied Sciences, INVENT GmbH, Wenzel & Hoos GmbH, SachsenLeinen GmbH, BAFA, Novacom GmbH, and nova-Institut GmbH): “Natural fibre-reinforced composites for structural applications based on novel zero twisted bast fibre yarns.”
• Dr. Dibyendu Bikash Datta, Associate Professor, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, Kolkata, West Bengal, India: “Khadi Organic Cotton Clothing for Infants,” and “Khadi Organic Cotton fabric waste for low cost eco-friendly sanitary pads.”
• Dr. Vishlesh Shankar Nagrare, Principal Scientist (Entomology), Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur, India: “Management of Pink bollworm in Cotton in Central and South India.”
• Dr. Seyed Abbas Rafat, Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran: “New Look on an Ancient Fiber of Cashmere.”
• Ms. Ann Cathrin Schönrock & Ms. Franziska Uhl, Founders, YarnSustain GmbH, Berlin, Germany: “Saving Lost Resources – is Chiengora the new Cashmere?”
• Mr. Carsten Uthemann, M.Sc., Scientific Assistant, and Mr. Alexander Janßen, M.Sc., Head of Division Staple Fibre Technologies, Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany, with support from the Institut für Polymerwerkstoffe und Kunststofftechnik (PuK) of TU Clausthal, Clausthal, Germany: “Natural fibre reinforced plastics – Enabling their use for structural composite applications through appropriate fibre processing.”

Source: DNFI, press release, 2020-09-16.