Sofien Benltoufa
@enim.rnu.tn
Textile Engineering Department
National Engineering School of Monastir
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Management of Technology and Innovation, Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Sofien Benltoufa, Hind Algamdy, Adel Ghith, Faten Fayala, and Lubos Hes
Emerald
PurposeThe paper aims to investigate the dynamic measurement of the water vapour resistance. The water vapour diffusion kinetics depends on the fibre’s material. So, water vapour resistance measurement times till the equilibrium steady state can vary in the case of natural fibres compared to synthetic fibres. Devices for determining water vapour resistance according to the ISO 11092 standard allow static values to be measured.Design/methodology/approachIn this study to investigate the dynamic of the water vapour resistance, a new parameter named “holding period” was introduced and defined as the time from sample placement on the measuring head until the measuring process begins. The holding period was varied as 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240 and 300 s. Wool and cotton knitted fabrics were tested as natural fibres and compared to 100% polyester and 90% polyester/10% elastane as synthetic fibres. Measurements were conducted under both air velocities of 1 and 2 m/s. The experimental test data were statistically analysed based on ANOVA and four-in-one residual plots.FindingsStatistical analysis of experimental tests shows that the holding period affects water vapour resistance in both air velocities of 1 and 2 m/s and on the measured values in the case of hydrophilic fibres.Research limitations/implicationsThe study of the dynamic relative water vapour permeability of natural and synthetic is an important area of interest for future research.Practical implicationsIt is recommended to hold the samples on the top of the head measurement before starting the test.Originality/valueFollowing the ISO 11092 standard, the static values of the water vapour resistance were measured without considering the dynamic behaviour of the water vapour diffusion through the textile fabrics. This paper fulfils an experimental dynamic measurement of the water vapour resistance.
Mohamed Ghaith Chakroun, Sofien Benltoufa, Adel Ghith, and Faten Fayala
SAGE Publications
Comfort is the prime need in clothing. It is affected by the properties of fibers, yarns, and fabrics. A good understanding of these factors is essential in the design and conception of functional clothes. Fabric design serves as a manufacturing tool to meet several end-use requirements. The construction specifications and design of knitted fabrics greatly influence the comfort level of the end-use garment. This study aims to investigate the effect of the knitting stitch type and the dyeing process on the clothing comfort of knitted fabrics. For this purpose, five structures were prepared by combining plain, float and tuck stitches: plain jersey, cross miss 1 × 1, single cross tuck, weft lock knit and Lacoste. Then, yellow, and black dyeing were applied. The investigated wear comfort properties were the drying time, the air permeability and the relative water vapor permeability. Tests were conducted on the finished and on domestically washed fabrics. The data obtained were statistically evaluated with Pearson correlation, paired t-test, analysis of variance analysis and the Tukey test. The results showed that tucked fabrics have the longest drying time combined with the lowest air and water vapor permeability. Black variants showed better drying behavior and higher water vapor permeability. Analysis of variance results showed that the structure has a significant effect on clothing comfort. However, the dyeing process exerts a significant influence only on the drying time and the relative water vapor permeability. The paired t-test results indicate that the domestic washing cycles significantly change the drying time and the air permeability of knitted fabrics.
SOFIEN BENLTOUFA and AYMAN ALFALEH
The National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather
Based on a mathematical formulation of the water flow for different wicking configurations (ascendant-horizontal and descendant), a combined ascendant, horizontal and descendant wicking experimental test was designed to provide detailed measurements of the pertinent wicking performance properties: capillary pressure and in-plane direction permeability. This method was proposed due to capillary flows found in standard vertical wicking tests as well as erroneous assumptions made in other wicking tests. The effective capillary radius was assumed to remain constant as the height of the liquid increases. This assumption would suggest that saturation, capillary pressure, and permeability are also constants. However, experiments show that these properties are only constants in the case of the descendant wicking when liquid front height is varied. The capillary pressure and permeability calculations were made using Darcy’s law and the Lucas-Washburn equation as a function of the saturation level. In the combined wicking test, conducting a horizontal wicking test allows us to calculate the effective capillary radius of a fabric as the saturation rate was found to be constant, which in turn can be used to solve for capillary pressure. That capillary pressure can then be used in a descendant wicking test, where the liquid front flow and the saturation rate remain constant, and Darcy’s law to solve for permeability. A series of experiments was conducted on cotton jersey knitting. The results showed that the ability to wick the water depends on pore size and porosity scales: macro and micropores. The in-plane water permeability was found to be directly related to the saturation rate.
SOFIEN BENLTOUFA
The National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather
The dynamic of cooling heat flow during evaporation of the simple jersey polyester fabrics was investigated in this study. The holding period as a new parameter was introduced to study the dynamic of cooling heat flow during evaporation from the skin through the jersey knitted fabric. The holding period intervals were chosen as follows: 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240 and 300 seconds. The Permetest skin model was used to study and visualize the dynamic of the cooling heat flow at different holding periods. Results demonstrated that adding elastane makes fabrics less cool. Three different stages were noticed concerning the cooling heat flow dynamic: the first with a maximum heat flow (Qmax) indicating the first contact properties of a textile material with the skin. The second is a transition phase where the cooling heat flow decreases to the minimum heat flow (Qmin), and then it reaches the equilibrium (Qeq) mentioning the beginning of the third stage with a constant heat flow. It was found that the holding period does not affect the measured water vapour resistance, in the case of polyester jersey fabrics.
Ayman Alfaleh, Sofien Benltoufa, and Faten Fayala
SAGE Publications
Thermo-physiological comfort refers to the heat and moisture transport properties of clothing and how the clothing helps maintain the body's heat balance during various activities. To maintain the thermoregulation of the body, the resulting sweating should be absorbed by wicking fabrics close to the skin and evaporated to the ambient air. In this study, a mathematical model was developed considering evaporation during the capillary rise, based on the geometric configuration of a jersey-knitted fabric and taking evaporation into account. This model was used to calculate the evaporation coefficient. Based on the activities of the worker, sweat diffusion is controlled by capillary diffusion and moisture evaporation. The effect of air velocities of 0 m/s, 1 m/s, and 2 m/s, representing non-walking, walking, and running activities of a worker, respectively, was studied during capillary diffusion. The experiments were conducted at different relative humidities. The results show that the evaporation coefficient depends on the worker’s activities and the relative humidity ratio.
WAFA MILED, HIND ALGAMDY, SOFIEN BENLTOUFA, and MUHAMMAD KHAN
The National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather
The final colour prediction of a weave design made of dyed yarns is a difficult problem. This study shows how a geometric model can be developed to obtain the final colour prediction objectively. For this purpose, a woven material was divided into weft, warp and pores. Then, all parameters needed for the calculation of each colour contribution were identified. A geometrical model based on construction parameters was developed to predict the surface colour contribution of each coloured yarn in a weave surface. To validate the predicted colorimetric data, a visual assessment experiment was conducted. Then, the difference between the predicted and actual colour appearance of the weave pattern was evaluated and analysed in function of weaving structures, and weft yarns colours. For this purpose, simple woven structures (plain, twill 1/3, basket 2/2 and satin Turc) with four coloured weft yarns were used. Results show that the proposed model could correctly predict the final colour of weave designs. Therefore, the model has the potential to eliminate subjective evaluations and reduce prototype sample production by automating the process of weave/colour simulation, thereby reducing the cost and time for product development. The methods of utilization of colour in woven textiles depend upon the composition of the weave design to be woven and the structure parameters of the cloth.
Sofien Benltoufa, Amal Boughattas, Faten Fayala, Hind Algamdy, Ayman Alfaleh, Hes Lubos, and Awad Aljuaid
Informa UK Limited
Mohamed Ghaith Chakroun, Sofien Benltoufa, Adel Ghith, and Faten Fayala
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sofien Benltoufa, Wafa Miled, Mariem Trad, Rihab Ben Slama, and Faten Fayala
Elsevier BV
Mariem Trad, Wafa Miled, Sofien Benltoufa, Amal Boughattas, Rihab Benslama, Faten Fayala, and Amina Bakhrouf
Wiley
ABSTRACTIn this work, chitosan hydrogel has been synthesized and used to impart pH‐sensitivity and antimicrobial finish to cotton fabric. In order to enhance the incorporation rate of hydrogel, anionic, and cationic activation of the textile surface was applied and then compared. The antibacterial activity of the fabric was then studied. The results revealed an enhancement of the antibacterial activities of the modified fabrics against Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogene, and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria's. The capacity of material to respond to pH change was studied and confirmed using contact angle method. The anionic fabric treated with hydrogel showed a better pH‐responsiveness. Scanning electron microscopic testing results has also confirmed that the deposition of hydrogel was clearly better with the anionic activation. The characteristics of breathability of the fabrics were analyzed. The results show that the moisture management behavior of the finished materials is significantly better than the control one. Although the permeability to air has reduced by 10%, the permeability to water vapor remained practically unchanged. Furthermore, the effects of the antibacterial finishing on the physical properties of the cotton fabrics were also investigated. It was established that the functionalized samples have changed structure parameters, thickness, air permeability, tensile strength, and resistance to wrinkles. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46645.
BOUGHATTAS AMAL, BENLTOUFA SOFIEN, HES LUBOS, AZEEM MUSADDAQ, and FAYALA FATEN
The National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather
The utmost parameters that measure the thermo-physiological comfort of garments are thermal conductivity, thermal absorptivity and water vapor permeability. In this paper, thermo-physiological comfort was studied with different weave design and moisture content. Thermal properties and water vapor permeability in dry and wet state of all fabric samples were determined by ALAMBETA and Permetest respectively. Results showed that the weaving structure and yarn composition in weft were closely related to the thermal properties and water vapor permeability in presence of moisture. Woven fabric samples were constructed by varying the weave design and weft composition. In wet state, moisture content up to 20%, weave structures exhibited non-significant behavior for thermal properties due to air fraction. As the moisture content enhanced, woven structure made with polyester weft yarn provided cooler feeling with skin contact.
Ahmed Noureddine Helal Sofien Benltoufa, Fadhel Jaafar, Mohsen Maraoui, Lamia Said, Mounir Zili, Hassen Hedfi, Mohamed Labidi, Abdelkader Bouzidi, Besma Belhaj Jrad, and Hedi Belhadj Salah
IEEE
Our aim is in conceiving innovative processes in the whole recycling value chain, including the waste treatment fields in the objective to economize water, energy and to create clean and safe environment in the main establishments of the University of Monastir and in the City of Monastir. The main mission is to establish circular economy concept by creating a sustainable development, based on research, innovation, cooperation and participation. The main objectives of the Monastir living Lab (MoLL)is to widespread the good practices from the smart campus to the smart City! The strengths of Monastir Living Lab are the existance of an important synergy between research, industrial and societal activities, especially in textile and fashion domains, chemistry, water treatment, energetics, electro-mechanics, biotechnology and health science. The University of Monastir campus is essentially based on an important collaborations and projects with industry in textile, packaging, electric-electronic-laptop devices recycling, public organisations and associations. For research and development, our Living Lab is synergy with various laboratories and specialities from the University of Monastir (UM); a multidisciplinary university with a medical campus and a technologically campus. Furthermore, UM is very active in international cooperation with several European projects (Erasmus Mundus, Erasmus Plus, Tempus, H2020…).
Abderrazak Hadded, Sofien Benltoufa, Faten Fayala, and Abdelmajid Jemni
Elsevier BV
S. Benltoufa, F. Fayala, and S. Ben Nasrallah
Informa UK Limited
Capillary kinetics of textile knitted fabrics are investigated considering the effect of transverse swelling in fiber and yarn scales. A mathematical model was developed based on the industrial construction parameters, the capillary mechanism and the swelling ratio on both porosity scales: macro and micro. The capillary kinetics are used to determine the yarn and fiber diameters after swelling and compared to those determined using a microscopic method. In order to validate our model, a series of experiments was conducted on jersey knitted fabric using raw materials with different swelling ratios: cotton and PET. The results showed good agreement between the two methods of diameter determinations.
S. Benltoufa, F. Fayala, M. Cheikhrouhou, and S. Ben Nasrallah
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Abstract In our paper, we attempt to investigate methods of determining jersey porosity which is this fabric’s principal physical characteristic. In fact, end use, liquid absorbency, thermal comfort and resistance are closely related to pore size and distribution. So it is important to study porosity, in order to classify and determine the right use of jersey knitted structure. Many methods are used to estimate porosity, but most concern air permeability, image processing and geometry modelling. The first mentioned is used for the stretched structure, the second is valid for fabrics with high porosity levels, and the last mentioned is used to confirm any structure’s conformation. The aims of this study are twofold; firstly, to recognise the most suitable and easiest method of estimating the fabric’s porosity, and secondly to study the influence on porosity of various knitting parameters of jersey structure such as yarn number and count, fabric thickness, loop length, and stitch density.