Design and development of hospital textiles using Lyocell fiber and its blend

Abstract

Among the vast categories of medical textile products, hospital textiles such as bed linens, uniforms and mattresses are expected to fulfill hygienic and comfort properties such as breathability, moisture management property, thermal conductivity, wettability, wickability and antimicrobial activity. This research work is an attempt towards developing hospital textiles using the new generation comfort fibers and their blends. From the survey carried out in ten hospitals in and around Coimbatore, it was observed that hospital bed linens suffer from higher friction and lower air and water vapour permeability. Through this research work single and multilayered hospital textiles were developed using fibers like lyocell, micro lyocell, polyester, micro polyester, bamboo, bamboo charcoal and their blends. Lyocell, a regenerated cellulosic fiber is used as the major component for constructing hospital textiles, because of its good breathability, moisture absorption, smooth fiber surface, low wet cling tendency by maintaining dry and cool micro climate on the skin. After scouring and desizing, the fabric samples were analyzed for their comfort and moisture management properties. From the analysis of comfort properties, it was observed that, combining lyocell with bamboo yarns has proved to be advantageous in improving the strength and enhancing the comfort properties of the resultant fabrics. A wireless communication device was developed which could be integrated into the apparel worn by the patient or to the hospital bed linen, through which the mobility impaired patient could communicate to people within five kilometers. The single and multi layered hospital textiles developed has improved comfort and hygienic properties than the existing hospital textiles. The pressure relieving mattress developed reduces the strain on the patients to great extent.