CATALYTIC CLOTHING / CLADDING FEBRUARY PROGRESS REPORT

28th Feb 2010

The Tactility Factory element of the project was initially to create beautiful urban fabrics that could go forward for the Borus students to make garments for an outdoor urban exhibition. This laterally is not the case, but the development of a beautiful urban garment created by Helen Storey that can purify the air is still the goal, the clothing will be developed in line with catalytic cladding, concrete air purifying surfaces. Tio2 is currently being used on concrete surfaces to clean surfaces, but the concept of purification has not been considered. In order to address the aesthetic solutions a series of workshops have taken place. This report will be presented in the form of each workshops aim and conclusion, with images at the end of the report.

Session 1 -1.11.9

-Trish Belford

Aim: To experiment with methods of application for the two products supplied by Crystal Global. These products are S5-300A & S5-300B. The common use described as ‘ Binder, material for catalysis and photocatalysis ceramics’ manufactured by Millenium Organic Chemicals Thann S.A.S

Process:

  1. Each product was mixed with 5 different textile carriers.
  2. Screen printed on a washed cotton fabric
  3. Dried
  4. Sent for testing by Professor Vyvyan Howard, University of Ulster, School of Biomedical sciences. This testing is funded by an innovation voucher applied for by Tactility Factory (£4000) and will only show the level of Tio2 deposited on the cotton substrate.
  5. Results pending, test samples also being sent by Phil Waywell, both sets of tests will be carried out at the same time.

Conclusion: It is unlikely this will be successful as Xennia technologies have been working for 6 years on the application of Tio2 onto cloth, for the purposes of eliminating cleaning the fabric, they have not considered air purification. However the Xennia application is different in that it is applied digitally where we are using traditional print screen technology.

Session 2 – 13.11.09

-Trish Belford, Aoife Ludlow, Helen Storey

Aim: To experiment with the logo’s for a meeting with Ecover & Adidas, the outcome to create the visual metaphor to illustrate dirt being ‘cleaned up’

This was processed by making a water based glue print of the logo and applying graduated clean cream flock and dust. This process in its current state is purely visual, creating beauty from dirt to deliver the message that the science of application of Tio2 could potentially purify air. Flock is an excellent application as the added surface area increases the potential of purification by a factor of 500, this can be applied to both clothing and hard surface concrete.

Conclusion:The graduated clean to dirt works well, and the meeting with Ecover and Adidas demonstrated that they responded to seeing their logo used for the application of this visual message, thus giving a feeling of ownership.

Session 3 – 21.12.09

-Trish Belford, Ruth Morrow, Aoife Ludlow, Maurice Neill Helen Storey, Nikki Gregson

Aim: To experiment with different ways to apply a concrete mix to textile surfaces, this is to deliver the beauty, but the key conclusion of developing the technology of depositing Ti02 onto and into the chosen substrates (cotton & concrete) still has to be identified, this session was instrumental in defining the process in line with aesthetics and budget.

Trials:

  1. Trapping concrete dust; using a print technique trap concrete dust between two layers of fabric and then try and set by wetting out.
  2. Concrete Spraying; using a high pressure and hand method spray different types of fabric, to observe how well the concrete adheres to the surface.
  3. Printing with liquid concrete via a silk screen method.
  4. Creating hinged fabric

The results and conclusions for B & C can be seen on the summary image sheet. Trials A & D were not developed as initial results did not warrant further experiment, these were more in line with the initial Borus solution. However I would like to look at the possibility of re trialing process D with a view to creating pattern pieces for ‘herself’ (to be discussed)

At the end of this session it was suggested that ‘herself’ could be a stand alone body with her shadow on the wall being the sprayed concrete, with flocked words delivering the message. This however may be too ambitious considering the budget and having to leave ‘her; outside for the 3 week duration.

January was a reflection period and during this time a site has been located in Sheffield, at the same time raising new questions and issues. The main issue being if she is outside for the total duration there would be the potential to attract vandals, and therefore she will need to be removed to a safe place to rest at night. There is another practical working session planed for the 25th March but in the interim the next stage of trials will investigate the following:

  1. Being part attached to the wall, making it seem as if she is part of the wall as well as free, and therefore removable.
  2. Try to make her appear to breath, this effect being delivered by the atmosphere, weather,wind,rain and breeze, allowing nature to potentially play a part in the narrative being delivered.
  3. Make her sparkle and twinkle, this could be done by print applications, catching passers by attention.
  4. Think about existing textiles that convey a message-camouflage, this would also aid repeatability.
  5. Make her out of a flag using own design??
  6. Develop a concrete mix that adheres to a textile surface and also holds a form shape.This is critical for the success of herself being able to stand alone

Steps now are to test techniques mentioned on textiles before the next visit by Helen, the results of these should inform the design of her.

Session 4 – 18.3.10

-Trish Belford, Aoife Ludlow

Session 5 – 25.3.10

-Trish Belford, Aoife Ludlow, Helen Storey, Nikki Gregson (TBC)

The critical solution to be addressed is the combination of the visually beautiful message with the application of Tio2 as a reality. Tactility Factory are able to investigate the former but cannot guarantee the application of Tio2 and its purification properties, as this is an unknown.

IMAGE / DESCRIPTION / COMMENT
Session 1
/ Different recipes made up using a variety of textile carriers / Showed a large range of viscosity
/ Dot screen 43T used for printing of all recipes
/ Print very evident on the surface / Pending results of level of deposit from Vyvyan Howard
Session 2
/ Logos screen printed on T shirts
/ Adidas logo
/ Ecover logo demonstrating dirt (concrete dust) to clean
(pure cream flock)
Session 3
/ Screen printing concrete
Mix through silk screen / Did not get a heavy enough deposit to look like concrete, it looked just like a normal print. So why do it?
/ Antique lace sprayed vertically attached to the wall / When dry sticks to the wall, need to consider applying grease prior to spraying to allow for easy removal of fabric
/ Antique lace with concrete mix applied through a hand rendering machine / This is not as fine but much easier to use and less expensive
/ Horizontal thicker mix yogurt consistency / Still not adhering to the textile
/ Horizontal sprayed over a formed shape / Did not hold shape once form was removed
/ Fully immersed in concrete mix / Held its shape
/ Applied concrete to lace draped over a mannequin / The fabric stuck to the mannequin, needs to be built up in layers as when removed looses shape, also need a base of grease before to remove easily
/ Full garment sprayed / Did not hold stiffness needs more work, as could be beautiful
NEXT SESSION
Use camouflage fabric
Glitter, sequins
Movement in air
Full adhesion to the fabric
Apply T1o2

Trish Belford 28th Feb 2010