This project started as a course project for CHEE 490 - Polymer Science and Processing Technology in my final year of my undergrad at Queen's. I was tasked with proposing a polymer formulation and manufacturing process for a consumer product. Having an interest in alpine climbing, I decided to take on developing the ideal fabric for an alpine climbing pack.
The process started by establishing user needs through research, personal experience, and interviews. I honed in on what exactly the textile needed to be, and moved on to assessing the competition. There is significant research currently underway in textile technology, and I leveraged this to understand what the next generation of consumer textiles will look like. To achieve the required performance and engineering specifications, I proposed a novel blend of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and a liquid-crystal polymer known as vectran. This blend would provide an incredible strength-to-weight ratio, improved abrasion resistance, and would provide the foundation for a high-performance textile. Additives including chitin crystals, carbon nanotubes, and UV stabilizers would further improve performance.
Moving to the next phase, I proposed a manufacturing process that would not only produce an incredibly high-performance product, but would improve sustainability across the entire process. The manufacturing process was developed using a balance of novel techniques and established industry standard methods, leveraging simple unit operations (gel/flash spinning, 3D weaving, film coatings, etc.) to produce a complex and highly specialized textile. Beyond outdoor sports, this textile could be used in military, biomedical, or aerospace applications.
While this project was entirely conceptual, it sparked a significant interest in textile manufacturing and material science. I am actively pursuing opportunities to better understand textile and material development, and would welcome the opportunity to continue working on this project.
