Research

Engineering Sciences

Title :

Development of Mosquito-repellent Textiles for Defence Applications

Area of research :

Engineering Sciences

Focus area :

Material sciences

Principal Investigator :

Dr. Javed Nabibaksha sheikh, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi

Timeline Start Year :

2024

Timeline End Year :

2026

Contact info :

Details

Executive Summary :

Mosquito-borne diseases are a significant concern, and mosquito-repellent dyes are being studied to improve efficiency and durability in textile finishing. Microencapsulation of essential oils is widely used for mosquito-repellency, but its efficiency depends on storage and laundering treatments. synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester are widely used in apparel manufacturing, making it interesting to develop mosquito-repellent disperse dyes that can dye these fibers, ensuring mosquito-repellency until the garment remains colored. These dyed fibers can also be used for military uniforms and other military products. However, there are gaps in existing literature, including limited work on synthesis, no real-life product development, and limited durability studies on mosquito-repellence efficacy against repeated laundering treatments. The project aims to synthesize novel mosquito-repellent dyes for coloration and repellent finishing, characterize the synthesized dyes, dye textile substrates, evaluate coloration properties, evaluate functional properties, measure efficacy against repeated launderings, and develop protective products for defense applications.

Total Budget (INR):

19,46,912

Organizations involved