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The causes, frequency and duration of each type of stoppage during weaving was studied for each loom in a typical medium-scale Textile manufacturing outfit. All operations performed and their duration during repair before the loom was restarted was noted. For 20 weaving machines, a total of 3199 stoppages were recorded in 24hrs which took a whopping 24,244 minutes to rectify. This is the equivalent of 404.07 hrs or 16.84 days. The loss in productivity is similar to stopping one machine for 16.84 days or 17 machines for approximately one day. These stoppages arose mainly from poor quality of raw materials, maintenance habits as well as employees’ attitude to work. A mathematical model for monitoring and control of weaving activities was formulated.

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The sources and pattern of supply of electrical energy in a typical medium-scale Textile manufacturing outfit was studied over three months. The frequency of power failure from municipal supply was 408, amounting to 929.64hrs power outage. Low voltage was recorded 98times totaling 156hrs. Much of these hours were covered by in-house supply. Comparison of rated and actual power consumption/annum showed the actual higher by 115.9 %. Stand-by generators, which supplied 49.57 % of the total energy consumed/annum, guzzled 52,110 litres of diesel and 42,240 litres of heavy-duty engine oil. Added to these are the costs of personnel running the four giant generators, lost production during power-source change-overs and other salient costs. Altogether, irregular municipal power supply and energy mismanagement amounted to losses running into millions of money units.

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The study investigated the influence of selected mordants and mordanting techniques on dyeing of cellulosic fabric with natural flavonoid dye extracted from onion outer scale. It was an effort to utilize the waste material in an efficient manner which could minimize the cost of dyeing. Aqueous extraction technique was used for the dye extraction. The selected mordants used are alum, potassium dichromate, ferrous sulphate and a mango bark. The three mordanting techniques which includes, chrome mordant process, metachrome process and after-chrome process were adopted. The dye obtained was characterized by colour, melting point, pH, UV-visible and Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectrophotometry. The dye was applied on cotton cellulose and the results obtained show multiple colours owing to different mordants used. In all cases, after-chrome process gave the best colour characteristics with the most brilliant colours on fabrics and good colour fastness with all mordants.

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A global challenge that has cast the attention of most environmentalist of recent is the crude oil spillage, and the need for extensive study of improving and developing viable natural sorbents in recent years is increasing due to the enormous negative environmental impact of oilspill to the surroundings and the inhabitants. In this paper, crude oil sorbents were developed by varying initiator concentration, monomer ratio and particle sizes from 0.5-2.5wt%, 0.5-2.0wt % and 125-1000µm respectively. The effect studies of the individual and combine factors was carried out using a statistical experimental design matrix using fivelevel central composite design (CCD). Respond surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimise and develop equations of the aforementioned variables (initiator concentration, monomer ratio and particle sizes). The optimal absorption- 516% as swelling capacity and 267% lower retention - was achieved at initiator concentration, monomer ratio and particle size of 1.25wt %, 1.50wt % and 562µm respectively. Instrumental analysis were carried out on the optimized sorbent such as: DT-TGA, XRD. However, FIRT analysis was carried out on the unmodified (raw kenaf shive) and modified sorbents. Further computations were done for grafting efficiency (GE), homopolymers and density

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The Paper examines Textile Design in Nigeria as a panacea for youth and industrial development. The rising unemployment rate in Nigeria and its associated socio-economic vices have in recent times been one of the major problems both the federal and state governments are seeking their lasting solutions. The paper provides needed solutions by exploring skills acquisition in textile design which includes leather production, beads making, batik, tie and dye, fashion design as necessary tools for self-reliance. The paper exposes the numerous opportunities that can be harnessed by youths with the desired skills in textile design.

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Nigeria is a great nation endowed with abundant natural resources and population. These resources however are under-utilized and as a result of this, it has really affected the lives of people negatively, rendering them poorer every day. The unfavourable economic situation has driven many people into the labour market and has made it difficult for them to be employed. This unemployment has affected the unemployed individuals, the society and the economy of the nation and has resulted in abject poverty. High rate of unemployment and poverty level have robbed Nigeria citizens their contributions to economic growth and development. It is against this background that this paper takes a good look at “Eradicating unemployment and poverty through textile entrepreneurship for a sustainable economic development in Nigeria”. The aim of this paper is to discuss how textile entrepreneurship could translate to eradicate unemployment and poverty and encourage a sustainable development. In addition, this paper explains what unemployment and poverty means, their causes and implication. It also highlights entrepreneurship and entrepreneur, enumerates the prospects of textile entrepreneurship, gives some recommendations and concludes by stating that emphasis should be laid on practical aspects of textile entrepreneurship so as to produce productive people who will be self-reliant, creating jobs for themselves and for others and as well contribute immensely to economic development of the Nation

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Injection moulding technique was used to prepare composites of waste low density polyethylene (WLDPE) filled with bovine fibres from the hair of Zebu breed of cattle. Composite samples of filler loadings 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt% were prepared. The samples were buried under the ground to investigate the effect of composting on the mechanical properties of the composites. Results obtained showed a general decrease in the mechanical properties tested. Composting had degradation effect on the composites.

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The low mechanical properties of natural fibre composites have limited their use in engineering applications, paving ways for synthetic fibres that are ecologically non-sustainable. This study is targeted at finding suitable and acceptable industrial application of kenaf natural fibres in engineering solutions via a new treatment method. Kenaf bast fibre reinforced ABS composites were developed with the purpose of reducing intrinsic high moisture absorption and improving fibre–matrix interface. Treatment of the fibres were done with sodium hydroxide solution, then coated with thermosetting epoxy resin before composite fabrication. The treated and coated kenaf fibre (ENKF), coated kenaf fibre (EKF) and natural kenaf fibre (KF) fibres were incorporated into ABS at 10 wt% constant fibre loading. Melt-mixing was done using twin- screw extruder before compression moulding at a temperature of 240 °C, pressure of 65 kg/m2 for 5 minutes. FTIR and SEM analyses were conducted on the untreated, treated and coated fibres. Mechanical properties such as three-point bending, impact, and tensile properties of the constituent ENKF/ABS, EKF/ABS and KF/ABS composites and the fracture properties were also studied with varying fibre loadings of up to 15 wt%. The results show that the coating was effective in reducing the peaks intensity for the FTIR analysis, all the properties of kenaf/ABS composites were better improved by the new surface coating treatment with epoxy resin than the NaOH treated composites with EKF/ABS composites having superior properties than ENKF/ABS composites. Both were better than KF/ABS that exhibited poor interfacial bonding leading to lower mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of the composites recorded an increase in value with increasing fibre loading up to 15 wt%. FESEM studies of EKF/ABS and ENKF/ABS revealed the absence of debonding and delamination due to coating. Kenaf natural fibre composite properties can thus be improved further by coating, finding increased applications in industrial productions

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Clothing from pre-historic time till date has served the same basic human needs. These needs are protection, adornment, identification, modesty and status. But adolescents only see clothing as a way to be accepted, respected and a way to attract favorable attention. This paper looked into adolescents developmental needs as they affect their clothing selection. Some of their major identified needs are physical, social, cognitive and emotional, while some basic factors that affected their clothing selections are technology, media, wealth, peer group pressure, fashion, identity, personality, among others. The paper also discussed clothing in relation to adolescents’ urge to dressing, and ways to help them develop morally. Conclusion was made and recommendations stated. It was recommended among others that adolescents should be listened to and helped in their clothing selection. Parents should also support them morally and financially where necessary so as not to deviate into immoral acts.

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Members of the family can create wealth for the family’s survival by engaging themselves in many handcrafts, using simple equipment, in order to earn their living and live comfortably. The paper examines wealthcreation through handcraft for diversification of family economy, by looking at what wealth creation is and the strategies to employ for wealth creation. It also looks at various handcrafts members of the family can be engage in and what factors to consider before selecting any handcraft. Also, it looks at ways handcrafts candiversify the family economy. Family member should bear in mind the money at hand, time for the completion of the chosen craft and the expected audience should be considered before starting any handcraft. It was recommended that the chosen handcraft by family members should be relevant to the societal needs, within the family’s means and income, the craft must also be creative and innovative, as well as it being pleasing to the eyes

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Computers have led to the development of new technology for which fashion has not been left out. One of the expectations of graduates of Home Economics Education in the Federal College of Education, Zaria is to enter into gainful employment with the carrier and technical training they have acquired. Information and communication technology tools are not applied in the teaching and learning of clothing and textile in the area of study as a result of that they find it difficult to understand pattern technology, garment technology and Fashion illustration. In spite of the importance of Clothing to man as food and shelter, students still find it difficult to cope with Clothing and Textiles education in Federal College of Education, Zaria. The paper recommends that, the Management should be well focused and persists in the support on the uses of ICT in teaching and learning so that students will show positive attitudes towards using computer program on learning pattern drafting. And the practical teaching hours in pattern drafting, garment construction and cutting out be increased.

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A study of the effects of waste coir and waste polypropylene on the mechanical properties of virgin polypropylene was investigated. The coir fibres (filler) were treated with NaOH to improve properties and enhance better adhesion between matrix (PP) and filler (coir fibre) before compounding it with waste PP which was washed and crushed. Virgin PP was obtained and blended with the waste PP to determine best ratio blends. The filler was weighed and combined with waste PP into a 100mm x 100 mm x 3mm composite. Mechanical tests such as tensile, flexural, impact and hardness Shore D were carried out to determine best possible blend ratios and end uses

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This study investigates the Processing and Evaluation of Horn Fibre reinforced polypropylene. A new functional composite has been developed using particles of defatted cow horn fibre and charcoal which act as a compatibilizer and natural colorant and waste polypropylene. Physical and Mechanical properties of the composite with varying wt% of polypropylene/Hf/charcoal have been characterized and compared with the properties of waste PP as the control sample. Results showed that incorporation of Hf/charcoal increased some of the mechanical properties such as Tensile strength, Flexural, impact, hardness and density, compared to 100 % PP. The waste horn fibre/PP and charcoal composite is a product of the cleanup of Kaduna Polytechnic waste polypropylene broken chairs and tables from the hall and surrounding using natural wastes (horn fibres) as a stiffener and charcoal as a natural colorant and can be used in fields like automotive, chairs and tables, computer parts, construction, and house ware etc