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COTTON CHEMISTRY AND UTILIZATION

Dr. Brian D. Condon, Research Leader

Acting in accordance with the recommendations of a blue-ribbon panel composed of members of textile universities, the Cotton Council, Cotton Incorporated, and of the textile industries, the Cotton Textile Chemistry Research Unit modified it's traditional research objectives somewhat to emphasize research areas on which this Center has always been known for in the past in which research is critcally needed at this time. Modern research methods on more efficient chemical crosslinking and on new thrusts to develop improved and more durable fire retardant finishes for cotton textile were planned. Furthermore, research will continue on the development on biomedical textiles from cotton intended for the treatment of chronic wounds, and on antibacterial treatments for textiles to prevent transmission of disease. Work on the development of inexpensive filters for removal of heavy metals or biocidal contaminants from water which filters would be constructed in whole or in part from discount or waste cottons will continue. Research on the harnessing of ultrasound energy to improve the efficiency of enzymatic scouring of greige textiles will be expanded. In accordance with this change of research direction, the name of the management unit has been changed to the Cotton Chemistry and Utilization Research Unit.