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Electrochemistry in textile processes
Due to the different conditions applied in dyehouses the scientific investigation and technical development concentrates at this time in the following fields of application:

• indirect reduction for dyeing with vat dyes
• indirect reduction for exhaust dyeing with sulfur dyes and sulfur vat dyes
• direct reduction of sulfur dyes for continuous dyeing
• direct electrochemical reduction of reactive dyes for decolorization of waste water
• in-situ production of bleach agents for denim wash-down

In an industrial cooperation with DyStar, Frankfurt Germany the TET (Technology Team Electrochemistry Textile) was formed. This untertakes research and development activites with numerous industrial partners, e.g. Eilenburger Umwelttechnik, Germany; Benninger AG, Switzerland; Getzner Textil, Austra; Riedl und Tietz Textil, Germany; Orta Anadolu, Turkey; Lilienweiß Textil, Germany; Thüringisches Institut für Textil- und Kunst-Forschung, Univ. Wuppertal, Germany. This know-how pool intends to scale-up the technology and support the introduction into in textile dye-houses. See Eureka Project E!2625 ECDVAT.

Study on formaldehyde-free crosslinking systems:
To impart durable press properties to cotton fabrics it is necessary to crosslink the cellulose chains by means of a crosslinking agent. Due to the fact that formaldehyde is regarded to be carcinogen, textile finishers are trying to replace formaldehyde-emitting crosslinking agents. Therefore, investigations are focused on the development of formaldehyde-free finishing systems which fulfill the desired technical requirements. Furthermore, analytical methods are applied to study the reaction of the crosslinking agent with the cellulosic material.

Natural dyes for textile dyeing
In a cooperation with the Institute for Applied Ecology, Vienna, the introduction of natural dyes for textile dyeing operations into technical dyeing processes is studied. The study combines agricultural demands and productivity with requirements defined frome the application of natural dyes in full scale textile dyeing processes. The work is performed within the framework" Fabrik der Zukunft", project trademark Farb+Stoff.

Besides these main fields of research activities several other topics are worked on with industrial partners:

• Recycling of wasted caustic soda from the mercerizing process:
  A process for the removal of dispersed impurities from reboiled mercerizing liquors by means of flotation was developed up to technical scale. The process was patented and the technical equipment is now built in license by a Swiss manufacturer of evaporation plants.
• Determination of heavy metals in textile effluents:
  In cooperation with ten Vorarlberger dyehouses the content of heavy metals in their effluent was determined. This investigation yielded basic information on possibilities for a minimization of the pollution by the dyehouses.
• Examination of main parameters of the mercerizing process:
  In cooperation with a textile manufacturer the main parameters for an optimized mercerization step for knitted goods were examined. By the measurement of the contraction of the cotton fibre by swelling in the caustic soda valuable information on critical steps in the rinsing procedure could be received.
• Development of liquid detergents and optimization of the detergent products for special applications.
• Laboratory scale indigo dyeing with new cellulosic fibres (man-made fibres).
• Substitution of chlorinated hydrocarbons in wool shrinking processes by aqueous systems
• Recycling of biological degradable sizes by ultrafiltration
• Development of textile products with new properties/new look for textile manufacturers
• Synthesis and characterisation of azoic dyes
• Formation of theoretical models for optimisation of technical processes