[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL SCALE ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AIR PLASMA SYSTEM TO TREAT ANGORA WOOL
(Development and Performance Evaluation of an Industrial Scale Atmospheric Pressure Air Plasma System to Treat Angora Wool for Manufacture of 100% Angora Products)
BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
Angora fibre is considered one of the world’s finest luxury fibre. It is eight times warmer than sheep’s wool. It is slippery fibre to spin and requires a lot of twist to hold the fibres firmly in the yarn. Owing to its fine quality and smoothness, it is spun only on the hand driven ‘takli’ (i.e. spindle). Also, due to its fibrosity it is extremely difficult to weave a 100% Angora products, they are hence woven using Merino for the warp and Angora for the weft. Due to these limitations of Angora fibre, the productivity reduces and fiber loss increases and thus it limit the product range. Angora wool is produced in Himalayan north east region. It is produced by village industry particularly driven by women.
Facilitation Centre for Industrial Plasma Technologies (FCIPT), Institute for Plasma Research has developed an innovative Atmospheric Pressure Air Plasma Technology for the surface modification of Angora wool to improve processing with the financial support from Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India. After plasma treatment of angora fibers, it has now become possible to hand spin as well as mill spin the yarn and later hand weave the fabric.
The most attractive feature of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma System is that it works in a continuous mode and does not require any special plasmagen gas. Also plasma processing cost as well as the maintenance cost of the system is very low as compared to other plasma techniques. Besides this it is an environment friendly technique. The above features make this technique ideal for commercial application at Industrial level.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
• To develop and demonstrate industrial scale atmospheric pressure air plasma treatment system to modify the surface properties of 1 meter wide angora web at the processing speed of 3-4 meter/minute to improve processing of Angora wool.
• Setting up of plasma treatment system at HIFEED to carry out its performance evaluation and manufacture of 100% Angora products from treated fibres.
• Treatment of Angora wool on routine basis to provide services to the people of rural areas involved in Angora wool product development.
COMPONENTS OF THE PROJECT
• Plasma generation and process optimization.
• Design and development of plasma system.
• Specification generation and procurement.
• Assembling and testing of the plant
• Plasma process demonstration and training.
• Installation and Integration with carding machine.
• Process demonstration and training.
• Performance evaluation of system and popularization of technique.
• Day to day operation of the system
• Providing service to farmers.
• Arranging workshops/demonstration of technology.
TARGET AREA AND TARGET GROUPS OF THE PROJECT
The target area of the project is HIFEED Campus, Ranichauri.
FUNDING AGENCY
The project is funded by Department of Science & Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India, New Delhi and the project was implemented by HIFEED in technical collaboration with Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat
COST OF THE PROJECT
The project is sanctioned by DST during the year 2010. Total cost of the project sanctioned by DST for two years is Rs. 44,66,000.00[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”856,857,858,859,860″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][/vc_row]