PolyU Science in the News

製黏膠纖維化學劑 可致污染 人造絲 輕柔背後藏危機

Dr Manas Kumar Sarkar, Teaching Fellow from the Institute of Textiles and Clothing at PolyU, gave an interview with Ming Pao Daily News to compare the differences among various artificial textiles. According to Dr Sarkar, Viscose, a cheaper alternative to silk which is commonly used in the fashion industry, is made from natural fibres like wood and cotton. However, the manufacturing process involves NaOH, carbon disulfide and other chemical solvents, which is hazardous to humans and the environment.  Lyocell, or Tencel as the brand name, is a greener alternative in the market. Also made of wood pulp, the manufacturer of Tencel claims the wood is lumbered from sustainable forests. Besides, the solvent used, NMMO, is organic, nontoxic and almost completely reusable.  Dr Sarkar opines that both Viscose and Tencel are made of wood pulp and therefore consume natural resources. As a consumer, our responsibility is to buy clothes that are more durable so as to prolong their lives and reduce wastes.  Apart from wood pulp, a textile called Cupro made of cotton linter is commonly known for its environmental friendliness. However, Dr Sarkar clarified that the manufacturing process of Cupro, or Cuprammonium rayon, involves copper and ammonia. While ammonia is corrosive and hazardous to our respiratory tracts, copper sulfate released during the process is harmful to both human eyes and the environment. 明報C08 製黏膠纖維化學劑 可致污染 人造絲 輕柔背後藏危機 30 March 2021 明報C08 小知識：棉花製人造絲 「綠色」誤會 30 March 2021

鬆緊適中 不卡髮不易斷 實測束髮橡筋 唔使揀最貴

試想像束頭髮時，橡筋「啪」一聲斷掉，手上留下一道紅印；或者想從秀髮脫下橡筋，幾經掙扎拉扯，換來頭皮受罪和一手頭髮絲……光是想像，已喚起不少女生的痛苦回憶。 一條小小橡筋，令無數人又愛又恨：太緊，怕在頭髮上留有痕迹；太鬆，又怕紮不住頭髮，多用幾次已淪為垃圾。要找到一條耐用又不卡頭髮的橡筋，該按何準則挑選？近年有橡筋被譽為「髮圈界的LV」，聲稱「不咬髮、不易鬆」，一條售價逾20元，到底是否物有所值？ 橡筋富有彈性，是將物件集中綁在一起的好幫手。文具橡筋及髮圈，同是橡筋，為何彈性各異？一條橡筋又是怎樣製成的？香港理工大學紡織及服裝學系副教授葉曉雲解釋，橡筋使用了可令物件變得有彈性的物料製作，例如橡膠（rubber）或熱塑性聚氨酯（thermoplastic polyurethane，TPU）。橡膠是較原始製作橡筋的物料，有不俗的拉力及回彈力，惟橡膠製成的橡筋不可受熱，較TPU易斷裂，紮在手中也會「紮到有條痕」。TPU則常被用來為紡織物料增加彈性，如緊身牛仔褲，就是在牛仔褲布料加入TPU製作而成。 不一定由彈性物料製成 不少人以為，橡筋必定要由彈性物料製成，其實不然，例如電線圈橡筋便是使用沒有彈性的尼龍來製作。葉指，雖然尼龍本身沒有彈性，但電線圈橡筋仍可被拉長、綁實頭髮，是因為製作電線圈時改變了尼龍的形態，變成一圈圈像電話線的小圈，「就好似將沒有彈性的意粉，製成可以被拉長的公仔麵一樣」，令尼龍由沒有彈性的物料，變為可伸縮、有彈性的橡筋。 她續指，橡筋要「成圈」，須加熱令橡筋頭尾融合，部分橡筋會在接駁位加上膠扣為裝飾。為令外觀更吸引，製作橡筋時亦會在外層圍上紡織物料，甚至將橡筋染色，例如加入有色紗線（yarn）令橡筋「閃令令」，搖身一變成不同式樣。 橡筋是否耐用，物料固然重要，但坊間橡筋未必會列明用料，單靠外表該如何選出好橡筋？請來葉曉雲聯同碩士研究生鍾穎欣，以英士特4411拉力機（instron 4411）測試10款不同類型橡筋的耐用程度。每條橡筋會被儀器拉至其最大而不拉斷的範圍5分鐘，重複3次，再計算每條橡筋的拉伸力（stretch）及回彈力（recovery）。拉伸力愈大，代表物料可以被拉得愈長；回彈力愈接近100%，反映橡筋愈耐用。透過比較拉伸力及回彈力，可以得知橡根的鬆緊，以及其回復原狀的表現。 舊式橡筋表現佳 電線圈回彈力差 根據測試結果，回彈力以無扣橡筋（大）及舊式橡筋最好、電線圈最差，較不耐用；拉伸力方面，文具橡筋表現最好，有扣橡筋（粗）則最差。葉曉雲綜合結果比較，認為舊式橡筋的表現較佳，但提醒雖然文具橡筋拉伸力最好，但因材質不同，文具橡筋會較其他橡筋易斷。至於以數十條彈力繩及紡紗編織而成的「髮圈界的LV」，又有何表現？她表示這款橡筋的回彈力不錯，惟外層紗線較易鈎出，對其性價比有保留，「係咪值咁貴呢」？ 她笑言，橡筋的拉力無法改變，「要斷點都會斷」；不同人有不同需要，可按造型、髮量等選擇橡筋，如髮量多可以選擇較「粗身」、「紮實」，即較難拉開的橡筋，避免橡筋在郁動時鬆脫。若想橡筋更耐用，建議儲存在陰涼地方，以免橡膠、TPU等物料因受陽光熱力影響而變脆。清洗橡筋則要確保表面布料乾透，避免有罨味。 詳情轉載自明報 > 副刊  

PolyU develops a highly permeable superelastic conductor which can be used for wearable electronic applications

PolyU has developed a highly permeable and superelastic conductor which can be used for wearable electronic devices that can withstand long-time wearing and be employed in various applications, including health monitoring devices, soft robotics and on-skin electronics. This research was recently published in Nature Materials (link). Currently, many stretchable electronics are fabricated with impermeable elastic thick films, the long-time wearing of which can cause health concerns including skin irritation and inflammation. Moreover, low permeability will limit the use of multi-layered devices and hinder the development of advanced functionality of stretchable electronics. To overcome these limitations, the research team led by Professor Zijian Zheng, Professor of PolyU's Institute of Textiles and Clothing, and comprised of interdisciplinary academics from the Department of Applied Physics and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at PolyU, developed a new type of highly permeable superelastic conductor.  The conductor, called "liquid-metal fibre mat" (LMFM), enables the fabrication of biocompatible and multifunctional monolithic stretchable electronics. It is fabricated by coating or printing liquid metal onto an electrospun elastomeric fibre mat followed by a mechanical activation process in which the liquid metal self-organises into a laterally porous and vertically buckled film hanging among the fibres.  The LMFM possesses excellent permeability, retains super elasticity and ultrahigh conductivity in tensile testing. In addition, it shows excellent biocompatibility when directly applied to the human skin. Professor Zheng explained that eutectic gallium-indium alloy (EGaIn), a type of liquid metal commonly used in soft electronics such as flexible printed circuit boards, is used as the conductive component for printing on the stretchable poly(styrene-block-butadiene-block-styrene) (SBS) mat, a material that is usually used for rubber products like gloves or balloons as an elastomer, to fabricate the LMFM. The moisture permeability of the sample is 22 times higher than that of the medical patch. In vivo animal experiments on rabbit skin, it showed the excellent biocompatibility of the LMFM without causing any irritation, Professor Zheng added. EGaIn is a metal that can be maintained in a liquid state under room temperature. It has low viscosity, high conductivity and low toxicity, and is also capable of forming a thin solid layer of oxide rapidly on the surface of EGaIn upon exposure to air offering soft and stretchable features. Furthermore, the LMFM can be fabricated vertically and stacked in three layers of printed EGaIn electrical circuits on monolithic elastic mats – with one layer acting as an electrocardiography sensor, another as a sweater sensor, and the final layer as an electrothermal heater. The fabricated three-layer sample, with a total thickness of 1mm, performs well while maintaining high permeability; it implies that the stacked architecture of the LMFM can provide excellent wearing comfort and multifunctionality. This research project received a total funding of HK$1.8 million, mainly from the Hong Kong Scholars Program and the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong. Professor Zheng said they will apply for another funding in hope of converting the research into application. The team's priority is to develop wearable electrocardiographic monitoring equipment. Further research may take three to five years, and development of a prototype may require a few million dollars. 理大研發高透氣超彈性導電材料 適用於穿戴式電子設備 (Chinese) 無綫新聞 理大團隊研高透氣導電材料 解決貼身電子產品透氣度不足問題 26 March 2021 新华网 香港理大研发高透气超弹性导电材料适用于穿戴式电子设备 25 March 2021 中國新聞網 香港理大研发高透气超弹性导电材料适用于穿戴式电子设备 25 March 2021 中國評論新聞網 创科前线：导电毡制健康监测器可长期穿戴 25 March 2021 光明科技 香港理大研发高透气超弹性导电材料适用于穿戴式电子设备 25 March 2021 中國經濟網 香港理大研发高透气超弹性导电材料适用于穿戴式电子设备 25 March 2021 金羊網 香港理大研发高透气超弹性导电材料适用于穿戴式电子设备 25 March 2021 网易 香港理大研发高透气超弹性导电材料适用于穿戴式电子设备 25 March 2021 信報 A10 理大研高透氣彈性導電物料 長期穿戴不致敏 適合心電圖監測 25 March 2021 明報 A09 理大研液態金屬纖維布 可製穿戴式裝置 25 March 2021 經濟日報 A14 液態金屬纖維氈 盼助長期監測健康 25 March 2021 星島日報 F02 理大研發超彈性導電材料 25 March 2021 晴報 理大研高透氣彈性導電材料 適用各種電子設備兼可長戴 25 March 2021 AM730 A06 理大研高透氣液態金屬纖維氈 可製膠布型健康監測儀 25 March 2021 大公報 A07 导电毡製健康监测器可长期穿戴 25 March 2021 文滙報 A10 理大研透氣液態金屬氈 可「貼身」監測健康 25 March 2021 香港01 理大研高透氣導電材料　適用於穿戴式電子設備長期監測健康 25 March 2021 經濟一週 理大研高透氣液態金屬纖維氈 可製膠布型健康監測儀 25 March 2021 The Exeter Daily PolyU develops a highly permeable superelastic conductor which can be used for wearable electronic applications 24 March 2021 Finanzen.net PolyU develops a highly permeable superelastic conductor which can be used for wearable electronic applications 24 March 2021 Education World PolyU develops a highly permeable superelastic conductor which can be used for wearable electronic applications 24 March 2021 ZonaUtara.com PolyU develops a highly permeable superelastic conductor which can be used for wearable electronic applications 24 March 2021 WalasTech PolyU develops a highly permeable superelastic conductor which can be used for wearable electronic applications 24 March 2021 Top 10 of Asia PolyU develops a highly permeable superelastic conductor which can be used for wearable electronic applications 24 March 2021 Times Tech PolyU develops a highly permeable superelastic conductor which can be used for wearable electronic applications 24 March 2021 The Frugal Networker PolyU develops a highly permeable superelastic conductor which can be used for wearable electronic applications 24 March 2021 Yahoo Finance PolyU develops a highly permeable superelastic conductor which can be used for wearable electronic applications 24 March 2021 東方日報 理大研發可穿戴導電物料　有望用於長期監測健康 24 March 2021 香港商報網 理大研高透氣超彈性導電材料 適用於穿戴式電子設備 24 March 2021 e-zone 理大液態金屬物料　穿戴設備適用 24 March 2021 Yahoo HK 理大研發可穿戴導電物料 有望用於長期監測健康 24 March 2021 PR Newswire PolyU develops a highly permeable superelastic conductor which can be used for wearable electronic applications 24 March 2021

PolyU’s antiviral mask PU30TM available online

PU30TM, the antiviral, reusable and washable face mask developed by the Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles, PolyU, is available on various online platforms for HK$60 each. The patented mask is developed by a team led by Professor Kan Chi-wai, Professor of Institute of Textiles and Clothing and Dr Joanne Yip Yiu-Wan, Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles.  PU30TM can be washed and reused for 30 times. It uses Water Repellent Cationic Antiseptic Coating developed by PolyU, and is proven to be able to inhibit COVID-19, H1N1 and other viruses. It attains ASTM F2100 level 1, and all of the PFE, BFE and VFE are over 98%.   香港經濟日報hket.com 理工大學可重用口罩 「 PU30TM」 測試證實重複清洗30次後仍有效抑制新冠病毒 10 March 2021

PolyU’s master programme in nutrition with register system helps boost professional level

Launched last year, PolyU's MSc in Nutrition and Healthy Ageing programme has introduced the registered nutritionist system, which not only enhances the professional level of graduates, but also ensures the quality of service of the industry. Professor Wong Man-sau of Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology at PolyU said the programme is the first in Hong Kong that provides workplace learning in the community to its students. The programme aims at providing a unique and profession-oriented education opportunity for bachelor degree holders with relevant backgrounds, who want to contribute to the health and well-being of the ageing population. The curriculum design is based on the requirements of the UK Association for Nutrition for programme accreditation. Graduates can apply for direct entry as Registered Associate Nutritionists, with the prospect of becoming Registered Nutritionists with three years' experience. Professor Wong said currently there is no law in place regulating the qualification of nutritionists. Registered Nutritionists will become a new professional qualification in Hong Kong, which will help improve the graduates' status as well as regulate the industry.   明報 F22 理大「營養與健康活齡理學碩士課程」致力培育營養學家 推廣社區營養為公眾健康把關 5 February 2021

Prof. Jintu Fan introduces future fabrics in TVB programme

Prof. Jintu Fan, Chair Professor and Head of Institute of Textile and Clothing at PolyU, was featured in TVB programme Futurescope (看出個未來) to introduce the future fabrics developed by PolyU. PolyU has cooperated with various brands to launch series of functional clothing, including the sportswear worn by Hong Kong athletes in the Winter Olympics. Prof. Fan believes integrating smart devices into sportswear will become the trend in the future. He pointed out that while wearable electronic devices has increased by 28% per annum in the past decade, they anticipated that the growth will reach 40% per annum in the next ten years. He revealed that his team is conducting a research on "skin-like" fabric. Unlike the existing breathable fabrics in the market, the "skin-like" fabric even mimics the sweating glands underneath our skin, as such the water transmission rate is much higher than the commercial breathable fabrics. Apart from human body, animals and plants are also the imitating targets when designing fabrics. One of the PolyU's invention is a thin membrane that imitates leaves. Like a leaf, there are pores on the membrane which will open under humid environment, so provides a better ventilation and hence comfortability to the wearer. It is believed that amid the pandemic, the use of such future fabrics will be widely extended, including personal protection gears. Prof. Fan also expects that the weather will be getting more and more extreme in the future, and these fabrics will help our body maintaining normal biological status under these extreme circumstances. TVB 看出個未來 28 January 2021

PolyU launches first real-time remote laboratory in Asia

PolyU and the secondary school users recently shared the benefits of the "Borderless Lab 365", developed and launched by PolyU in 2019 and is also the first real-time remote laboratory in Asia. The Lab allows both university and secondary students to perform experiments remotely anywhere and anytime. Dr Mak Chee-leung, Associate Professor of the Department of Applied Physics, said after logging in, students can control remotely the equipment in PolyU's laboratory and adjust the parameters themselves to perform experiments and collect data for scientific analysis. With over HK$5 million funded by the Quality Education Fund, the platform has benefitted more than 350 secondary students from about 20 secondary schools. Over 350 PolyU students have used the platform as well. Six experiments are available currently in the platform. Dr Mak said they are targeting at increasing the number of experiments to 15 by the end of this year, and planning to cover more subjects and other elements like virtual reality. 香港新聞網 港理大建亞洲首個“遙控”實驗室 25 January 2021 香港01 理大團隊研實時遙距實驗平台 疫情下助學生無需返校亦可做實驗 25 January 2021 經濟通 理大網上科學平台 中學生全天候遙距實驗 25 January 2021 教育家報 理大研發「全天候科學實驗室」亞洲區首個同類型實時遙距實驗平台 25 January 2021 looop.hk 理大建「全天候實驗室」中學生可遙距操作 25 January 2021 中國新聞網 香港理工大学研发出亚洲首个远距离“遥控”实验室 25 January 2021 封面 香港理工大学研发出亚洲首个远距离“遥控”实验室 25 January 2021 東方網 香港理工大学研发出亚洲首个远距离“遥控”实验室 25 January 2021 光明網 香港理工大学研发出亚洲首个远距离“遥控”实验室 25 January 2021 中新網 香港理工大学研发出亚洲首个远距离“遥控”实验室 25 January 2021 東方日報 A13 亞洲首個理大實時遙距平台 學生隔空做實驗 25 January 2021 蘋果日報 理大全天候科學實驗室 讓中學生家中上實驗課 25 January 2021 明報 A08 理大遙距實驗平台 教師薦SBA疫下採用 25 January 2021 經濟日報 A15 理大全天候實驗室 提升教學效益 25 January 2021 星島日報 F01 理大遙距平台升級 助高中生疫下做實驗 25 January 2021 AM730 A12 理大創遙距實驗室 中學生「隔著螢幕」做實驗 25 January 2021 大公報 A07 理大“全天候实验室” 中学生可遥距操作 25 January 2021 文匯報 A07 理大建亞洲首個「遙控」實驗室 25 January 2021 經濟一周 理大創遙距實驗室 中學生「隔著螢幕」做實驗 25 January 2021 晴報 P09 理大網上科學平台 中學生全天候遙距實驗 25 January 2021

凍牆搶走體溫 腹額冰冷 低溫症響警號

天文台上周發布「新界多處地區有顯著的輻射冷卻」，部分地區氣溫降至3℃或以下。原來不止戶外地方，連家中都會出現輻射冷卻，再加上傳導效應，不但令室溫下降，還吸走人體熱量。 英國國民保健服務（NHS）建議，冬天時室內溫度應不低於18℃，是否適用於香港？近期持續寒冷，室溫隨時跌破18℃，即使關緊門窗仍然凍入心脾，如何保暖？ 熱力有3種傳播方法，包括傳導（conduction）、輻射（radiation）和對流（convection）；香港理工大學應用物理學系副教授曾遠康表示，「輻射冷卻效應」及「對流冷卻效應」都會引致室溫下降，令人寒冷。 他解釋，根據熱力學第零及第二定律（zeroth and second law of thermodynamics），能量傾向平均分佈達到平衡（thermal equilibrium），以及熱量會由高溫傳向低溫。故當天氣寒冷，氣溫長期維持在10℃左右時，室內牆壁會因為傳導效應，由標準室溫約20℃慢慢冷卻至10℃左右。「輻射冷卻效應」指的就是人體表面溫度（約36℃）與室內牆壁表面溫度（約10℃）出現溫差，人體熱量於是經輻射傳給環境，令人寒冷。 香港理工大學屋宇設備工程學系副系主任及副教授梅國威補充，熱輻射是物體用電磁波（electromagnetic wave）將熱能向外散發的傳熱方式，如暖爐向人體散發熱量，人會溫暖；相反，當人的熱量被其他物件吸收，便有「輻射冷卻」。 心臟血流量增多 可致心臟病 長期處於寒冷環境，可引起各種疾病。香港急症科醫學院院長胡詠儀表示，在低溫環境下，為減低熱量流失，身體會減少血液流至四肢，導致手腳冰冷；同時，流到心臟的血流量增多，增加心臟負擔，導致因急性心臟病、低溫症而送到急症室的個案增加，長者更是低溫症的高危族。胡解釋，連接腦下垂體的下丘腦負責控制對冷熱溫度的感覺，但長者調節體溫、感覺冷熱的能力較低，未必有足夠判斷力適時添加衣物，建議大家多關心和探望長者，尤其是獨居的長者。留意他們的精神狀態，如果對答如流，代表血液循環到腦部充足，便毋須太過擔心。若長者手腳太冰冷，應開暖爐、穿上手套及襪子保暖。 徵兆：發抖、精神紊亂 人體具有體溫調節機能，一般維持在37℃左右，稱為核心溫度。若接近人體核心溫度的額頭、腹部等部位持續冰冷，並同時出現發抖及精神紊亂，則需要特別留意，可能是低溫症徵兆。 詳情轉載自明報 > 副刊 > 健康

HKTDC and PolyU launch new online-to-offline collaboration

FASHIONALLY.com, a non-profit local fashion platform pioneered by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), has launched a debut collaboration with the ITC STORE of PolyU to create a brand-new online-to-offline (O2O) marketing and promotion channel to nurture business opportunities for local fashion designers. From now to 11 April, the ITC STORE X FASHIONALLY online store will feature a series of seven fashion brands from the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest. Meanwhile, ITC STORE’s physical showroom will showcase exclusive fashion items from selected brands on a monthly basis, providing a new O2O shopping experience for fashion lovers. Details of FASHIONALLY and ITC STORE launch new collaboration Online-to-offline concept nurtures business opportunities | FASHIONALLY 聯乘 ITC STORE 全新企劃 推出線上線下（O2O）時尚購物平台創商機 Asiaone FASHIONALLY and ITC STORE launch new collaboration 14 January 2021 ScoopAsia FASHIONALLY and ITC STORE launch new collaboration 14 January 2021 ACN Newswire FASHIONALLY and ITC STORE launch new collaboration 14 January 2021 Benzinga FASHIONALLY and ITC STORE launch new collaboration 14 January 2021 BizWire Express FASHIONALLY and ITC STORE launch new collaboration 14 January 2021

Two PolyU projects secure UGC’s COVID-19 research funding

The funding results of the One-off Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) 2020/21 and One-off CRF COVID-19 and Novel Infectious Disease Exercise (One-off CRF exercise) allocated by the University Grants Committee (UGC) and Research Grants Council (RGC) was released recently. 27 COVID-19 related collaborative research projects led by various local universities will share an additional HK$150 million. Among them, two projects coordinated by PolyU have secured about HK$13 million in total. One of the PolyU projects, multi-level synergistic COVID-19 point-of-care diagnostics based on upconversion luminescence biosensing platform, will receive a funding of over HK$8.4 million. Led by Professor Hao Jianhua, Associate Head and Professor of Department of Applied Physics, the project aims to provide multi-level synergistic diagnostics platform and reflect full spectrum of infected patients’ information for point-of-care diagnostics, which could help avoid false-positive or false-negative results. Another project Effective Ventilation Strategies for Mitigating Infection Risks in Hospitals, led by Dr Mui Kwok-wai Horace, Associate Head and Associate Professor of Department of Building Services Engineering, is allocated a funding of over HK$4.4 million. The project aims to evaluate the infection risk of various ventilation strategies in hospitals with the aid of computational modelling. The One-off CRF was launched last year in view of the COVID-19 outbreak. The University of Hong Kong and City University share the funding with 15 and four projects respectively, while the Chinese University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Baptist University and the Education University have one to two projects each. Details of Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) 2020/21 and One-off CRF Covid-19 and Novel Infectious Diseases Research Exercises (One-off CRF exercise) Funding Results | 協作研究金: 2020/21 年度撥款結果   Lion Rock Daily P07 七大學研抗疫 教資會批1.5億 13 January 2021 文匯報 A10 教資會批1.5億 助七大研抗疫 13 January 2021