The Bombay Textile Research Association organised the 53^rd Joint Technological Conference of ATIRA, BTRA, SITRA and NITRA recently. This was 53^rd in the uninterrupted series held every year by rotation at each venue. The conference is hosted by BTRA once in four years and accordingly this time it was held at the BTRA premises in Ghatkopar in Mumbai.

The conference provided threadbare discussions on R&D carried out by the four Textile Research Associations and possibility of adopting them in the industry. The following research papers from four TRAs were presented and discussed during the two days of conference.

Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association (ATIRA)

• Concept of 3 Dimensional Hollow Fabric for Utility in Automobiles.

• Nano-Textiles.

• Economical Fire Retardant Fabric for Industrial Work Wear.

• Techno-Economic Viability of Enhanced Oil Recovery using PEF Technology.

Bombay Textile Research Association (BTRA)

• Atmospheric pressure plasma technologies for modification of textile surface properties.

• Development of test method for analysing formaldehyde content in textile auxiliaries.

• Chemical and electrochemical polymerisation of polypyrrole on textile substrates for achieving electrical conductivity characteristics.

• Improved dyeing of polyester fabric through microwave treatment.

• “ECOFAST” – An eco-friendly alternative to salt in reactive dying.

Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA)

• Development of combat uniform cloth from various blends for the purpose of safety and comfort of soldiers.

• How to reduce style changeover time in Garment Industry.

• Fire Retardant Fabrics from Corn Fibres.

• Development of Cut/Stab Resistant Fabrics using HMPE (Hi-Modulus Poly Ethylene) Fibres.

South India Textile Research Association (SITRA)

• A study on fibre to yarn conversion cost.

• Qualitative & quantitative requirements of cotton in the 12^th five year plan.

• Energy conservation measures in modern spinning mills: Case studies.

• Development of spun silk garment made from hollow yarns.

The conference as a tradition attracted a large number of technical and business oriented audience from all over the country.