Jane Batcheller, PhD

FSO, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sci - Human Ecology Dept

Contact

FSO, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sci - Human Ecology Dept
Email
batchell@ualberta.ca
Phone
(780) 492-7677
Address
B19 Human Ecology Building
8905 - 116 St NW
Edmonton AB
T6G 2N1

Overview

About

As the Principal Investigator of the Protective Clothing and Equipment Research Facility (PCERF), Jane oversees research conducted to address the conflicting phenomena of protection and comfort. Such research includes assessing the physiological strain of protective clothing, and evaluating fabric performance against hot liquid, steam, and flame hazards.

Jane is also the supervisor of the Textile Analysis Service (TAS), which was established in 1970. TAS conducts textile testing and analysis for the public, and carries out research related to textile serviceability problems and standardized textile testing. In addition, TAS provides an educational service for the department, by providing current examples of textile serviceability problems for classes, and by employing textile science students part-time to assist with testing and analysis problems. 

Jane’s background includes an MA and PhD in Textile Archaeology from the University of Manchester. She is interested in textile fibre microscopy, and has several publications related to the identification of animal hair fibres in ancient Roman-Egyptian textiles.


Research

Jane's research focuses on three main areas: Protective Clothing and Equipment, Textile Analysis and Care, and Archeological Textiles.



Teaching

HECOL 270 Applications of Textile Science 

  • This course focuses on the application and advancement of textile knowledge acquired in HECOL 170. Techniques for fabric and fibre identification are introduced. Methods of textile production, finishing, coloration, as well as care and maintenance are addressed.

HECOL 370 Quality Assurance for Textiles and Apparel

  • This course explores quality assurance of textile products and the prediction of end-use performance through fabric testing and evaluation with reference to product standards and specifications.

HECOL 476/576 Textile Analysis and Care

  • Deterioration and preservation of modern and historical textiles is addressed. Macro and micro evidence is combined with theories of fibre degradation and textile soiling to identify the causes of material wear, discolouration and failure during the normal use, care and storage of textiles. Methods of wet and dry cleaning and special precautions for the care of ancient and historical textiles are covered.

Current Graduate Students:

Elena Kosareva (PhD): Wildland firefighters' protective clothing with improved thermal insulation properties.

Bronwyn Bates (MSc): Textile and Apparel Science.

Completed Students:

Diana Yehia (2021). Investigation of support fabrics for graphene-based end-of-life sensors for fire protective garments. MSc Thesis.

Mary Glasper (2018). Collection, processing and characterization of Galleria mellonella silk. MSc Thesis.

Michelle Furnald (2018). Textile and Apparel Science (MSc CB).

Mandal, S. (2016). Studies of thermal protective performance of textile fabrics used in firefighters’ clothing under various thermal exposures. PhD Thesis.

Wen, S. (2014). Physiological strain and physical burden of chemical protective coveralls. PhD Thesis.

Van Keulen, M. (2014). Evaluating the thermophysiological comfort properties of wet fabrics in winter clothing. MSc Thesis.

Murtaza, G. (2012). Development of fabrics for steam and hot water protection. MSc Thesis.



Courses

HECOL 270 - Applications of Textile Science

Advancement of textile concepts introduced in HECOL 170 with an emphasis on textile finishing, colouration, care and maintenance. Techniques for fibre identification and yarn and fabric structural analysis are covered. Prerequisite: HECOL 170.


HECOL 370 - Quality Assurance for Textiles and Apparel

Exploration of quality assurance of textiles and apparel through materials testing. Performance of textiles relative to product standards and specifications. Prerequisite: HECOL 270.


HECOL 476 - Textile Analysis and Care

Deterioration and preservation of modern and historical textiles are investigated. Macro and microscopic evidence are combined with theories of fibre degradation and textile soiling to identify the causes of wear, discoloration and failure during the normal use, care and storage of textiles. Theory related to the cleaning of textiles will include detergency, bleaching, dry-cleaning and specialized procedures for historical textiles. Prerequisite: HECOL 270. Normally offered in alternate years.


HECOL 576 - Textile Analysis and Care

Deterioration and preservation of modern and historical textiles are investigated. Macro and microscopic evidence are combined with theories of fibre degradation and textile soiling to identify the causes of wear, discoloration and failure during the normal use, care and storage of textiles. Theory related to the cleaning of textiles will include detergency, bleaching, dry-cleaning and specialized procedures for historical textiles. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Normally offered in alternate years. Not to be taken if credit received for HECOL 476.


Browse more courses taught by Jane Batcheller

Publications

A Comparison of Test Methods for Evaluating Textiles for Protection from Hot Water Splash.

Author(s): Murtaza, G., Batcheller, J. C., Paskaluk, S. A., and Ackerman, M. Y.
Publication Date: 2016
Publication: Performance of Protective Clothing and Equipment: 10th Volume, Risk Reduction Through Research and Testing
Page Numbers: 117-130

Clothing in the kitchen: Evaluation of fabric performance for protection against hot surface contact, hot liquid and low-pressure steam burns.

Author(s): Zhang, H., McQueen, R. H., Batcheller, J. C., Paskaluk, S. and Murtaza, G.
Publication Date: 2016
Publication: Textile Research Journal
Volume: 85
Issue: 20
External Link: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/metrics/10.1177/0040517515581584

Heat Strain in Chemical Protective Coveralls—Are Thermal Sweating Mannequin Tests More Informative than Sweating Hot Plate Tests?

Author(s): Wen, S., Batcheller, J., and Petersen, S.
Publication Date: 2016
Publication: Performance of Protective Clothing and Equipment: 10th Volume, Risk Reduction Through Research and Testing
Page Numbers: 296-312

Technical textiles for personal thermal protection.

Author(s): Crown, E. M. and Batcheller, J. C.
Publication Date: 2016
Publication: Handbook of technical textiles, 2nd Edition, technical textile application
Page Numbers: 271-285
External Link: https://www.elsevier.com/books/handbook-of-technical-textiles/horrocks/978-1-78242-465-9

Modelling the physiological strain and physical burden of chemical protective coveralls.

Author(s): Wen, S., Peterson, S., McQueen, R. H. and Batcheller, J.
Publication Date: 2015
Publication: Ergonomics
Page Numbers: 2016-2031
External Link: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00140139.2015.1051595

Off gas measurements from FR materials exposed to flash fire.

Author(s): Ackerman, M., Batcheller, J., and Paskaluk, S.
Publication Date: 2015
Publication: AATCC Journal of Research
Volume: 2
Issue: 2
External Link: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aatcc/jor/2015/00000002/00000002/art00001?crawler=true&mimetype=application/pdf

Optical and scanning electron microscopy for the identification of hair fibres from Roman-Egyptian textiles

Author(s): Batcheller, J.C.
Publication Date: 2005
Publication: Scientific Analysis of Ancient and Historic Textiles: Informing Preservation, Display and Interpretation
Page Numbers: 51-56

Goat-hair textiles from Karanis, Egypt

Author(s): Batcheller, J
Publication Date: 2001
Publication: The Roman textile industry and its influence
Page Numbers: 38-47