Patricia Dolez, PhD, PEng

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

Contact

Associate Professor, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sci - Human Ecology Dept
Email
pdolez@ualberta.ca
Address
331 Human Ecology Building
8905 - 116 St NW
Edmonton AB
T6G 2N1

Overview

Area of Study / Keywords

Textile Science Materials Engineering Protective Clothing


About

My research is focused on protective clothing/ personal protective equipment (PPE) and industrial applications, as well as knowledge transfer to the next generation and the industry: it is rooted in an interdisciplinary approach that involves collaborations across multiple disciplines and partnerships with the industry and end-users. What motivates me is sharing my passion for innovation and team work.

Other activities

President, the Institute of Textile Science (www.textilesciences.com)

Chair, Canadian Advisory Committee on ISO/TC94 SC13 (protective clothing)

Member, Canadian Advisory Committees on ISO/TC94 SC14 (firefighters’ protective equipment) and ISO/TC229 (nanotechnologies)

Adjunct Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, Montréal


Research

Research interests: Protective clothing, Occupational safety and health, Nanotechnologies, Smart textiles, Natural fibres, and Recycled Materials


Teaching

Teaching areas: Protective clothing, Nanotechnologies, Smart Textiles, Textile Science


Announcements

Development of the research and training platform “Sustainable Innovation for Clothing, Textiles, and PPE: A Triadic Perspective”. It is aimed at enhancing knowledge; developing new tools, materials, designs and constructions; and providing training for end-users and the next generation of researchers in clothing, textiles, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The ultimate goal is for technology to enhance the lives of people by improving wellbeing and providing protection and comfort. 

Courses

HECOL 470 - Advanced Materials for Protective Clothing

Students explore advanced materials for protective clothing. Resistance of textiles to mechanical, thermal, chemical, biological, and electrical hazards as well as questions of durability and comfort are discussed with an emphasis on current research. The course describes phenomena and mechanisms involved, presents appropriate materials and structures, and depicts the relevant test methods. Prerequisite: HECOL 370.


HECOL 474 - Introduction to Nanotechnologies and Smart Textiles

Students explore opportunities offered by nanotechnologies and smart materials/structures as they relate to textile products. Mechanisms involved, materials used, fabrication processes, properties/performance obtained, and some examples of commercial applications are presented. Challenges encountered with these new technologies are also discussed. Prerequisite: HECOL 170 and *60; or consent of instructor.


HECOL 501 - Independent Project in Human Ecology

Independent study of a topic in human ecology planned by the student in consultation with the Instructor. Independent studies may be taken more than once for credit.


HECOL 550 - Selected Topics in Human Ecology

Topics of current interest. May be taken for credit more than once. Prerequisite: consent of Instructor.


HECOL 570 - Advanced Materials for Protective Clothing

Students explore advanced materials for protective clothing. Resistance of textiles to mechanical, thermal, chemical, biological, and electrical hazards as well as questions of durability and comfort are discussed with an emphasis on current research. The course describes phenomena and mechanisms involved, presents appropriate materials and structures, and depicts the relevant test methods. Not to be taken if credit received for HECOL 470.


HECOL 574 - Introduction to Nanotechnologies and Smart Textiles

Students explore opportunities offered by nanotechnologies and smart materials/structures as they relate to textile products. Mechanisms involved, materials used, fabrication processes, properties/performance obtained, and some examples of commercial applications are presented. Challenges encountered with these new technologies are also discussed. Prerequisite: consent of the instructor. Not to be taken if credit received for HECOL 474.


HECOL 654 - Research Project in Human Ecology

An original research project, conducted with guidance from a faculty member, typically resulting in the preparation of a research report and a submission to a professional academic conference for a poster or paper presentation OR the preparation of a manuscript that is submitted to a scholarly journal for publication. May be taken more than once for credit.


Browse more courses taught by Patricia Dolez

Scholarly Activities

Research - Development of self-decontaminating protective clothing and masks

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a rude reminder of the difficulty in controlling the propagation of viruses. If protective clothing and masks currently used by medical personnel can protect them from being exposed, the contaminated protective equipment can still act as a vector for viruses and bacteria and lead to the contamination of other patients, other medical personnel and personal objects/family members. Self-decontaminating personal protective equipment could prevent this issue. 

Protective clothing neutralizing chemical and biological agents upon contact also offer an interesting strategy to avoid issues with filter materials getting clogged and toxic agents contaminating unprotected people nearby. The self-decontaminating membrane can even be breathable, increasing the protective clothing wearer's comfort.


Research - Development of testing & quality control methods for e-textiles

E-textiles have massive potentials to change the health care, safety, and protection industries due to their unique capability to sense physiological and environmental conditions, alert about a potential issue, and mitigate the change in conditions. However, the current e-textile industry is facing some limitations as universal testing and quality control standards are necessary further market grown.

This project aims at developing reliable, robust, and universal test methods to assess the efficiency, safety and durability of e-textiles.


Research - Development of tools to monitor and predict the aging behaviour of fire protective textile materials

High performance materials and textile structures are used to manufacture protective clothing for people exposed to heat and flame, for instance firefighters and workers in the oil and gas industry. However, if the performance of the clothing is assessed in the new condition, the understanding of the effect of the various aging conditions (UV, heat, moisture, steam, abrasion, laundering, etc.) the materials will be exposed to during the lifetime of the clothing is still limited. In addition, the worker has no way to assess if the residual level of performance of his clothing is still sufficient to protect him for the hazards associated with his tasks. 

The objectives of the research are thus to gain a better understanding of the effect of aging conditions on the performance of protective clothing materials over time as well as develop predictive (using models) and/or indicative (using sensors) strategies to evaluate the residual performance of protective clothing as a result of use. 


Publications

Influence of specimen size on the tear strength of fabrics by the trapezoid procedure

Author(s): Munevar-Ortiz L., Batcheller J., Dolez P.I.
Publication Date: 11/29/2021
Publication: Journal of Testing and Evaluation
Page Numbers: 10p
DOI: 10.1520/JTE20210357

Investigation of the Accelerated Thermal Aging Behavior of Polyetherimide and Lifetime Prediction at Elevated Temperature

Author(s): Cho C, Nam SL, de la Mata PA, Harynuk JJ, Elias A, Chung H-J, Dolez PI
Publication Date: 11/26/2021
Publication: J Appl Polym Sci
DOI: 10.1002/app.51955

Energy Harvesting Materials and Structures for Smart Textile Applications: Recent Progress and Path Forward

Author(s): Dolez, PI
Publication Date: 9/20/2021
Publication: Sensors
Volume: 21
Page Numbers: 6297 (27p.)
DOI: 10.3390/s21186297

Smart Textiles for Visible and IR Camouflage Application: State-of-the-Art and Microfabrication Path Forward

Author(s): Degenstein LM, Sameoto D, Hogan JD, Asad A, Dolez PI
Publication Date: 6/30/2021
Publication: Micromachines
Volume: 12
Issue: 7
Page Numbers: 773 (29p.)
DOI: 10.3390/mi12070773

Smart Textiles Testing: A Roadmap to Standardized Test Methods for Safety & Quality-Control

Author(s): Shuvo II, Decaens J, Lachapelle D, Dolez P I
Publication Date: 3/22/2021
Publication: Textiles for Functional Applications
Page Numbers: 15p
DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.91596

Applications of smart textiles in occupational health and safety

Author(s): Dolez PI, Decaens J, Buns T, Lachapelle D, Vermeersch O.
Publication Date: 2020
Publication: IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering
Volume: 827
Page Numbers: 012014 (5p)

Resistance of Fire Protective Fabrics to Repeated Launderings

Author(s): Dolez P, Malajati Y
Publication Date: 2020
Publication: Performance of Protective Clothing and Equipment: Innovative Solutions to Evolving Challenges. ASTM International
Volume: STP 1624
Page Numbers: 100-113

Compatibilizer polarity parameters as tools for predicting organoclay dispersion in polyolefin nanocomposites

Author(s): Weltrowskia M, Dolez PI
Publication Date: 2019
Publication: J Nanotechnol
Volume: 2019
Page Numbers: 1404196, (9 p.)

Application of nanomaterials in textile coatings and finishes

Author(s): Dolez PI
Publication Date: 2019
Publication: Nanomaterials-Based Coatings: Fundamentals and Applications, Nguyen-Tri, Rtimi, Ouellet Plamondon (Eds.), Elsevier
Page Numbers: 139-169

Electrical conduction of reduced graphene oxide coated meta-aramid textile and its evolution under aging conditions

Author(s): Cho C, Elias A, Batcheller J, Dolez P, Chung H-J
Publication Date: 2019
Publication: J Ind Text.
Volume: doi: 10.1177/ 1528083719869387
Page Numbers: 18 pages

On the contribution of yarn-yarn slippage to woven fabric failure

Author(s): Triki E, Dolez PI
Publication Date: 2019
Publication: J Text I

Filtering performances of 20 protective fabrics against solid aerosols.

Author(s): Wingert L, Cloutier Y, Hallé S, Bahloul B, Tessier D, Giraudel J-L, Dolez P, Tuduri L
Publication Date: 2019
Publication: J Occup Environ Hyg
Volume: 16
Issue: 8
Page Numbers: 592-606

A quantitative method to compare the effect of thermal aging on the mechanical performance of fire protective fabrics

Author(s): Dolez PI, Tomer NS, Malajati Y
Publication Date: 2018
Publication: J Appl Polym Sci.
Volume: 136
Page Numbers: 47045 (15p)

Specific Testing of Protective Clothing

Author(s): Dolez P.I., Izquierdo V.
Publication Date: 2017
Publication: In Book: Advanced characterization and testing of textiles. Elsevier, Amsterdam, NL
External Link: https://www.elsevier.com/books/advanced-characterization-and-testing-of-textiles/dolez/978-0-08-100453-1

Development and characterization of a hydrophobic treatment for jute fibres based on zinc oxide nanoparticles and a fatty acid

Author(s): Arfaoui M. A., Dolez P. I., Dubé M., David É.
Publication Date: 2017
Publication: Applied Surface Science
Volume: 397
Page Numbers: 19-29
External Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169433216324539

Dewatering of oil sands tailings with an electrokinetic geocomposite

Author(s): Bourgès-Gastaud S., Dolez P., Blond E, Touze-Foltz N.
Publication Date: 2017
Publication: Minerals Engineering
Volume: 100
Page Numbers: 177–186
External Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0892687516303740

Progress in personal protective equipment for workers exposed to nanomaterials

Author(s): Dolez P.
Publication Date: 2015
Publication: In Book: Nano Engineering: Global Approaches to Health & Safety Issues, Elsevier, Amsterdam, NL
Page Numbers: 607-636
External Link: https://www.elsevier.com/books/nanoengineering/dolez/978-0-444-62747-6

Physical phenomena facilitating the penetration of solutions of TiO2 nanoparticles through protective gloves

Author(s): Vinches L., de Santa Barbara J., Hallé S., Dolez P., Wilkinson K. J.
Publication Date: 2013
Publication: International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Nanotechnology
Volume: 1
Issue: 2
Page Numbers: 1-16
External Link: http://ijtan.avestia.com/2013/001.html

Effect of protective glove use conditions on their resistance to needle puncture

Author(s): Nguyen C. T., Dolez P. I., Vu-Khanh T., Gauvin C., Lara J.
Publication Date: 2013
Publication: Plastics, Rubber and Composites
Volume: 42
Issue: 5
Page Numbers: 187-193
External Link: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/1743289811Y.0000000049

Hydrolytic and photochemical aging studies of a Kevlar-PBI blend

Author(s): Arrieta C., David E., Dolez P., Vu-Khanh T.
Publication Date: 2011
Publication: Polymer degradation and Stability
Volume: 96
Issue: 8
Page Numbers: 1411-1419
External Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0141391011001893