Study on the Aging Mechanism of Down Fiber Under the Daily Washing and Drying Conditions

Abstract

ABSTRACT In order to clarify the aging mechanism of down fiber under the daily washing and drying conditions, fluffiness, whiteness, microscopic morphology, crystallinity and molecular structure of down fiber after different washing and drying treatments were observed. Results showed that the daily washing conditions of weak acid or alkali (pH = 5–9) and drying conditions of low temperature drying (55°C and sunlight) only slightly affected fluffiness, whiteness, and microscopic morphology of down fiber. However, the addition of short-term mechanical agitation reduced damage and even improved fluffiness, whiteness. Additionally, down fiber did not experience chemical damage in the above environment. However, the strong alkali (pH = 10, pH = 12) washing environment and high temperature (105°C,155°C) drying treatment not only caused the decline of fluffiness, whiteness, microscopic morphology but also caused the change of crystallinity and molecular structure. Additionally, the stronger the alkalinity, the longer the time, the higher the drying temperature, the more obvious the performance decline. Moreover, regardless of the washing and drying conditions, mechanical agitation for a long time easily led to performance degradation. Therefore, down fibers were suitable for the daily washing conditions of weak acid and alkali (pH = 5–9) and drying conditions of low temperature drying (55°C or sunlight) with slightly mechanical agitation.