Soil Release Properties Research Articles

Single Step Mercerization and Formaldehyde-Free Polyfunctional Finishing on Cotton Fabrics

Mercerization, the treatment of cotton with concentrated sodium hydroxide under tension, is performed to enhance absorption, luster, strength and dimensional stability. After mercerization, the unreacted sodium hydroxide is neutralized with acids. Neutralization with polycarboxylic acids (PCAs) is likely not only to crosslink the cellulose molecules, but to also enhance other functional attributes like crease recovery behavior, flame retardancy, and soil release properties. In this research, four PCAs with different functional groups were used for fabric neutralization to merge mercerization and poly- functional finishing into one continuous process. The PCA treated fabrics were then assessed for their performance. All four PCAs were effective in improving crease recovery and soil release properties, and reducing the flammability, of the treated cotton fabric.

Silica Aerogel Application to Polyester Fabric for Outdoor Clothing

Most producers want to have a cheap, one-step system that will successfully apply multi-finishing operations without affecting any of the desired textile properties. Silica aerogel, used for isolation purposes in different areas such as construction, has been used in textile finishing in this study. 100 % polyester fabrics, which are widely used in outerwear, were impregnated with silica aerogel paste and binder at lower temperature and time than that applied for conventional coating method, providing decreased energy consumption. The samples were tested for wettability, soil release and hydrophobicity both before and after repeated laundering. Burst strength tests were also performed to investigate strength properties of the fabrics. The presence of silica groups on the treated fabrics was confirmed by FTIR spectra and thermal characteristics of the samples were evaluated by using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The results showed that aerogel impregnated fabrics provide superhydrophobic properties with a contact angle of around 170° and improved soil release properties even at very low add-ons. It was also found that the silica aerogel treatment has no adverse effect on the fabric appearance or strength properties.

404 塗料用ふっ素樹脂「FEVE樹脂」の耐汚染性と洗浄性

404 塗料用ふっ素樹脂「FEVE樹脂」の耐汚染性と洗浄性

Durable Moisture-wicking and Fast-dry Polyester Fabric Prepared by UV-induced Click Reaction

Polyester (PET) fabric is an important fabric to make sportswear due to its good mechanical strength, wear resistance and low cost, but poor hygroscopicity will accumulate moisture and excessive heat of human body which thereby causing thermo-physiological dicomfort. To obtain satisfying moisture-wicking, hydroscopic and fast-dry properties, facile and efficient single-sided click chemistry was used to substitute traditional methods. Firstly, PET fabric was alkali treated and modified with 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane to obtain thiol groups. Then it was gradiently grafted with potassium 3-sulfopropyl acrylate by thiol-ene click chemistry under single-sided ultraviolet (UV) irradiation to enlarge effects. The reaction was proved by FTIR and Ellman method, the surface morphology was observed by SEM, and the mass loss at different temperatures in thermalgravimetry (TG) test illustrated the quantity change of grafting. The results demonstrated that the resultant fabric has good performance of moisture absorbing and sweat releasing, fast drying as well as outstanding antistatic and soil release properties.

Synthesis and characterization of fluorinated polyacrylate as water and oil repellent and soil release finishing agent for polyester fabric

A new kind of multifunctional polyacrylate latex containing fluorinated and hydrophilic groups (FHPA) was synthesized by semi-continuous emulsion polymerization. Particle size, particle size distribution and zeta potential were tested to evaluate the emulsion stability and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to observe the particle morphology. Afterwards, FHPA as finishing agent was coated onto polyester fabric by a pad-dry-cure method. Thermal and surface properties of FHPA coated polyester fabric were characterized by thermal-gravimetric analysis (TGA), atomic force microscope (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). It was found that the fluoroalkyl groups preferentially enriched on the film-air interface and could decrease the surface free energy of FHPA film to 18.4 mN/m, generating a hydrophobic and oleophobic surface. The static contact angle tests also confirmed this point. Furthermore, the water and oil repellency and soil release properties of FHPA on polyester fabric were investigated, and the experimental results showed that the introduction of hydrophilic chains in fluorinated acrylate polymer could significantly improve the soil release performance of the fluorine-containing finished polyester fabric by producing a roll-up mechanism for oil removal during washing.

Soil-release behaviour of polyester fabrics after chemical modification with polyethylene glycol

The fibres cleanability depends, among other characteristics, on their hydrophilicity. Hydrophilic fibres are easy-wash materials but hydrophobic fibres are difficult to clean due to their higher water-repellent surfaces. This type of surfaces, like polyester (PET), produce an accumulation of electrostatic charges, which favors adsorption and retention of dirt. Thus, the polyester soil-release properties can be increased by finishing processes that improve fiber hydrophilicity. In present study, PET fabric modification was described by using poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and N,N´-dimethylol-4,5-dihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU) chemically modified resin. Briefly, the modification process was carried out in two steps, one to hydrolyse the polyester and create hydroxyl and carboxylic acid groups on the surface and other to crosslink the PEG chains. The resulting materials were characterized by contact angle, DSC and FTIR-ATR methods. Additionally, the soil release behavior and the mechanical properties of modified PET were evaluated. For the best process conditions, the treated PET presented 0° contact angle, grade 5 stain release and acceptable mechanical performance.

Studies Regarding the Increase in Hydrophilicity of Some Textile Fabrics through Treatment by Cold Plasma and Grafting with Vinyl Monomers

The polyamide and polyester fabrics have been treated by glow discharge plasma and grafted with 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) in order to increase the hydrophilicity and to improve the soil release properties. The plasma treatments were carried out at different exposure times. Grafting was obtained with gaseous HEMA and with alcohol or aqueous solution of HEMA at different concentrations. The physical and chemical surface changes were studied using scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, colour measurements. The hydrophilicity was assessed through the absorption time of a water drop and the soil removal through washing by remission values.

Studies on the Synthesis and Application of N,N,N-Trimethyl Chitosan Chloride (TMCHT) on Cotton Fabric

In this paper, synthesis of N,N,N-Trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMCHT) and its effect on the properties of cotton fabric is reported. TMCHT of varying degree of quaternization (DQ) namely 13.41, 22.03, and 50.92% were synthesized by reaction of chitosan (CHT) with methyl iodide in alkaline medium followed by ion exchange with sodium chloride. The quaternization at amino groups of CHT was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy and the degree of quaternization was evaluated by conductometric titration against standard silver nitrate solution. TMCHT was applied onto cotton fabric by pad-dry cure method and its effect on various properties such as appearance, feel, chlorine retention in chlorine bleaching, absorbency, dyeing behavior, wrinkle recovery, soil release, and antimicrobial properties were investigated. The whiteness index, absorbency, dyeability toward direct and acid dyes at neutral dye bath pH, soil release, and resistance towards microbial attack of the treated fabrics were found to be progressively improved with rise in DQ of TMCHT.

Nanotextiles- A Broader Perspective

Nano Technology means optimizing performance and providing smart solutions for the future. It means configuring molecules to change in size and properties for enhancement as in the case of smart fabrics. Smart fabrics can help manufacturers and designers with the increased emphasis on lifestyle, aesthetic appeal and form demanded for technological products. Nanosize particles can exhibit unexpected properties different from those of the bulk material. The basic premise is that properties can dramatically change when a substance’s size is reduced to the nanometer range. Nanotechnology has versatile applications in Textile Chemicals industry in manufacturing garments with stain resistance, flame retardant finishes, wrinkle resistance finishes, moisture management, antimicrobial qualities, UV protection, and soil release properties. Incorporating nanomaterials into a textile can affect a host of properties, including shrinkage, strength, electrical conductivity and flammability. Nanotechnology has also made a tremendous impact on functionality and performance. Nano-treated textiles may lead to many inventions as the science develops in future.

Improving Electrical Performances of Wool Textiles: Synthesis of Conducting Polypyrrole on the Fiber Surface

Antistatic treatments lower the electrical resistivity of textiles and facilitate charge dissipation avoiding high potential electrical discharges. Moreover, low surface resistivity gives textiles electro-conducting, soil release, thermal and electromagnetic shielding properties. A new way of producing electrically conducting textiles consists of treatments with organic conducting polymers. Unfortunately, conducting polymers have a low level of processability because of their poor mechanical and physical properties. These problems have been overcome by simple in situ depositions of conducting polymers on different substrates in order to produce composite materials with good mechanical properties. Polypyrrole (PPy) is one of the most promising candidates because it exhibits high conductivity and good environmental stability. In situ PPy synthesis on wool and on other animal fibers is presented in this work. A preliminary oxidative treatment (e.g. shrink-proofing, bleaching or depigmentation) improves the electrical properties of the resulting conductive composite textiles significantly.

Effect of Nano and Micro Emulsion Silicone Softeners on Properties of Polyester Fibers

Abstract The processing of textiles to achieve a particular handle is one of the most important aspects of finishing technology. Softeners improve soft handle, smoothness, elasticity, hydrophilic, antistatic and soil release properties on textiles. Macro and micro sized silicone softeners are commonly used for these purposes but nano silicone is a new class of softener. In this research, polyester fabrics were first scoured with nonionic detergent and then treated with three concentrations of nano and micro silicone softeners in water including 10, 20 and 30 g/L at 30°C for 60 seconds by padding method. The treated fabrics were then dried/cured at 130°C for 40 seconds. The pH was maintained at 5 using acetic acid. Some of the physical and chemical properties of the treated fabric samples were discussed. The drapeability of nano emulsion treated samples was decreased compared with micro emulsion treated ones. Colorimetric properties of softener treated fabrics were evaluated with reflectance spectrophotometer. Scanning electron microscope photographs showed nano silicone particles aggregated on fiber surface. Moisture regain of nano emulsion treated samples was decreased compared with micro emulsion treated due to coating of nano silicone particles.

The Effects of Softeners on the Properties of Sulfur‐Dyed Cotton Fibers

AbstractThe processing of textiles to achieve a particular handle is one of the most important aspects of finishing technology. Softeners can improve some properties of textiles, depending on the chemical nature, including soft handle, smoothness, elasticity, hydrophilic, antistatic and soil release properties. They can affect the color and fastness of the dyed textile. In this research project, cotton fabrics were first scoured with nonionic detergent and then dyed with four sulfur dyes of different structures. The colors of the dyed fabrics was yellow, bluish black and bright blue. The dyed fabrics were then treated with anionic, cationic, nonionic, micro and macro silicone softeners. Nonionic, micro and macro silicone softeners decreased the lightness (L*) of all sulfur‐dyed samples while anionic and cationic softeners caused only a slight alteration in lightness. The a*, b* and c* values of most dyed samples showed a little change after treatment with softeners except for the color coordinates of the yellow samples, which increased. A considerable increase in the fk values for silicone softener‐treated samples was obtained. The washing fastness properties of blue samples decreased while they remained unchanged for other samples. The light fastness properties decreased for all samples after treatment with softeners.

Short‐term release and fixation of K in calcareous clay soils. Consequence for K buffer power prediction

SummaryNon‐exchangeable K always contributes to some degree to plant nutrition. To understand this contribution and to deduce a predictive buffer power model the release and fixation of K was studied on a range of 44 calcareous clay soils. Short‐term K sorption and desorption experiments (16 h) were followed by the measurement of soil exchangeable K (ammonium acetate extraction). Soil K‐Ca exchange properties and the contributions of exchangeable K and non‐exchangeable K to K dynamics of the soil‐solution system were estimated. The change in the amount of non‐exchangeable K during the experiment was generally proportional to the initial constraint imposed to the soil‐solution system (ø), i.e. the solution: soil ratio multiplied by the difference between the solution K concentration imposed at the beginning of the experiment and the solution K concentration for which neither sorption nor desorption of K would occur. The proportionality coefficient (β) called the 'soil ability for K release and fixation’ was identical for release and fixation for 36 soils, whereas eight soils showed some difference between their ability for fixation and their ability for release of K. When β was considered identical in the release range and in the fixation range for all soils it was inversely proportional to the initial K saturation ratio of the CEC corrected for the amount of ammonium extractable K which was not in exchange equilibrium with Ca. This quantity of ammonium extractable K which is not in equilibrium with Ca probably contributes only partially to plant nutrition. For the studied soils this quantity contributed a large proportion of exchangeable K (26–65%) especially in soils with a small K content. Due to the contribution of non‐exchangeable K to soil‐solution K dynamics the buffer power of the system does not only depend on exchange properties but also on soil release and fixation properties. When β was taken into account buffer power was better estimated than when it was deduced from ion exchange alone.

Easy-care properties of simultaneously grafted and crosslinked cotton fabrics

The concurrent grafting of acrylic acid (AA) and crosslinking of dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) with cotton fabric in the presence of ammonium persulfate [(NH 4 ) 2 S 2 O 8 )], magnesium chloride hexahydrate (MgCl 2 .6H 2 O), and ammonium chloride (NH 4 Cl) catalysts were studied. These salts were separately used or as a binary mixture of (NH 4 ) 2 S 2 O 8 /MgCl 2 .6H 2 O or (NH 4 ) 2 S 2 O 8 /NH 4 Cl. The pad-dry-cure method was employed for the fabric treatment under a variety of conditions. The latter include the nature and kind of the single catalyst as well as pair-mixed catalysts, the concentrations of the catalyst and AA, and temperature and duration of curing. The effects of these conditions on the values of the carboxyl content and crease recovery angle (CRA) of the treated fabrics were evaluated. The tensile strength, elongation at break, dyeability, aqueous and nonaqueous oily soiling, and soil-release properties of the treated fabrics were also examined. Results obtained indicated that all treated fabrics have superior properties, except tensile strength and elongation at break, as compared with the untreated fabric (control). However, beside the AA-grafting and DMDHEU-crosslinking reactions, there are other types of reactions catalyzed by the salts used, viz., the addition reactions between AA molecules and the cellulosic hydroxyls as well as between AA and DMDHEU hydroxyls. The tentative mechanisms for these reactions are suggested.

Studies on the After Treatments of Dry Cleaning. (Part 3). Effect of Silicone Treatments on Soil Release of Wool Fabrics in Dry Cleaning.

The soil release in finishing treatments of dry cleaning was measured for the soiling of fabrics with natural facial soil and with floating soil in the outdoors, The soil release property after silicone treatments was compared with those after practical treatments used in dry cleaning, such as softening, sizing and water proofing finish based on the evaluation of sensory properties with Scheffe's paired t-test and the measurement of reflection factor for soiling. Treatment of wool fabric with epoxy-functional silicone showed a good effect on the protection of fabric from soil as well as the release of soil from the fabric. The superior soil release properties of the silicone treatments and the water proofing finish were demonstrated to be derived from the high quality of water repellence and oil repellence of fabric surface for the facial soiled cloth. The improvement of the soil release property of fabric against the floating soil by water proofing finish and softening showed a good correlation with the surface smoothness and the anti-electrostatic property of the fabric.

Fluoroalkylation of Polyester Surface Part I. Fluoroalkylation of Polyester Surface with Block Copolymers Containing Fluoroalkyl Groups.

Polyester surface was modified with block copolymers containing fluoroalkyl groups. The surface of the modified polyester was characterized using contact angle measurements of a two-liquid-phase system and ESCA spectroscopy. The fluoroalkyl groups on the polyester surface influenced both dispersive and polar components of surface free energy, and both of them decreased with increasing treating temperature. The surface cover ratios based on the contact angles were linearly correlated to the relative peak intensities of F 1s peak in ESCA spectra and surface free energies as well. The effect of fluoroalkylation on soil release properties of fabrics was also investigated by the washing experiments using squalane, triolein and oleic acid as oily soils. Regardless of the kind of oily soil and washing liquor, the removal first decreased, and then increased with increasing fluorine content

Effects of Grafting with Acrylic Acid on Removal of Oily Soil from Polyester Fabric

In a series of studies on the effects of modifying textiles for soil release properties, polyester fabrics were grafted with acrylic acid to vary their surface energies while changing their bulk properties as little as possible. The surface free energies of grafted polyester fabrics were estimated using the relationship between the polar component of surface energies γ sp and the peak area ratios of COONa (1580 cm-1) to COOR (1250 cm-1) by FT-IR measurements. The effects of grafting on soil release were also investigated with washing experiments using squalane, triolein, and oleic acid as oily soils. The effects of grafting on oily soil removal varied depending on the polarity of soil. Results are discussed in terms of the work of adhesion between oil and polyester fabric.

Fluorochemical Finishing of Upholstery: Effect on Soiling and Soil Release

Upholstery constitutes an important group of fabrics where discoloration from soil is common, appearance is of greatest concern, and cleaning is difficult. Fluorochemical (FC) finishing of upholstery fabrics is a common practice. However, its effectiveness in reducing soiling in upholstery fabrics of various fiber contents and constructions is not clear from published literature. This research explores the effectiveness of FC repellent finish on soiling and soil release properties of upholstery fabrics having various fiber contents and fabric geometry toward paniculate as well as oily I paniculate composite soils. Soiling propensity and soil release properties were evaluated using laboratory techniques as well as visual examination. Results indicate that FC finish affected soiling and soil release properties of fabrics to different extents. Also, overall soiling due to composite soil increased in all fabrics but more prominently in cellu–losic fabrics.

EFFECTS OF GRAFTING WITH ACRYLIC ACID ON WETTING OF POLYESTER FABRIC AND ITS SOIL RELEASE PROPERTY

Based on the surface characterization (FT-IR) of acrylic acid grafted polyester fabric (PET) after treated with aqueous Na2CO3, both the variation of wettability of PET to water and the improvement of soil release properties were highly correlated to the amount of introduced COON groups on fiber surface (SGD). The capillary spreading measurements were employed to compare the wettability of fabrics and surface treatments. The values of A1, the area at the time 1min, and n, the slope of spreading of water during phase II, of grafted PET increased and decreased with increasing in the grafting degree or SGD, respectively. It was explained in terms of surface modification to more hydrophilic and a smaller advancing contact angle of the fiber to water (θ).

Effect of structural changes of cotton by acid hydrolysis and crosslinking on soiling and soil release

AbstractThe effect of acid hydrolysis (0.5N HC1 at 60°C for 5–90 min) on the soiling and soil release properties of cotton fabric before and after crosslinking was investigated. The effect of acid hydrolysis of crosslinked cotton under similar condition on the same properties was also undertaken. Crosslinking with and without nonionic softener was carried out using dimethylol dihydroxyethlene urea and magnesium chloide hexahydrate as a catalyst. Aqueous and nonaqueous oily dispersions of carbon black were used for soiling. Results of these studies disclosed that acid hydrolysis prior to crosslinking imparted aqueous and oily soil resistance to the cotton, particularly during the very initial stages of hydrolysis treatment. Crosslinking of cotton and acid‐treated cottons in the absence of softener accentuated soil resistance. The opposite holds true for crosslinking in the presence of softener. Short acid treatment of cotton before and after corsslinking decreased the ability of cotton to release the aqueous and oily soils. On the other hand, acid hydrolysis of crosslinked cotton improved aqueous and nonaqueous soil‐resistance provided that the duration did not exceed 30 min. Hydrolysis accentuated also the ease of oily soil removal, but aqueous soil release was adversely affected. The results were interpreted in terms of changes in the physical and chemical structures of cotton and crosslinked cottons brought about by acid hydrolysis.