Untreated Polyester Research Articles

Simple enzymatic depolymerization process based on rapid ball milling pretreatment for high-crystalline polyethylene terephthalate fibers

The high crystallinity (30 %–50 %) of discarded polyester textile waste limits the industrialization of its clean enzymatic depolymerization. In this study, a simple process based on ball milling pretreatment was developed to achieve effective enzymatic hydrolysis of high-crystalline polyester fiber. Ball milling was selected for its short, mild, and chemical-free process, which achieved a remarkable 23.8-fold (60.9 %) increase in terephthalic acid (TPA) yield from waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) degradation, along with high TPA purity in the released soluble compounds. Just 30 min of ball milling at room temperature induced polyester amorphization, resulting in polyester with 12 % lower crystallinity compared with untreated polyester (51 %), while simultaneously increasing the surface roughness of polyester, thereby enhancing the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis. The simple process for effective enzymatic-depolymerization of waste polyester fiber developed in this study has potential industrial applications

Monitoring of the Homogeneity of Primer Layers for Ink Jet Printing on Polyester Fabrics by Hyperspectral Imaging.

Untreated polyester films and fibers can be hardly printed or coated, in particular if aqueous inks or lacquers have to be applied. Therefore, an adequate primer layer has to be applied first. A cationic polymer formulation based on poly(dimethylamine-co-epichlorohydrin-co-ethylenediamine) (PDEHED) was used as primer layer for digital printing on polyester fabrics. Because of the exceedingly high requirements on the homogeneity of such layers, hyperspectral imaging was used for qualitative and quantitative monitoring of the distribution of the primer layer on the textiles. Multivariate data analysis methods based on the PLS algorithm were applied for quantification of the NIR reflection spectra using gravimetry as a reference method. Optimization of the calibration method resulted in various models with prediction errors of about 1.2 g/m2. The prediction performance of the models was proven in external validations using independent samples. Moreover, a special ink jet printing technology was tested for application of the aqueous primer formulation itself. Since possible clogging of jet nozzles in the print head might lead to inhomogeneity in the coatings such as missing tracks, the potential of hyperspectral imaging to detect such defects was investigated. It was demonstrated that simulated missing tracks can be clearly detected. Consequently, hyperspectral imaging has been proven to be a powerful analytical tool for in-line monitoring of the quality of printability improvement layers and similar systems.

Chromaticity of Gromwell, Cape jasmine Dyeing, and Effects of Zinc Oxide/Polyphenol Treatment with Copper Mordanting for UV Protection

To protect skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, there has been a resurgence in the use of natural dyes with metal mordants to reduce contamination by advanced chemicals. This study achieved natural dyeing in violet and yellow colors from Gromwell red roots and Cape jasmine seeds for UV-protective materials. The dyed fabrics were subjected to zinc oxide (ZnO) and polyphenol treatments, as well as copper post-mordanting. The SEM, TEM, and XRD tests showed that the ZnO nanoparticles, with hexagonal crystal structures, stuck to the fiber surfaces, and twisted strands resulted in the K/S reduction. First, this study found that the untreated cotton in violet, despite the highest K/S, faded the most intensely when exposed to UV. The color variation of untreated polyester was narrow, with little change in L, a*, and K/S. The color change of yellow-dyed samples treated with ZnO/polyphenol was not considerable in yellowness (b*: 28.838), while the violet fabrics displayed a significant decrease in K/S and an increase in b*. The combination of ZnO and polyphenol treatment improved UV absorption at 350 to 250 nm. Among the Cu-mordanted fabrics after ZnO/phenols treatment, the violet cotton turned reddish from blueish (negative to positive b*), with a hue change of 316° to 59° and the highest ΔE (25.90 ± 4.34) after UV exposure. In this study, the combination of ZnO/polyphenol with Cu-mordants allowed the Cape jasmine-dyed polyester to achieve a minimum ΔE as well as to keep its chroma and hue after UV exposure.

The effect of fiber stacking sequence on mechanical and morphological behavior of paddy straw/pineapple leaf fiber-reinforced ortho-laminated polyester hybrid composites

The contemporary agricultural natural fiber is effectively used for fabricating composites because of its economical, ample availability, and biodegradability. In this way, the potential material for the reinforcement of hybrid (paddy straw and pineapple leaf) fiber- and ortho-laminated polyester composites was conducted. This research article is focused on the hybridization of untreated, treated, and paddy pulp fiber-reinforced polyester composite laminates. The unidirectional paddy straw fiber and pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) were used in the fabrication process of laminate using a compression molding machine with the mold dimensions of 300 × 300 × 5 mm is used and the investigation of mechanical (tensile, flexural, impact, hardness, shear) behaviors are conducted in the samples as per the standard. Five samples were prepared by varying the fiber content in the matrix in which sample S1 pure polyester plate without any addition of reinforcement. Out of these five samples, sample 4 (S4) produced better tensile, flexural, impact, hardness, and shear values of 28 MPa, 61 MPa, 3.46 Joules, 64 HR L, and 68.7 MPa, respectively. Comparing the laminate samples of S1 and S4 there is a 35.2% increase in the tensile value of S4, similarly, other values also resulted in better hikes. In addition to that, the water absorption properties of the laminate were also evaluated and fiber breakage, fiber pullout, fiber orientation, crack propagation, and voids on the fractured specimens were identified with help of a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Overall, the fabricated hybrid composite laminates were lightweight and has good fiber-matrix bonding with improved mechanical and morphological properties for commercial and home need applications.

Investigating the tensile and flexural strength of sunflower oil treated Ethiopian Highland bamboo fibre reinforced polyester composites

As bamboo composites have wide applications, this study investigated the mechanical properties (tensile and flexural) of oil-treated Ethiopian Highland bamboo fibre/polyester laminated composites using an experimental and analytical approach. The goal of oil treatment is to soften the components of bamboo fibre, resulting in more flexible fibre strands with high tensile and flexural strengths. The composite was manufactured using hand layup methods with a fibre/matrix ratio of 35%/ 65% by volume. The fibre orientations used in the laminates were [0]5 for both tensile and bending tests. The maximum tensile and flexural stresses of oil-treated bamboo fibre-reinforced polyester composite (OBFP) were 193.3 MPa and 173.4 MPa, respectively. These outcomes surpassed untreated bamboo fibre-reinforced polyester composites by 39.6% and 50.2% (UBFP), respectively. The fibre tensile and flexural strains were increased by 25.1% and 25.7%, respectively, as a result of oil treatment. According to the findings, oil-treated bamboo fibre laminates exhibited better tensile and flexural characteristics. The oil treatment lubricated the fibre and increased strand flexibility to reduce abrupt breakage.

Aerobic biodegradation of untreated polyester–polyether urethanes by newly isolated yeast strains Exophilia sp. NS-7 and Rhodotorula sp. NS-12

Polyester-urethanes as the most widely used polyurethanes (PUs) are among the most recalcitrant plastics in natural conditions. Among existing approaches for managing and reducing plastic waste, biodegradation as a promising approach to reduce plastic waste pollution has drawn scientific society's attention in recent years. In this study, two polyester–polyether urethane degrading yeasts were isolated and identified as two new strains of Exophilia sp. NS-7 and Rhodotorula sp. NS-12. The results showed that Exophilia sp. NS-7 is esterase, protease, and urease positive, and Rhodotorula sp. NS-12 can produce esterase and urease. Both strains can degrade Impranil® as the sole carbon source with the highest growth rate in 4–6 and 8–12 days, respectively. SEM micrograph revealed PU degradation ability in both strains by showing so many pits and holes in treated films. The Sturm test showed that these two isolates can mineralize PU to CO2, and significant decreases in N–H stretching, C–H stretching, C=O stretching, and N–H/C=O bending absorption in the molecular structure of PU were revealed by the FT-IR spectrum. The detection of the deshielding effect in chemical shifts of the H-NMR spectrum after the treatment also confirmed the destructive effects of both strains on PU films.

The Anti-itch Effect by Anti-itch Fiber during Sleep

We evaluated the suppressing effect of weak-acidic polyester on itching during sleep when wearing a sleep garment made of weak-acidic polyester for the patients with atopic dermatitis. The weak-acidic polyester knitted fabric was prepared from commercial weak-acidic polyester, and applied for a sleep garment. The degree of itching during sleep was evaluated by VAS, and it was confirmed that the degree of itching was lower in patients with atopic dermatitis when wearing a sleep garment made of weak- acidic polyester than when wearing that made of untreated polyester. When the patients with atopic dermatitis work up a sweat during sleep, the sweat contains histamine as an itching component so that they feel itchy while sleeping. The weak-acidic polyester has an antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus by maintaining the skin pH around 5.5, and it is considered that itching could be inhibited by suppressing the growth of Staphylococcus aureus.

Double-Grafted PET Fiber Material to Remove Airborne Bacteria with High Efficiency.

Air pollution caused by bacteria and viruses has posed a serious threat to public health. Commercial air purifiers based on dense fibrous filters can remove particulate matter, including airborne pathogens, but do not kill them efficiently. Here, we developed a double-grafted antibacterial fiber material for the high-efficiency capture and inactivation of airborne microorganisms. Tetracarboxyl phthalocyanine zinc, a photosensitizer, was first grafted onto the polyester (PET) fiber, followed by coating with chitosan on the surface of PET fiber to make a double-grafted fiber material. Under the irradiation of light with a specific wavelength (680 nm), double-grafted fiber materials killed up to 99.99% of Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria and had a significant antibacterial effect on drug-resistant bacteria. The double-grafted PET fiber showed broad-spectrum antibacterial activities and was capable to inactivate drug-resistant bacteria. Notably, in filtration experiments for airborne bacteria, this double-grafted PET fiber demonstrated a high bacteria capture efficiency (95.68%) better than the untreated PET fiber (64.87%). Besides, the double-grafted PET fiber was capable of efficiently killing airborne bacteria. This work provides a new idea for the development of air filtration materials that can efficiently kill airborne pathogen and has good biosafety.

Effect of Antimicrobial Finish in Reducing Bacterial Load on White Coats

Garments of health care workers are important aspects of the environment of a healthcare facility and are known to get contaminated with microbes during use. They can act as carriers as well as transmitters of infections. As the nurses work in the hospital the newly laundered uniforms may also get contaminated within hours of donning. Hence, there is a need of an effective strategy to prevent cross contamination by reducing the bio-burden on the surface of the uniforms/white coats. One of the strategies that can be used for microbial control is the use of antimicrobial finishes. Silver based antimicrobial finishes have been tested extensively in laboratories, but there are few studies which have been carried out in vivo, that are on fabrics and garments being used in a hospital under real life conditions. This paper investigates the efficacy of commercial silver based antimicrobial finish in reducing bacterial load on nurses’ white coats in a hospital. The study was conducted in 100 bedded tertiary care government hospital in Delhi. Polyester and polyester cotton blend fabric was treated with Antimicrobial (AM) finish. Swatches of 20cm x 10cm each were cut from both fabrics and stitched to make a composite patch of 20cm x 20cm. At the beginning of shift a composite patch of untreated and treated fabric respectively was stitched on the left and right side of the washed white coat of participating nurse. The patched coat was worn by the nurse during her shift after which the patches were removed and plated. Microbial contamination on polyester and blend fabrics after 6 hours shift was compared in Brain Heart Infusion broth (BHI). Isolates of Staphylococci, Salmonella, Streptococci, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Klebsiella, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) were studied in selective media. Untreated polyester and blend fabric showed a total bacterial count of 886 and 1525 CFUs respectively after the 6 hours shift. After treatment with antimicrobial finish, bacterial count on both fabrics reduced by 81%. Isolates of all seven bacteria were detected on all untreated swatches, ranging from 18 CFUs (VRE) to 440 CFUs (E. coli) on polyester and 46 CFUs (VRE) to 627 CFUs (E coli) on blend. Nearly 100% reduction in the number of colonies was observed for Salmonella, Streptococci, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Klebsiella and E. coli while 73.7% reduction in Staphylococci genus and 94.4% in VRE was observed. Use of a silver based antimicrobial finish can bring down bacterial contamination in nurses’ white coats by nearly 81% irrespective of the type of fabric used to make the coat. Antimicrobial finish can be an effective strategy in reducing the bacterial burden in hospital uniforms.

Ramie degum liquor: Wastage bio-macromolecule for making thermally stable functionalize polyester fabric

Decorticated ramie fibre has been degummed with alkali based formulation and the wastage degummed liquor has been applied on the polyester fabric at different concentrations by following padding technique. Degummed liquor has been characterized by using Liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LCMS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermo-gravimetry (TG) analysis to understand the major chemical groups present in it and its thermal behavior. Chromatography results revealed the presence of different polyphenols, pectin, tannin based compound in the degum liquor. TG curve of degum liquor reveals almost 50% mass retention at 500°C. Treated polyester fabric showed almost 40% more limiting oxygen index (LOI) as compared to the control fabric. In addition of it, melt dripping property of the treated polyester fabric also has been stopped with lower shrinkage during combustion. TG analysis of the said fabric showed 20–25% more char mass retention and lower rate of weight loss as compared to the control one. Char morphology of the control and the treated fabric was also examined and analyzed in detail. Besides, a mechanism lies behind the flame retardancy of the polyester fabric also has been postulated with the composition of the chemical compound present in the wastage liquor. It was found that high molecular weight phenolic components, pectin, natural coloring matter, tannin based polyphenols etc. present in the degum liquor playing a major role behind thermal stability. Lastly, tensile and physical properties of the treated fabric also have been measured and analytically compared with the untreated polyester.

Development of polyester filters with polymer nanocomposite active layer for effective dye filtration

Organic dyes such as methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) are widely used in different industries and have become one of the leading emerging water contaminants. The purpose of the current research is to develop new polymer nanocomposite filters for the effective elimination of the dyes, which are non-biodegradable and not efficiently removed by traditional treatment methods. New padded and covered filters were produced applying polystyrene-acrylic/ZnO nanocomposite on the polyester surface by blade coating and one-bath pad methods. Principal results determined by SEM analysis confirm that functionalised layer can create unprecedented function of filter textile material depending on the way of treatment. Due to the modification, the surface area increased from 5.9 for untreated polyester to 85.2 (padded), 44.6 (covered) m2/g. The measured pore size of produced filters is around 3.4 nm, which corresponds to the mesoporous structure. Our study reported effective filters with the rate of MB and MO removal efficiencies up to 60%. Moreover, a colourless reduced form of MB—leuco-methylene blue (LMB) could be created. The functionalised layer of the developed filters through hydrogen bonding between the –OH groups of styrene-acrylic molecules and the –N(CH3)2 groups on LMB can stabilise LMB.

Flexural Properties of Surface-Modified Sisal Fiber-Reinforced Polyester Resin Composites

ABSTRACT This study includes untreated sisal fibers, fibers that had been mercerized using 0.06 M NaOH and fibers cornified at 100°C in different volume fractions used as reinforcement into a general purpose unsaturated polyester resin matrix. Untreated sisal fiber-reinforced polyester resin displayed the most significant gain in flexural strength with a Modulus of Rupture of 79.32 Mpa at 2% fiber volume fraction, which represented a 296.65% increase compared to unreinforced polyester resin. Cornified sisal fiber-reinforced polyester resin had the least significant gain in flexural strength with a maximum Modulus of Rupture of 49.71 Mpa at a 1.2% fiber volume fraction, which represented a 142.8% increase in flexural strength compared to the unreinforced polyester resin specimen. These results show that the untreated sisal fiber reinforcement could withstand the thermal effect of the exothermic curing of unsaturated polyester resin better than the surface-modified sisal fibers.

THE EFFECT OF PLASMA TREATMENT ON THE PRINTABILITY OF POLYESTER FABRIC USING COCHINEAL NATURAL DYE

Use of synthetic dyes for dyeing of textile fabrics is most problematic environmental concerned for textile industry. The demand of natural colourants for the dyeing of textile fabrics has been increasing. Thus, sustainable novel technologies for textile dyeing are needed that utilize improved colour strength and enhanced performance characteristics of the fabric. This study attempts to highlight the possibility of using cochineal natural dye in the printing of polyester fabrics after surface modification by O2/Ar plasma treatment. The colour strength, air permeability, crease recovery angle of printed fabrics, colour fastness to rubbing, washing and light, were also studied. The surfaces of untreated and plasma-treated polyester fabrics were analysed by SEM to compare the morphological changes. Surface roughness and cracks were indicated after the plasma pretreatment. The results indicated that plasma treatment could improve the printability of polyester fabric compared with untreated samples, with enhanced the adhesion and penetration of printing paste to the surface. The air permeability of printed fabrics has decreased, while the angle of crease recovery has increased. The fastness properties of printed samples were found suitable to very good.

A kelp‐inspired polyester fabric surface of UV grafted hydrogel for drag reduction

AbstractThe resorcinol diglycidyl acrylate (RDA) is firmly introduced to the surface of polyester (PET) fibers by a simple dip‐rolling and baking method, and a free radical polymerization reaction is initiated on the surface of PET fabrics under ultraviolet light (UV) light to obtain three hydrogel layers with different structure, including polyacrylamide (PAAM), polyacrylic acid (PAAC) and poly‐N‐isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAM). It is shown that the pretreatment‐UV grafting method can be used to obtain hydrogel layers with porous structure on the surface of PET fabric, and all three hydrogel layers have better frictional properties than kelp. Among them, the friction coefficient of PET‐PAAM surface can reach 0.02, which is 17% of the friction coefficient of kelp surface and 83% lower than that of the untreated PET fabric surface, giving the PET fabric surface excellent interfacial drag reduction characteristics. It can be applied to the surface of underwater activity equipment as well as ships to improve moving efficiency and reduce energy consumption.

Effectiveness of a long-lasting insecticide treatment kit (ICON\xae Maxx) for polyester nets over three years of household use: a WHO phase III trial in Tanzania

BackgroundICON® Maxx (Syngenta) is an insecticide treatment kit of pyrethroid and binding agent for long-lasting treatment of mosquito nets. Interim recommendation for use on nets was granted by the World Health Organization (WHO) after successful evaluation in experimental huts following multiple washes. A full WHO recommendation is contingent upon demonstration of continued bio-efficacy after 3 years of use.MethodsA household-randomized prospective study design was used to assess ICON Maxx-treated nets over 3 years in north-eastern Tanzania. Conventional treated nets (with lambda-cyhalothrin, but without binder) served as a positive control. At 6-monthly intervals, cross-sectional household surveys monitored net use and physical integrity, while cone and tunnel tests assessed insecticidal efficacy. Pyrethroid content was determined after 12 and 36 months. A parallel cohort of nets was monitored annually for evidence of net deterioration and attrition.ResultsAfter 12 months’ use, 97% of ICON Maxx-treated nets but only 67% of CTN passed the WHO efficacy threshold for insecticidal durability (> 80% mortality in cone or tunnel or 90% feeding inhibition in tunnel). After 24- and 36-months use, 67% and 26% of ICON Maxx treated nets met the cone criteria, respectively, and over 90% met the combined cone and tunnel criteria. Lambda-cyhalothrin content after 36 months was 17% (15.8 ± 4.3 mg/m2) of initial content. ICON Maxx nets were used year-round and washed approximately 4 times per year. In cross-sectional survey after 36 months the average number of holes was 20 and hole index was 740 cm2 per net. Cohort nets had fewer holes and smaller hole index than cross-sectional nets. However, only 15% (40/264) of cohort nets were not lost to follow-up or not worn out after 36 months.ConclusionsBecause more than 80% of nets met the WHO efficacy criteria after 36 months use, ICON Maxx was granted WHO full recommendation. Cross-sectional and cohort surveys were complementary and gave a fuller understanding of net durability. To improve net usage and retention, stronger incentives and health messaging should be introduced in WHO LLIN longitudinal trials. Untreated polyester nets may be made long-lastingly insecticidal in Africa through simple household treatment using ICON Maxx pyrethroid-binder kits.

Optimization of Lipase Production by Response Surface Methodology and Its Application for Efficient Biodegradation of Polyester vylon-200

Lipase-mediated polymer degradation is a robust alternative approach to conventional methods due to biocompatibility and mild conditions. In the present study, response surface methodology was applied to improve the production of lipase from Penicillium fellutanum by optimization of various process parameters. Under the optimized bioprocess conditions of pH 5.0, incubation time 24 h, temperature 35 °C, and lactose as an additional carbon source in 40 experimental runs, the maximum lipase titer of 1038.86 U/gds was achieved, 2.05-fold higher than the lipase yield in basal medium. All the linear and interactive coefficients (except linear carbon source) were found significant by analysis of variance. The as-synthesized cell-free lipase extract was partially purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and dialysis (2.06-folds, 272.37 U/mg proteins) and applied to the degradation of polyester vylon 200. The biocatalytic action of the enzyme results in an 81% weight loss of PV-200 after 7 days of incubation at pH 7.5 and 35 °C. Different characterization techniques, i.e., SEM, FT-IR, and DSC corroborated the lipase-catalyzed degradation of PV-200. The untreated polyester film had a smooth surface, while after enzymatic treatment, deformities and various micron-sized holes and cracks appeared on the film surface. In conclusion, the outcomes of study display a high potential of lipase as green and ecofriendly biocatalyst for efficient degradation and depolymerization of polyester for environmental safety.

Morphology and mechanical properties of coconut shell powder-filled untreated cornhusk fibre-unsaturated polyester composites

The development of the best properties of corn husk fibre (CHF) as a reinforcing material from coconut shell powder–polyester composite is an extremely interesting subject. This research focuses on characterising the mechanical properties and morphology of polyester/coconut shell powder composites filled with CHF. The variations of coconut shell powder (CSP) contents are 5% and 10%, and the corn husk fibre contents are 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% (vol%). The mixture is blended and poured into a composite mould using the hot press technique. The tensile and flexural strengths of the mixture were investigated, and the fracture surface of the composite was also analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The tensile strength of polyester/5 vol % CSP decreased dramatically from 22.459 MPa to 16.955 MPa. However, flexural strength increased from 24.233 MPa to 45.844 MPa when the corn husk fibre (CHF) content increased. Further, all polyester–10% of CSP composites have higher flexural strength values than the polyester–5% of CSP counterparts. Conversely, the tensile strength properties decrease at 10%–15% CHF content and then increase at 20%–30% CHF contents. This outcome is due to the tighter and stronger interfacial bonding between CHF–CSP–polyester and the decreasing number of fibres–pull-outs. Fractured morphology with SEM shows poor interfacial bonding between CHF–CSP–polyester and fibre pullout on composites.

Effect of natural oil content and viscosity on the adhesion of nitrile rubber to polyester fabric

Four types of natural oils varied in the viscosity were added to a nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) loaded with three bonding systems (HRH) consisting of hexamethylenetetramine (HMT), resorcinol and hydrated silica. Rubber dough was spread on the untreated polyester fabric sheet. The peel strength was used to measure the adhesion strength between the fabric and the rubber. The rubber-proofed fabric was subjected to ozone irradiation at different doses (250, 500 and 1000 ppb). The dielectric constant, volume resistivity and water permeability of the various rubber-coated fabrics were investigated. The addition of the natural oils improved the physical and mechanical properties of the rubber-coated fabric. The suggested mechanism of oil between NBR and polyester fabric was studied.

The influence of ink viscosity, water and fabric construction on the quality of ink‐jet printed polyester

AbstractThis paper is concerned with the quality of lines and disperse ink in printing patterns on different untreated polyester fabric constructions. The lines running in the weft and warp directions were printed on polyester fabric constructions, and printing accuracy was assessed. Ink spreading is one of the important factors that influences the ink distribution. Thus, in order to acquire satisfactory ink‐jet printing products, it is essential to control the spreading of ink on the polyester fabric. To meet these conditions, a series of chemicals (disperse dye 5.01 wt%, PVP‐K30 0‐2 wt%, DEG 5‐20 wt%, water 64.17‐79.17 wt%, etc) with different mass fractions was used to prepare disperse ink. The jetting behaviour of ink was related to its surface tension and viscosity, which was characterised by an automatic surface tensiometer and rotational viscometer. Line profile was used to evaluate the printing effect. Low field nuclear magnetic resonance and three‐dimensional super depth digital microscopy were used to reveal the relationships between the state of water, ink diffusion behaviour and printing sharpness. The results showed that increasing ink viscosity or decreasing free water content is advantageous to improve the sharpness of the printing pattern. The effects of fabric structural parameters on line image quality are discussed. The printing quality was closely related to the weight and structure of fabric. The heavy weight fabrics had accurate print pattern sharpness. The fastness test results showed that the ink printing pattern had good colour fastness.

Validity of Washburn’s equation in sericin treated polyester fabric

Application of sericin to polyester and cotton fabrics will bring about a number of advantages in that the materials become hydrophilic and are capable of imparting antimicrobial effect. Also, the materials can be dyed using reactive dyes. A considerable amount of work has been carried out on the application of sericin to polyester and cotton fabrics. Wickability of treated fabrics has been studied and it was demonstrated that there was an improvement. A detailed analysis of study is warranted on wickability as the work done on it was scant. It is necessary to validate Washburn’s equation which constitutes an important component of kinetics of wicking in this paper. The validity of Washburn’s equation for a set of data on wickability of sericin treated polyester fabrics is studied. Untreated polyester fabric and treated with caustic soda and plasma followed by sericin treatment using DMDHEU and Glutaraldehyde were taken for wicking studies. Two models were used. From the slopes it is found that Washburn’s equation is followed.