Options for enhancing performance properties of easy-care finished cellulose/wool blended fabrics

Abstract

This research work is an endeavor to enhance the performance properties of easy-care finished cellulose/wool, 70/30, blends. In this study, cotton/wool and viscose/wool blended fabrics were finished in the presence of certain anionic, cationic, polyol, or softening agents independently. The finished fabric properties, i.e., nitrogen and/or carboxyl contents, resiliency, hydrophilicity, dyeability with proper class of dyestuff (anionic or basic), as well as oil stain release rating were evaluated to determine the optimal finishing formulations for attaining better performance properties. For a given set of finishing formulations and conditions, it was observed that (1) inclusion of any of the anionic additives, i.e., citric acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, and aspartic acid, or polyol additives, i.e., beta-cyclodextrin, PEG-600, and CMC-30, in the finishing formulation brings about an improvement in the aforementioned properties; (2) the extent of improvement is governed by both the nature of the additives and the substrate components; (3) the enhancement in fabric properties by adding any of the nitrogenous additives to the finishing bath follows the descending order: Chitosan(R) Quat(R)-188choline chloridetriethanolamine hydrochloride; and (4) addition of any of the softeners to the finishing bath results in an improvement in nitrogen content and fabric resiliency, and follows the decreasing order: Siligen(R) WW > Syltrit(R)30 > Leomin NI-ET > none, along with a decrease in finished fabric hydrophilicity.