Effect of various softeners on the performance of polyester-viscose ring and air-jet spun yarn fabrics

Abstract

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:="" "times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-theme-font:="" minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;="" mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">The effects of various softeners, viz. cellulase enzyme, caustic soda, a combination of cellulase enzyme and caustic soda, and non-ionic softener on the performance of twill fabrics made from polyester-viscose ring and air-jet spun yarns have been investigated in terms of flexural rigidity, tensile strength and crease recovery. The influence of pick density on the above properties has also been studied. It is observed that crease recovery and flexural rigidity improve considerably for the fabrics treated with cellulase enzyme followed by caustic soda, reasonably for the fabrics treated individually with the cellulase enzyme and caustic soda and marginally for the fabrics treated with non-ionic softener. On the other hand, the fabric strength is affected in all the above cases to a small extent. The effect of chemical treatment is greater on the mechanical properties of air-jet spun yarn fabrics. With varying pick density, the response of air-jet yarn fabrics to chemical agents is different than that of ring yarn fabrics. Improvement increase recovery and flexural rigidity is greater for air-jet yarn fabrics at the cost of reduced tensile strength.</span>