Cutinase treatment of cotton fabrics

Our study proposes an enzymatic scouring method for cotton fabrics using the enzyme cutinase. We established cutinase treatment conditions for cotton fabrics from their relative activity at different pH levels, temperatures, enzyme concentrations, and treatment times. Weight loss, moisture regain, K/S value, tensile strength, and SEM micrographs of cotton fabrics were analyzed. We determined the optimum cutinase treatment conditions to be as follows: pH of 9.0, temperature of 50°C, cutinase concentration of 100 %, and a treatment duration time of 60 min. We discovered that this cutinase treatment hydrolyzed the cuticle of cotton fabrics. The cutinase treatment did not decrease the moisture regain and the K/S value. The optimum concentrations of Triton X-100 and calcium chloride, which were used as auxiliaries for cutinase treatment, were found to be 0.5 % (v/v) and 70 mM, respectively. Some cracks were observed on the surface of the cotton fibers; however, the tensile strength did not decrease.     

Improving thermal conductivity of cotton fabrics using composite coatings containing graphene, multiwall carbon nanotube or boron nitride fine particles

Graphene, multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and fine boron nitride (BN) particles were separately applied with a resin onto a cotton fabric, and the effect of the thin composite coatings on the thermal conductive property, air permeability, wettability and color appearance of the cotton fabric was examined. The existence of the fillers within the coating layer increased the thermal conductivity of the coated cotton fabric. At the same coating content, the increase in fabric thermal conductivity was in the order of graphene > BN > MWCNT, ranging from 132 % to 842 % (based on pure cotton fabric). The coating led to 73 %, 69 % and 64 % reduction in air permeability when it respectively contained 50.0 wt% graphene, BN and MWCNTs. The graphene and MWCNT treated fabrics had a black appearance, but the coating had almost no influence on the fabric hydrophilicity. The BN coating made cotton fabric surface hydrophobic, with little change in fabric color.     

The combining process for bio-preparation of starch-sized cotton fabrics at high temperature

α-amylase and pectinase showed good compatibility. A desizing ratio of 95.4 %, a pectin removal rate of 80.4 % and a capillary effect height of 7.1 cm for cotton fabrics treated with α-amylase and pectinase were obtained by a one-bath for bio-desizing and bio-scouring process under the condition of 90 °C for 30 min. After the treatment of the nonionic surfactant Peregal O at 100 °C for 20 min, these important properties for the cotton fabrics were further improved to 98.7 %, 96.8 %, and 18.4 cm separately. The capillary effect height of desized cotton fabrics was improved from 0.2 cm to 6.4 cm by the removal of waxes because its hydrophobic nature of the cotton fabrics. The whole time for this new combining process with high temperature treatment was significantly shortened and it only took about 55 minutes.     

Dyeing and DP treatment of sol-gel pre-treated cotton fabrics

Cotton samples were pre-treated with various sol solutions containing different alkoxysilanes (TEOS, GPTMS, APTES, and TESP-SA). The as-prepared cotton samples were dyed with 2 % owf Red and 4 % owf Blue. Furthermore, dyed cotton samples were after-treated with the alkoxysilanes. The alkoxysilane were also incorporated into the dyeing bath. The as- prepared cotton samples were subjected to a treatment with the non-formaldehyde durable press finishing agent BTCA in conjunction with the catalyst SHP. The textile materials were evaluated with respect to the colorimetric data (L*, a*, b*, ΔE*) and the color strength expressed in terms of K/S values. Tensile strength and dry crease recovery angles of the durable pressfinished samples were measured. The findings indicate that APTES and TESP-SA exert a significant influence on the color properties.     

Antibacterial finishing of cotton fabrics using biologically active natural compounds

The paper discusses a method to functionalize cotton fabrics using biologically active natural compounds to achieve the antibacterial characteristics required for medical application. The biologically active natural compounds include propolis, beeswax, and chitosan. Three 100 % cotton knitted fabrics with different degrees of compactness were impregnated in the emulsions containing the active ingredients and fabric variant G3 with the highest degree of impregnation was considered for the evaluation of the antibacterial properties and comfort characteristics. The results show that the treated cotton fabric had high antibacterial activity against both gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus β haemolytic, and gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The presence of the biologically active natural compounds on the cotton substrates modified the surface of the textile fibers as seen in the SEM images. The treatment also improved fabric comfort properties, the cotton substrates became less air permissive and more hygroscopic after the treatment. The experimental results indicated that propolis, beeswax and chitosan can be applied as an emulsion to functionalize cotton textile materials. The antibacterial performance of the functionalized fabrics suggested that the cotton fabrics treated with those biologically active natural compounds have the potentials to be used in medical fields.     

Evaluation of aroma functionality imparted on natural indigo-dyed cotton fabrics

Long-term efficacy of aroma microcapsules on natural indigo-dyed cotton fabric was evaluated by objective and subjective tests. The fixation of aroma microcapsules was carried out by pad-dry-cure process on dyed cotton fabric. Mercerized cotton fabric was dyed with natural indigo obtained from Polygonum tintorium (via the modified Niram method) and subsequently padded with melamine-formaldehyde microcapsules containing aroma essential oil (natural source of a Chinese arborvitae 20-25 %). Softener was applied in the same (one-step) or sequential (two-step) padding bath. We confirmed that microcapsules were fixed on cotton fibers by SEM analysis. The addition of softener was not much effective for the fabric performances on softness or air permeability. All the colorfastness ratings were above 4/5 and the color difference was within the acceptable range of 1.62-2.08. The efficacy of fabric samples stored for 2 years was evaluated using the GC/MS-headspace technique and the samples stored for 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 years were also evaluated in terms of aroma release by the human perception test. Bornyl acetate was confirmed as the main component of essential oil, which was continuously released by the microcapsule-treated fabric (D/MC) during storage for more than 2 years. In durability and human perception tests, the microcapsules on the cotton fabric were stable to laundering, rubbing, ironing, and light.     

Properties of anti-UV-finished cotton fabrics cured by blue light irradiation

To decrease the pollution discharge and energy consumption resulting from textile finishing using the conventional pad-dry-cure process, a blue light-curable digital finishing for textile was innovatively proposed. Based on the mechanism of blue light curing technique, a combination of the blue light curing process and anti-UV finishing was established in this study. A blue light-curable anti-UV finishing solution containing oligomers, monomers, photoinitiators, and anti-UV agents was padded onto the surface of the cotton fabrics, and then cured to form a tough film under blue light irradiation. The ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) value of the finished cotton fabrics was 50, the top level of international standards, demonstrating excellent UV resistance. The finished cotton fabrics also showed good rubbing and washing durability, and acceptable handle. The integration of an anti-UV finishing with the blue light curing technique presents some unique advantages in terms of environmental protection and application potential.     

Water repellent treatment of cotton fabrics by electron beam irradiation

In this study, traditional dip-pad-cure (DPC) process and electron beam (EB) irradiation were used to graft cotton fabrics with fluorine containing chemical, 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl acrylate (PFA). The grafted cotton fabrics were characterized by FT-IR and SEM. The water repellent properties were measured by contact angle, hydrostatic pressure, and spry test. It was found that there was no significant difference between the grafted cotton fabrics with DPC and EB methods, and the treated fabrics showed good water-resistant properties. The grafted cotton fabrics also showed good washing stability. By measuring the bending rigidity and bending hysteresis, it was found that the cotton fabrics grafted with PFA became softer than untreated samples.     

The influence of corona discharge treatment on the properties of cotton and polyester-cotton knitted fabrics

In this study, the effect of corona discharge treatment on the physical and mechanical properties of bleached cotton and polyester-cotton fabrics were investigated. For this purpose, the samples were treated by corona discharge at two levels of voltage 5 and 10 kV, and at various duration times of plasma, ca. 1.4, 2.1 and 3.5 min. The corona discharge treatment was applied on the fabric samples before and after bleaching treatment. The results show that the corona influences on the surface morphology, breaking strength, air permeability, abrasion resistance, and pilling of cotton and polyester-cotton fabrics. Moreover, the levels of voltage and duration of plasma have a different effect on the properties of fabrics.     

The comparison of phosphorus-nitrogen and sulfur-phosphorus-nitrogen on the anti-flammability and thermal degradation of cotton fabrics

Phosphorus-nitrogen (P-N) or sulfur (S) containing compounds are well known for their effectiveness as flame retardant additives for many polymeric systems. When either phosphorus or nitrogen is combined with sulfur, the new systems prove to be successful combinations. This research aims to learn the impact of two systems, P-N and S-P-N, on the flammability and thermal properties of cotton fabrics. The process includes the synthesis of two compounds, tetraethyl piperazine-1,4-diyldiphosphonate (TEPP) and O,O,O',O'-tetramethyl piperazine-1,4-diyldiphosphonothioate (TMPT), and the evaluation of flammability, thermal degradation, and surface morphology of the treated fabrics. Both compounds exhibit similar burning behavior and show improved flame retardancy and thermal properties when used on various cotton fabrics. Some unique flame retardant properties for the two compounds are also disclosed.     

Effect of pigment particle character on dyeing performance of cotton fabrics

The cotton fabrics were dyed by exhaust method using the pigment dispersions as colorant, and meanwhile the effects of particle character on dyeing performance were further investigated. The results showed that the larger zeta potentials, the higher K/S value, pigment uptakes, rubbing and washing fastness of the dyed cotton fabrics were. Adsorption isotherms were belonging to Langmuir type when zeta potentials were about 0.46 mV and 31.39 mV respectively. The cotton fabrics that dyed by the pigment dispersions with small particles had high K/S value, rubbing and washing fastness. The chemical structure of pigment had little influence on pigment uptakes, and all kind of pigment dispersions reach to 98 % uptakes after 30 min but exhibit various uptake rates at initial stage.     

A new catalyst for glyoxal durable press finish of cotton fabrics

Aluminum ammonium sulfate was used as a new catalyst for glyoxal to minimize the decrease of physical properties of durable press cotton fabrics, and the optimum treatment conditions such as the concentration of glyoxal, molar ratio of catalyst to glyoxal, curing temperature and time were investigated. The retention of tensile strength and the whiteness of fabrics treated with glyoxal/aluminum ammonium sulfate was increased as much as to the degree of that obtained with glyoxal/aluminum sulfate while wrinkle recovery angles were as good as those of the latter. Some additives such as DEG, polyurethane and softener were used to improve the physical properties. When DEG or polyurethane was added to the glyoxal padding solution, wrinkle recovery angle (WRA) significantly increased while tensile strength and whiteness were not influenced. DEG added to the glyoxal padding solution increased the durability of DP finish. The softener added to the glyoxal padding solution increased the WRA of treated fabrics while it decreased the tensile strength slightly. The whiteness of fabrics treated with glyoxal alone increased while the WRA decreased slightly.     

Layer by layer assembly of nanosilver for high performance cotton fabrics

High performance cellulosic fabrics are of increasing attention as a wearable fabric with special functions. The current report deals with preparation of multifunctional cotton fabrics by using simple and facile layer by layer technique. Firstly, silver nitrate was reacted with carboxymethyl cellulose to prepare Ag nanoparticles-carboxymethyl cellulose composite. Multi-layers of the so-obtained composite were applied on the cotton fabrics using pad-dry-cure method. Ag nanoparticles were deposited with mean size of 18.2 nm onto cotton fabrics which served as a cross linker between carboxymethyl cellulose macromolecules and cotton macromolecular blocks. Application of composite multilayers brought new properties for the finished cloths such like coloration, ultraviolet resistance, electrical resistance and biocidal action. The ultraviolet transmission radiation was significantly reduced to 7-10 % after applying ten composite layers. Valuable antibacterial textiles which are required in different medical purposes could be successfully produced, as excellent antibacterial activities were achieved by using the reported method. The developed process can be easily adapted to the existing textile machinery, making it industrially viable to produce fabric’s versatility.     

Colorimetric properties and color sensibility of naturally colored organic cotton fabrics

This study was done to propose color conditions and fabrics that satisfy the particular sensibilities of consumers and producers through an analysis of color sensibility factors for an environmentally-friendly material, i.e., naturally colored organic cotton (NaCOC) fabrics. Toward that end, the colorimetric properties of eight NaCOC fabrics were measured, and the fabrics?? subjective color sensibilities were evaluated. In addition, based on the relationship between the colorimetric properties and subjective color sensibilities, the prediction models for color sensibilities of NaCOC fabrics were developed. According to the established models, hard-soft, cool-warm, deep-pale, vague-distinct, plain-showy, and subdued-vivid sensibilities can be predicted by some variables of colorimetric properties such as L*, a*, C*, and h. As another ultimate goal of this study, suitable NaCOC fabrics to evoke certain sensibilities were proposed by multidimensional scaling method. The proposed fabrics and color sensibility factors are believed to offer an important guideline for those who design clothing products made of NaCOC.     

Effect of glycols and catalysts on cotton fabrics treated with glyoxal

The optimum conditions for durable press treatment of cotton fabrics using glyoxal as a nonformaldehyde crosslinking agent were investigated. Crosslinking reaction was conducted in the presence of different catalysts such as aluminum sulfate, magnesium chloride, or magnesium chloride-citric acid mixture at various mole ratios of catalyst to glyoxal. Aluminum sulfate was proven the most effective one among those used. Glycol addition into a glyoxal padding bath increased the wrinkle recovery angle(WRA) and whiteness of treated fabrics. The optimum mole ratio of glycol to glyoxal was 1:1. Diethylene glycol addition produced better overall performance to the glyoxal-crosslinked fabric compared to ethylene glycol addition.     

Predicting the air permeability of polyester/cotton blended woven fabrics

The aim of this study was to model the air permeability of polyester cotton blended woven fabrics. Fabrics of varying construction parameters i.e. yarn linear densities and thread densities were selected and tested for air permeability, fabric areal density and fabric thickness. A total of 135 different fabric constructions were tested among which 117 were allocated for development of prediction model while the remaining were utilized for its validation. Four variables were selected as input parameters on basis of statistical analysis i.e. warp yarn linear density, weft yarn linear density, ends per 25 mm and picks per 25 mm. Response surface regression was applied on the collected data set in order to develop the prediction model of the selected variables. The model showed satisfactory predictability when applied on unseen data and yielded an absolute average error of 5.1 %. The developed model can be effectively used for prediction of air permeability of the woven fabrics.     

Mechanical properties and tactile sensation of naturally colored organic cotton fabrics

This study was carried out to investigate mechanical properties of naturally colored organic cotton (NaCOC) fabrics, to evaluate tactile sensory perceptions, and finally to identify the related mechanical parameters with the sensory perceptions. Two species, coyote-brown and green NaCOC fiber, commercially available, were selected and woven into plain and twill fabrics. Seventeen mechanical properties were measured by KES-FB system. Then, primary hand value (PHV) and total hand value (THV) were calculated by KN-203-LDY and KN-302-SUMMER, respectively. For sensory perception evaluation, 30 participants answered the questionnaire consisted of nine different bipolar adjectives dealing with tactile sensation using the semantic differential scale (SDS). As the result of mechanical properties, there were meaningful differences in shear, surface, compression properties, thickness, and weight of 4 NaCOC fabrics. For hand value, a coyotebrown twill fabric was evaluated as the most appropriate for lady’s summer dress applications. In sensory perception evaluation, meaningful differences of sensory perception were shown among 4 specimens except ‘fineness’ and ‘wetness’ perceptions. Prediction models for sensory perceptions of NaCOC fabrics were extracted by regression analysis in ‘softness’, ‘fineness’, ‘warmth’, ‘pliability’, ‘limpness’, ‘thinness’ and ‘wetness’ perceptions.     

Study on the aging and yellowing properties of sebum-soiled cotton fabrics

The accumulation and autoxidation of residual oily soil from human sebum is regarded as a major reason for the aging and yellowing of clothing and household textiles. In this study, the yellowing degree of cotton fabrics soiled with human sebum components and aged under various environmental conditions (various temperatures, humidities and light intensities etc.) were investigated. The representative sebum components including olive oil, squalene, oleic acid and cottonseed oil were selected and their chemical changes were studied by FTIR analysis. The results showed that, olive oil, squalene, oleic acid and cottonseed oil could caused more significant fabric-yellowing than other components in human sebum, and the yellowing degree could become higher with increasing temperatures, humidities and/or light intensities of aging environments. The chemical structures of olive oil, squalene and oleic acid changed remarkably after aging treatment. The aging products contained hydroxyl groups and carbonyl groups, and the conjugated C=O group was considered to be the chemical species leading to the yellowing of sebum-soiled fabrics.     

UV-grafting coloration of cotton and wool fabrics using bismethacrylated quinizarin dye

A novel bifunctional quinizarin dye possessing two photoactive methacrylate groups was synthesized by the reaction of quinizarin with methacryloyl chloride. The synthesized dye, a low substantive dye under the conventional dyeing process, can be photografted onto cotton and wool fabrics at room temperature without neutral salts, which makes it a novel coloration process of excellent environmental friendliness. The concurrent polymerization and grafting of the synthesized dye onto cotton or wool can be assisted by a photoinitiator and acrylic acid in the case of cotton grafting. Moreover, color yields of the grafted fabrics improved significantly with the photografting of the bifunctional dye. The bifunctional dye can be photopolymerized with the increase in UV energy to 25 J/cm² and the oligomeric dye has a degree of polymerization of 5 or more. Furthermore, the color fastness properties of the grafted fabrics were superior to those of the dyed fabrics via exhaustion.     

Selection of yarn for the predefined tensile strength of cotton woven fabrics

In order to meet the required strength of a fabric, selection of yarn is difficult because tensile strength of woven fabric depends upon a number of factors. Still, the manufacturers have to use hit and trial method in order to select the yarn for the required tensile strength of fabric. This study was carried out to develop regression equations for the prediction of yarn tensile strength suitable for the predefined strength of cotton woven fabrics. These equations were developed by using empirical data obtained from two hundred and thirty four fabric samples prepared under a systematic plan with different constructions. Prediction proficiency and precision of these regression equations were evaluated by correlation analysis of the predicted and actual warp and weft yarn strength values of another set of thirty six fabric samples. The results show a very strong prediction precision of the equations.