Advanced Materials Research
ISSN: 1662-8985, Vol. 331, pp 310-313
doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.331.310
© 2011 Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland
Online: 2011-09-02
Research of wool-like modification of polyester with Sodium alginate
Min Liu1,a, Junying Tian2,Meiyan Liu2
1
Chifeng Institute of Industry Technology , Chifeng, 024000,China
2
Textile institute, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300160, China
a
[email protected]
Key Words: Sodium alginate, Alkali deweighting, Polyester, Wool-like
Abstract. This paper mainly discusses the influence of sodium alginate to polyester fabric in the
process of wool-like. Polyester is pre-treated by sodium alginate solution firstly, and then modified
by caustic soda, at last, the sample is steamed in the saturated vapor. Wool-like effect changes along
with the concentration of sodium alginate and caustic soda, steaming time are analyzed. The results
show that wettability, warmth retention and fullness of wool-like fabric are improved obviously. So
treated with sodium alginate and then caustic soda can give polyester fabric ideal wool-like effect.
Introduction
Wool fabric has been favored by people because of it’s comfortable handle and excellent elasticity.
But wool raw materials can not meet the demand of textile industry, wool fiber production is
influenced by many factors such as geographic conditions. However, development of synthetic fiber
industry provides opportunities for wool-like products.
Polyester is impregnated into sodium alginate paste, slapped with glass rod to make sodium
alginate paste distribute unevenly，and then treated with caustic soda solution, steamed with
saturated steam. The purpose is to form uneven groove on the surface of polyester fiber, to imitate
scale structure of wool fiber. On the other hand, sodium alginate is a polymer with high hydrophilic,
polyester fabric can feel smooth, soft, warmth to achieve wool-like effect when treated by sodium
alginate。
Materials and test
Polyester plain fabric. Sodium alginate produced by Shanghai cognis chemical Co., LTD
Warmth retention test
Warmth retention is tested according to GB/T11048-89《Testing method for warmth retention
property》with ASTM plate-type fabric warm apparatus.
Fabric style test
KES-FB is used to test wool-like and common polyester fabric. Fabric size is 150mm×150mm，the
same specimen test 3 times the average check, to achieve WOMEN’S THIN KN-201-MDY
fullness.
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Advanced Materials Research Vol. 331
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Results and Discussion
The relation of warmth retention, full sensitivity of wool-like fabric to the concentration of
Sodium alginate
Fig.1 The relation of warmth retention of fabric
to the concentration of sadium alginate
Fig.2 The relation of fullness to the
concentration of sadium alginate
The warmth retention of fabric related to air content in fabric, the looser the fabric is, the better the
warmth retention is. The fiber surface became more coarser after treated with sodium alginate and
caustic soda，the compactness of yarns reduced, air content in fabric increased，so the warmth
retention increased also.
The fullness sensitivity of fabric improved when the concentration of sodium alginate increases.
The results show that sodium alginate pretreatment can influence fabric surface coarse and fullness.
Fabric fullness gets maximum value when the concentration of sodium alginate is 2g/L.
The relation of warmth retention, full sensitivity of wool-like fabric to the concentration of
caustic soda
Fig.3 The relation of warmth retention
to the concentration of caustic soda
Fig.4The relation of fullness to the
concentration of caustic soda
Fig.3 and Fig.4 show that warmth and full sensitivity of wool-like fabric improved as the
concentration of caustic soda go up, because there are more groove on the surface of fiber, fabric
became more loose and contain more air. Warmth retention achieves the maximum value when the
concentration of caustic soda get 15g/L.
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Advances in Textile Engineering
The relation of warmth retention, full sensitivity of wool-like fabric to the steaming time
Fig5. The relation of warmth to steaming time
Fig5. The relation of warmth to steaming time
Fig5. The relation of warmth to steaming time
Fig6. The relation of fullness to steaming time
Fig5 shows that warmth retention of wool-like fabric increased as the steaming time prolong，if
steaming time exceeds 3min, warmth retention will remain constant. Fig6 shows that the influence
of steaming time on fullness sensitivity of wool-like fabric is insignificant. Steaming time can
determined as 3min.
Wrinkle recovery angle, stiffness, drape and smooth sensitivity of wool-like polyester fabric
Tab.1 compared wrinkle recovery angle, stiffness, drape and smooth sensitivity of treated polyester
with common polyester fabric. Data in tab.1 show that wool-like process make wrinkle recovery
angle, drape and smooth degree of polyester fabric increase, and stiffness decrease, so wrinkle
resistance, drape improved and fabric feels soft and smooth.
Tab.1 Performance of wool-like and common polyester fabric
Wrinkle recovery angle（°）
Stiffness
Smooth
Fabric
Drape
warp
filling
Polyester fabric
144
140.2
5.89
3.62
4.05
Wool-like fabric
153.7
144.5
5.31
5.43
4.18
Advanced Materials Research Vol. 331
313
Color fastness and K/S
Fabric
Polyester fabric
Wool-like fabric
Tab.2 Color fastness and K/S
Crocking color fastness
Water washing
Staining
Dry
Wet
Fade
cotton Polyester
4～5
4～5
4～5
4～5
4～5
5
5
4～5
4～5
4～5
K/S
20.81
17.78
Compare to common polyester fabric, K/S of wool-like fabric decreased obviously dyeing under the
same conditions. The reason of apparent color of wool-like fabric being pale is larger surface area
of wool-like fabric, when incident light irradiates wool-like fabric, diffuse reflection light escalates
and K/S reduces. Color fastness in tab.2 shows that color fastness to crocking of wool-like fabric is
superior to common polyester fabric, because fiber surface of wool-like fabric are found to exist
many small grooves, fabric surface area is increased. it is beneficial for dyes adsorbing onto fibers
and diffusing into fibers，so color fastness to crocking of wool-like fabric improved.
Conclusions
By a series of experiments, optimal process conditions are sodium alginate concentration 12g/L,
NaOH concentration 15g/L，steaming time7min. Common polyester fabric treated under above
conditions can achieves superior performance include hydrophilic, warmth retention, full sensitivity
and so on. Dyeing properties of wool-like fabric improved also.
References
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Advances in Textile Engineering
10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.331
Research of Wool-Like Modification of Polyester with Sodium Alginate
10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.331.310
DOI References
[5] Matsudaira Mitsuo, Matsui Masao, Changes in the Mechanical Properties and Fabric Handle of Polyesterfibre Fabrics Through the Finishing Stages[J], Journal of the Textile Institute, 1992, 83(1): 144-155.
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