Advanced Materials Research Vol. 441

Abstract: Conventional methods of dyeing cotton with direct and fiber reactive dyes involve large amounts of water and salt and generate significant amounts of highly colored effluent that is difficult to treat in waste water treatment facilities. Cationization of cotton with 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride allows dyeing with direct and fiber reactive dyes with less water and energy usage as well as the eliminating the need for salt. This paper summarizes work to date on the benefits of using cationized cotton.

Abstract: Crosslinking of cotton with polycarboxylic acid, applied with catalysts based on phosphorus-containing inorganic acids, produces fabrics with excellent smooth-drying properties, which release no formaldehyde at any stage of preparation or on storage. If polycarboxylic acid has three or more carboxylic acid groups, the formation of such an anhydride can occur more than once and crosslinking of the cellulose molecule occurs. In our research work the use of an unsaturated bifunctional acid (maleic acid) and a phosphorus-containing inorganic compound (sodium hydroxyphosphinite) to obtain durable press finishing properties and flame retardant properties was studied.

Abstract: The use of protease in the raw wool scouring process was investigated. Both native protease and an enlarged protease prepared by chemical modification were used. It was demonstrated that enzymatic treatment with protease in the scouring process (bio-scouring) can achieve cleaning of the fibre and modification of the cuticle layer leading to shrink-resistance. A reduction of lipid content was found and led to an improvement in dyeability of the fibre.

Abstract: The chemical resistance of Poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) was tested in both organic and inorganic solvents including Chloroform, DMSO, Xylene, THF, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride. PEDOT was synthesized via the vapor-phase polymerization and coated on PET/cotton, cotton and polyester textile substrates. Electrical resistances of the PEDOT were measured both before and after chemical treatments. The morphological changes after treatments were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The PEDOT coated fabrics demonstrated excellent chemical-resistant property since its electrical resistance maintained on the order of magnitude of 100 ohm after treatment in almost all the solvents except NaOH with which a remarkable increasing of electrical resistance occurred due to disappearing PEDOT from the substrate indicating its potential to be a good solvent for PEDOT.

Abstract: nkjet printing technology can produce beautiful images not only on plain paper, but also on various kinds of printing media including a piece of cloth. Some Japanese companies have already stepped into the textile inkjet printer market, but making a profit is not easy so long as we look upon the inkjet printing technology as an alternative means of textile dyeing. Cost reduction is necessary as a whole for the inkjet printing systems to come into wide use in the textile dyeing industry. This paper describes current textile inkjet printing technology.

Abstract: Novel colouring techniques by using biobased materials were studied. The orange or reddish orange colourant is obtained from (+)-catechin by an enzymatic reaction using tyrosinase. Human hair can be dyed orange or reddish orange by the colourant. The colourant does not cause reactions on skin such as erythema or oedema. The fastness to washing or light for hair dyed by it is high enough. The wool fabrics can be dyed by the treatment with (+)-catechin and the irradiation with ultraviolet light. The fastness to washing for the dyed wool is high enough. Woods are coloured with biobased materials by plasma radiation. The colours are very fast to rubbing.

Abstract: Although wool is a natural renewable fibre with a relatively low environmental impact for its production, a number of functional finishes are commonly applied to improve wool’s performance in knitted or woven garments or carpet. These finishes include those to improve fabric shrink-, flame- and insect -resistance, photo-stability and a number of treatments to improve wool carpet performance. The paper describes currently used treatments, their environmental problems and considers new, more environmentally -friendly alternatives under development.

Abstract: In this paper, cashmere knitwear is dyed at a lower temperature compared to conventional dyeing, and its physical and mechanical properties are analyzed and compared. The results show that cashmere knitwear dyed at low temperature can improve cashmere knitwear quality. It is also shown that cashmere knitwear dyed at low temperature can have improved physical and mechanical properties, especially its strength, abrasion resistance and pilling resistance.

Abstract: With the increase in the environmental protection consciousness of people, attention has focused on plasma technology because of its efficiency and environmentally friendliness. In order to improve the dyeing behavior of wool fabrics, surface modification of wool fabrics was carried out using an atmospheric pressure (argon) low temperature plasma treatment (LTP). Morphology and chemical composition analyses of the treated wool fiber surface were carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effect on the surface properties of wool fabrics treated for different times was evaluated. The results showed that the coloration of wool fabric is improved with an argon atmospheric pressure low temperature plasma (LTP) treatment but the fabric has a lower color fastness to washing and rubbing. This results from the formation of sulfonic groups and the increase in nitrogen content attributed to more severe etching and oxidization on the surface of wool fibers.