Softener | Softening

# Softening:
The treatments which make the fabric more flexible and pliable impart the impression of softness. Softness generally comes from making the fibre themselves more flexible and decreasing inter fibre friction. Therefore softening agents plasticize fibers and lubricate the surface of fibers which can produce softness. Softness of fabric can be enhanced either by mechanical or chemical treatment.

* Characteristic of softening:
(i) The hand imparted and the properties of a softener depend on the physical state of softener, its chemical structure and behavior or the fabric.
(ii) Low viscosity liquid softener produces a flexible, silky hand.
(iii) Solid softeners provide, lubrication but less pliable
(iv) Softeners are sometimes implicated in quality and environmental problems.
(v) Some softeners adversely affect light-fastness and rubbing fastness.

# Types of softeners:
(1) An-ionic softener
(2) Cationic softener
(3) Non-ionic softener
(4) Amphoteric softener
(5) Others (Silicone, polyethylene emulsion)

Water repellent finishing

• Make the surface energy of a fabric such that a substance does not spread on the fabric and makes it resistant to water.
• Repellent finishes modify the surface of fibre but do not block the inter stitches. So the fabric remains porous to air and water vapor.

Wrinkle free finishing | Anti crease finishing

Causes of crease formation: Wrinkle occurs when the fabric is severely bent, H-bond between the molecular chains in the amorphous region of the fibre breaks allowing the chains to slip past one another. The bonds reform in new places and hold creases the fibre and fabric.

Principle of anti-crease finishing:

Resist to creasing is imparted to cellulosic fibers by resisting the slippage of molecular chains. Chair slippage can be restricted by adding chemical cross links between the molecular chains in amorphous resigns of the fibre or by deposition of polymeric materials in the amorphous regions.

Cell ^{– oH} + x – Reactant – X + HO – Cell ® Cell – O – Reactant – O – Cell + 2 Hx

Cross – linking of Cellulose is done at high temperature or dry fabric to impart crease resistance and dimensional stability to the fabric.

What is mercerizing

    Mercerizing is the process of subjecting color fibers to the action of a fairly concentrated solution of a strong base (sodium hydroxide, 50-70 degree T_W and 18⁰c temp) So as to produce great swelling with resultant changes in fine structure, dimension, morphology and mechanical properties.

Factors influence the finishing process | Classification of finishes

 Factors influence the finishing process:

(1)  The type of fiber and its arrangement in yarn and fabric.

(2)  The physical properties of fibre (such as swelling properties/ capacity, frictional properties, and state of fibre (dry/ wet)

(3)  The receptivity of the textile materials for absorbing various finishing preparation.

(4)  The susceptibility of the textile materials to chemical modification.

 Classification of finishes:

Textile finishes are classified in to several ways. The most common classification is:

(a)     Aesthetic finishes (which modify the appearance and or hand/ drape of fabrics.

(b)     Functional finishes (which improves the performance properties of fabrics.