Effects of Silicone Softeners and Silane Coupling Agents on the Performance Properties of Cotton Fabrics

Abstract

We have investigated the effects of reactive and organofunctional silicone softeners and silane coupling agents on the performance properties of cotton fabrics. The silicone softeners were aminofunctional polydimethylsiloxane, reactive polydimethylsiloxane of high viscosity, and hydroxy-end-blocked reactive polydimethylsiloxane of low vis cosity. A cationic softener, distearyldimethylammonium chloride, was also used for comparison. Methyltrimethoxysilane, glycidoxy (epoxy) propyltrimethoxysilane, vi nyltriethoxysilane, and aminoethylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane were the coupling agents. Cotton fabric samples were treated with a pad-dry-cure process from an aqueous bath containing the softener and other additives. The results indicate that silicone softeners provide better durable press performance with a higher retention of me chanical properties and durability compared with the cationic softener. In addition, the type of reactive group, the viscosity, and the adsorption mechanism of the softener, as well as treatment conditions such as curing temperature, are crucial factors affecting the performance properties of the treated fabrics. Furthermore, the study of the silane coupling agent revealed that it plays an important role in improving the durability and performance of silicone softeners, especially the linear reactive type. The results also suggest that improvements in wrinkle recovery are mainly due to the formation of an elastic silicone polymer network, which entrapps fibers within its matrix, thus improving the fabric's ability to recover from deformation.

Macro‐ and Microemulsion Silicone Softeners on Polyester Fibers: Evaluation of Different Physical Properties

“…In the case of microemulsions, elastic b Microemulsion silicone particles penetrated into the yarn silicone polymeric chains form in the inner parts of the yarn, thus improving the fabric's ability to recover from deformation. As the results show, microemulsion silicones are more effective for crease resistance of fibers compared to macroemulsions [19,20]. This is shown by the values obtained from bending length evaluation.…”

“…Some research papers have been published on different effects of silicones on textile fibers but few of them have been reported on the effects of silicone particle size on different properties of fibers [3][4][5][17][18][19][20][21].…”

“…Silicones can also reduce fiber friction and hydrophilicity [4]. Other authors indicated that reactive and organofunctional silicone softeners are capable of reacting with fiber sites through cross linking and strong covalent bonding to produce permanent effects and wrinkle recovery [5,[18][19][20]. Tzanov et al [21] suggested that quality control of silicone softeners treated fabrics can be carried out using the Kawabata evaluation system.…”

Sol-Gel Applications in Textile Finishing Processes

“…Since dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU), which was used commonly in conventional antiwrinkle finishing treatments, releases free formaldehyde that is harmful to human health and environment and causes negative effects due to the acidic catalysts on tensile properties and whiteness index of textile materials, new alternative crosslinking agents and methods have been recently researched. By means of sol-gel technology, it is possible to enable antiwrinkle effect herewith good tensile and whiteness properties by the use of silane coupling agents [74,75] like glycidoxy propyltrimethoxysilane as epoxy silanes, vinyltrimethoxysilane as vinyl silanes [76,77], and tetraethoxysilane that do not release formaldehyde [78][79][80].…”

Application of polyurethane/citric acid/silicone softener composite on cotton/polyester knitted fabric producing durable soft and smooth surface

“…However, these softeners adhere to the fiber surface usually through a weak electrical attraction without any chemical bonds, causing poor washing durability. On the other hand, durable silicone‐based fabric softeners render additional performance properties to cotton fabric such as improved wrinkle recovery and crease resistance and improved wear comfort with a smooth handle 2, 12, 13…”