Mechanisms of Soil Release

Abstract

The detergency mechanisms for oily (liquid) soils and particulate soils are different. The functioning of a soil-release finish depends therefore on several of its properties. Oily-soil detergency involves diffusion of water to the soil-fiber interface and roll-up of soil. Other mechanisms (solubilization, emulsification, soil penetration, etc.) usually do not determine the rate of soil removal. Soil-release agents increase the hydrophilicity of the fiber surface and enhance diffusion of water and hydration of the soil-fiber interface.Detergency of particulate soil is not dominated by the hydrophilicity of the fibers but depends on the location of the particle and its adhesion to the fiber surface. Soil-release agents can facilitate removal of particulate soil by decreasing adhesion of the soil particles and enhancing diffusion of water and detergent into the particle-fiber interface. Nondurable release agents also release particulate soil by a sacrificial flaking or dissolution mechanism. Problems encountered with soil removal from durable-press finished cotton and possible solutions are discussed.

Correlation analysis between particulate soil removal and surface properties of laundry detergent solutions

“…The washing of fabrics has been intensively studied over the decades. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] The efficiency of the complex process depends on several factors, such as the composition of the washing solution, the surfactant structure and its concentration, 12,13,15,19 type of soil, 4,5,10,18 water hardness, washing time, agitation speed, hydrodynamic conditions, temperature and electrolyte level 6,7,9,10,12,[16][17][18] as well as the nature of the solid surface, 20 the chemical structure and the constructional parameters of textiles. 14,15,17 The relationship between the phase behavior of microemulsion systems and detergency performance has been studied for many years.…”

Environment Friendly Water Repellent and Soil Release Finish with Fluorine-Free solutions

“…However, because cotton fibers are more hydrophilic in nature, oily stains and oily soil are more easily removed from cotton fabrics, due to a greater affinity of the fabric for water [8]. Soil-release agents increase the hydrophilicity of the fiber surface and enhance diffusion of water and hydration of the soil-fiber interface [9]. During application, the Zelan R3 surrounds each fiber with an invisible protective film.…”

Can common finishing treatments used in chef jacket fabrics improve protection against scald injury?

“…The soil release finish fabric was the exception to this trend. Soil release finishes applied to the fabric diffuses water under the soil to help remove this soil during laundering (Kissa 1981). The higher absorbed energy found for the twill weave fabrics may be due to the nature of the finish as the soil-release finish has the ability to reabsorb and remove a b Fig.…”

“…The higher absorbed energy found for the twill weave fabrics may be due to the nature of the finish as the soil-release finish has the ability to reabsorb and remove a b Fig. 4 Heat flux versus time during hot water tests on water-repellent fabrics soil from the fabric (Kissa 1981). This process of drawing in moisture may be the reason for absorbing more energy.…”

“…Soil-release finishes, intended to make laundering more effective may be applied to fabrics with polyester fibers or wrinkle-resistant treated cotton fabrics. Since most soils are hydrophobic, the soil-release finishes tend to make the fiber surface more hydrophilic and thereby allow the diffusion of water and detergent into the soil-fiber interface and decreases the adhesion of the soil to the fibers (Holme 1993;Kissa 1981). Fluorochemicals are the most interesting class of chemical for textile finishing as they provide combined water and oil repellency to fabrics (Holme 1993).…”