Nanofinishing of Textile Materials

Majid Montazer, Tina Harifi

• Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9780081012147
• eBook ISBN: 9780081012505
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Materials Science
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Nanofinishing of Textile Materials provides thorough coverage of existing, current and future developments in the field. Sections cover a wide range of nanofinishing mechanisms for improving the fundamental properties of textiles, such as bleaching, scouring, softening and surface activation. Other sections discuss high-performance properties and conventional attributes, such as waterproofing, fire-retardancy and novel applications, including conductivity and magnetism. With two highly regarded and experienced authors bringing together the latest information on nanofinishing technology, this book is essential reading for scientific researchers, engineers and R&D professionals working on the development of finishes for improving the properties of textiles.- Explains nanofinishing mechanisms and processes with a view to their use in developing high-performance apparel and technical textiles- Focuses on how nanofinishing can be used to confer important characteristics, such as self-cleaning, hydrophobic, hydrophilic, magnetic and conductive attributes- Explores novel techniques and methods for readers who require cutting-edge knowledge of developments in nanofinishing

1

Introduction: Textile finishing

Abstract

This chapter is an introductory to textile finishing, beginning with finishing definition and historical overview. The main textile finishing classifications are also provided with brief overview on mechanical, physical, chemical, and biofinishing methods and a conclusion with nanofinishing as the main scope of the book. Textile finishing has been revitalized with the advent of nanotechnology imparting several functionalities into textile materials. The application of nanotechnology to the finishing of textiles is being extensively investigated and researchers are striving to introduce innovative nanomaterials and production techniques to improve the quality of products providing new and more complex multifunctional properties.

Keywords

Textile finishing; Mechanical finishing; Chemical finishing; Biofinishing; Nanotechnology; Nanofinishing

1.1 Introduction: Textile finishing definition and historical overview

Through the literature review, we came up with two definitions of textile finishing both of which have been widely accepted and used. One of them is from narrow view, defining textile finishing as the final manufacturing step in the production of textile fabrics, where the final fabric properties are developed completing the fabric performance along with imparting special functional properties. The other definition is wide, referring to any operation for improving the appearance or value of a fabric after coming out of the loom or knitting machine. In this regard, pretreatments such as scouring and bleaching are also included in finishing step. Generally, it is necessary to carry out some preparatory treatments before the application of other finishing processes to achieve the enhanced finishing effect. Considering these two traditional definitions, we believe that finishing is any form of processing on the textile substrate to prepare the textile for further processing or for the customer. In this definition, textile substrate can be in any form ranging from fibers, flakes, webs, slivers, yarns, fabrics, garments, carpets to any other form of technical textiles. Regardless of any definition, the objective of finishing is to make the textile more acceptable to the consumer and to achieve several goals, including preparation through purification, activation and functionalization, increased added value, enhanced quality, repeatability, variety, improved attractiveness by modification of appearance, changed handle, increased comfort, dimensional stability, protection, and improved performance.

The first efforts for textile finishing concerned with the application of finishes to natural fibers, including cotton and wool fibers to improve their resistance to creasing and their dimensional stability. Through the decades, although considerable interest was still being shown in modern developments of the former processes, introduction of man-made fabrics and their reputation over the years has encouraged the textile researchers to develop more modern methods. Undoubtedly, today's sophisticated modern finishing methods are a development of former simple operations evolved over the years from hand methods. In past, finishing procedures were mainly concerned with the traditional application of textiles, namely, dressing people. However, today textile finishing aims at converting a textile material into a technical textile with multifunctional properties, providing the wearer with comfort, enhanced performance, and protection. With today's several functional finishes, the only challenge is selection of the appropriate finish depending on the fiber type and the desired end use.

In addition to global awareness of environmental issues that have arose since 1990s affecting the direction of textile finishing, several other factors can be taken into account as driving force for the new trends. The need for higher-quality and higher value-added products, increased levels of automation and process control in machinery and equipment, and greater emphasis on cost reduction by minimizing the use of water and energy are among the effective parameters (Bajaj, 2002). Thus, new finishing methods have been developed as a solution to the environmental issues along with consumer and process demand satisfaction. In spite of wide progress during the history of textile finishing, there has been always a greater demand for novel finishes that confer enhanced appearance, handle, esthetics, and performance to appeal to the consumer.

Historically, many references dealing with the subject of textile wet processing have been published ranging from the text books describing particular aspects of bleaching and dyeing to volumes describing chemical finishing and processes that were important at the time they were written. Lewin and Sello (1984) were among the first who tried to review the general area of finishing especially chemical finishing up to the early 1980s within a series of books named Handbook of fiber science and technology. Lack of single-volume reference book, which adequately covered the field of fabric preparation and finishing, urged Tomasino (1992) to gather the related information in a book entitled Chemistry and technology of fabric preparation and finishing. A book with the title Textile processing and properties, preparation, dyeing, finishing and performance was then written by Vigo (1994), dealing with all aspects of textile processing, modification, and performance. The fundamental aspects of chemistry, chemical technology, and machineries involved in the various pretreatment processes of textiles were also discussed by Karmakar (1999) in a book entitled Chemical technology in the pre-treatment processes of textiles, trying to keep the readers abreast of the latest advances in the field until 1999. Since 2000, there have been a number of books published within the area of textile finishing but with more specific information, for instance, based on the textile substrate, functionalities, or applications (Horrocks and Anand, 2000). A book entitled Advances in the dyeing and finishing of technical textiles edited by Gulrajani (2013) contained a section mainly dealing with advances in finishing techniques, the use of nanotechnology and specialty polymers in technical textiles. Last but not least was the book entitled Functional finishes for textiles edited by Paul (2015), focusing on the important finishes and finishing techniques to improve the textiles comfort and performance properties.

In spite of extensive research on the nanofinishing of textile materials over the last years, comprehensive reference book pointing out different aspects of nanotechnology in textile finishing was lacking. The current book is particularly aimed at filling this gap by addressing different functionalities imparted into textiles through nanotechnology incorporation, from famous antibacterial activity to more complex properties including magnetism, conductivity, and wave protection. This book discusses not only the advantages but also the drawbacks of this fast-emerging technology, trying to propose solutions to tackle the involved limitations. The main focus of the book will be on recent nanofinishing developments categorized based on property. Development of new functionalities along with improvement in existing functions such as enhanced durability and less detrimental effect on hand feel will be dealt with, enabling to extend the application areas of textiles. Chapters will be organized based on different functional properties imparted into textiles through nanofinishing treatments, each containing the relevant nanomaterials, application methods, recent case studies, advantages, disadvantages, and challenges. A chapter will be also devoted to health, safety, and environmental aspects, which are of considerable importance not only to the manufacturers and operators, but also to the end users.

1.2 Textile finishing classification

Textile finishing can be classified on different bases, which are briefly shown in Fig. 1.1.

Fig. 1.1 Textile finishing different classifications.

Based on the performance and functionality of the finished textiles, esthetic finishes modify the appearance, hand, or drape of the fabrics such as mercerizing, napping, shearing, softening, stiffening, while functional finishes improve the performance properties of the fabrics, including antibacterial, crease resistance, antistatic, water repellant, flame retardant, and soil release.

The other classification is based on the finishing media, which comprise wet and dry methods. In wet methods, the chemical finish is a solution or emulsion of the finish in water or organic solvents, each of which has its own pros and cons. Although low cost, accessibility, safety, no toxicity, and neutrality made water a versatile media, it suffers from high boiling temperature, evaporation latent heat, and surface tension. On the other hand, use of organic solvents to apply chemical finishes is limited due to the high cost, possible toxicity, and flammability, though they benefit from lower boiling temperature, evaporation latent heat, and surface tension.

In dry finishing, instead of immersing the fabric in water or solvent-based chemicals, gases and plasma are mainly used. Dry methods are more energy-efficient and environment-friendly approaches compared with wet methods.

Some finishing treatments are temporary, which are used when only temporary properties are required such as sizing the warp yarn to withstand the rigors of weaving. The warp size is then removed during the process called desizing. On the other hand, there are permanent finishes, which are grouped into durable, semidurable, and nondur...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• 1: Introduction: Textile finishing
• 2: Nanofinishing: Fundamental principles
• 3: Nanoscouring
• 4: Nanobleaching
• 5: Nanosurface activation
• 6: Nanosoftening
• 7: Nanocoating and lamination
• 8: Nanocrosslinking
• 9: Nanofinishes for self-cleaning textiles
• 10: Antimicrobial textile nanofinishes
• 11: Flame-retardant textile nanofinishes
• 12: Water-repellent textile nanofinishes
• 13: Waterproof nanofinishes for textiles
• 14: Antifouling and soil-repellent nanofinishes
• 15: Sensing nanofinishes for textiles
• 16: Magnetic nanofinishes for textiles
• 17: Conductive nanofinishes for textiles
• 18: Nanofinishes for protective textiles
• 19: Nanoencapsulation techniques for textile finishing
• 20: Health, safety, and environmental aspects of textile nanofinishing
• 21: Future trends in textile nanofinishing
• Index