Chemical properties of textile fibers?

Acid and Alkali
Acid or alkali is harmful for cellulose and protein fibers. Therefore, the effect of acid and alkali must be known during bleaching, dyeing and finishing. Different fibers react differently with acid and alkali. For example, Cotton and Linen damaged when they are subjected to conc. Hydrochloric, Sulphuric and Nitric acids. Also dilute solution of those acids can make harm to the fibers. On the other hand, conc. alkaline solution is not harmful to Cotton and Linen. Wool is not affected by dilute solution of acid. But conc. acid and alkali damage wool easily. So acid or alkali must be chosen properly to use in different purpose and processing.

Water
Water is very important to determine the properties of fibers. According to the behaviors of fibers with water, fibers are classified into two groups – hydrophobic and hydrophilic. Water is used in process like scouring, dyeing etc.

Moisture Regain
Moisture regain is expressed as percentage. It is the ratio of oven dry weight of a material to the weight of water in this material and multiple of hundred.

Moisture Content
Moisture content is also expressed as percentage. It the ratio of oven dry weight of a material to the total weight (oven dry weight + weight of water in this material) of the material.

Absorbency
Normally, textile fibers absorb moisture. The ability of fiber to take up the moisture is known as absorbency. The absorbency is expressed in the terms of moisture regain. Among the all fibers cotton absorbs easily. For the property cotton requires more time to dry. Moisture regain of wool is 16%. It is 10% for silk. But it seems like dry after regain for silk. The cloths we wear are more comfortable which ability is higher to absorb.

Heat
Effect of heat si a vital point during dyeing, ironing, steaming and some other operations. Different fibers behave differently under heat. Some fibers burn where some scorch when heat is applied. Some fibers are not combustible e.g. mineral fiber, glass fiber etc. Cotton is easily flammable, wool is hardly flammable fiber.

Sunlight
When we wear cloth or fabric it comes into the touch of sunlight. It is very familiar to us. Effect of sunlight should be kept in mind for general people. Sunlight reduces the strength of cotton and it becomes yellow. Linen is better than cotton in sunlight. But cotton is better than silk.

Biological agent
If the fibers are attacked by bacteria’s, black spots are seen on the fibers as a result of which the strength of fiber is reduced. Its importance whether fibers attached by micro-organisms or not upon which strength of products depends. Cotton, Linen and rayon attacked by fungus. Silk, wool, acetate, tri-acetate and spandex have better resistance to mildew and other insects.

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