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.
You may also like: Textile fibers
You may also like: Textile fibers