THE INFLUENCE OF THE SILICONE SOFTENER ON THE PROPERTIES OF Cо AND Cо/EL KNITTED FABRICS

Abstract

The wet processing stages of cotton or cotton/elastane based single jersey knitted fabrics include several sequences: scouring, bleaching and optical brightening for white products and scouring and half bleaching or only scouring and mainly dyeing with reactive dyes for dyed produces. Softening, the final step is carried out to improve the properties such are, attractiveness and serviceability of textile materials. Samples made of 100% cotton yarn; elastane yarn in alternating courses (half plating) and elastane yarn in every course (full plating) were produced. Half of them were scoured and bleached and the other half were scoured and dyed with reactive dyes and softened with silicone softener in industrial conditions. The influence of different processing stages on the structural properties and comfort of knitted fabrics have been studied. Elastane in blends increased the mass per unite area, thickness and decreased the air permeability. Silicone softener additionally increased mass per unite area, air permeability of 100% cotton knits and decreased air permeability of fabrics made of cotton/elastane blends