The use of high-tech finishing technologies to increase the functionality of textile fabrics to protect textiles from various adverse environmental effects, such as ultraviolet radiation, harsh weather, microorganisms or bacteria, high temperature, chemicals such as acids, alkalis, and mechanical wear, etc. The profit and high added value of international functional textiles are often realized through finishing.
1. Foam coating technology
There have been new developments in foam coating technology recently. The latest research in India shows that the heat resistance of textile materials is mainly achieved by the large amount of air trapped in the porous structure. To improve the heat resistance of textiles coated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU), it is only necessary to add certain foaming agents to the coating formulation. The foaming agent is more effective than the PU coating. This is because the foaming agent forms a more effective closed air layer in the PVC coating, and the heat loss of the adjacent surface is reduced by 10%-15%.
2. Silicone finishing technology
The best silicone coating can increase the tear resistance of the fabric by more than 50%. The silicone elastomer coating has high flexibility and low elastic modulus, allowing yarns to migrate and form yarn bundles when the fabric tears. The tearing strength of general fabrics is always lower than the tensile strength. However, when the coating is applied, the yarn can be moved on the tearing extension point, and two or more yarns can push each other to form a yarn bundle and significantly improve the tear resistance.
3. Silicone finishing technology
The surface of the lotus leaf is a regular micro-structured surface, which can prevent liquid droplets from wetting the surface. The microstructure allows air to be trapped between the droplet and the surface of the lotus leaf. The lotus leaf has a natural self-cleaning effect, which is super protective. The Northwest Textile Research Center in Germany is using the potential of pulsed UV lasers to try to mimic this surface. The fiber surface is subjected to photonic surface treatment with pulsed UV laser (excited state laser) to produce a regular micron-level structure.
If modified in a gaseous or liquid active medium, photonic treatment can be carried out simultaneously with hydrophobic or oleophobic finishing. In the presence of perfluoro-4-methyl-2-pentene, it can bond with the terminal hydrophobic group by irradiation. Further research work is to improve the surface roughness of the modified fiber as much as possible and combine appropriate hydrophobic/oleophobic groups to obtain super protective performance. This self-cleaning effect and the feature of low maintenance during use have great potential for application in high-tech fabrics.
4. Silicone finishing technology
The existing antibacterial finishing has a wide range, and its basic mode of action includes: acting with cell membranes, acting in the process of metabolism or acting in the core material. Oxidants such as acetaldehyde, halogens, and peroxides first attack the cell membranes of microorganisms or penetrate the cytoplasm to act on their enzymes. Fatty alcohol acts as a coagulant to irreversibly denature the protein structure in microorganisms. Chitin is a cheap and easy-to-obtain antibacterial agent. The protonated amino groups in the gum can bind to the surface of negatively charged bacterial cells to inhibit bacteria. Other compounds, such as halides and isotriazine peroxides, are highly reactive as free radicals because they contain one free electron.
Quaternary ammonium compounds, biguanamines, and glucosamine exhibit special polycationicity, porosity and absorption properties. When applied to textile fibers, these antimicrobial chemicals bind to the cell membrane of microorganisms, breaking the structure of the oleophobic polysaccharide, and ultimately leading to puncture of the cell membrane and cell rupture. The silver compound is used because its complexation can prevent the metabolism of microorganisms. However, silver is more effective against negative bacteria than positive bacteria, but less effective against fungi.
5. Silicone finishing technology
With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, traditional chlorine-containing anti-felting finishing methods are being restricted and will be replaced by non-chlorine finishing processes. Non-chlorine oxidation method, plasma technology and enzyme treatment are the inevitable trend of wool anti-felting finishing in the future.
6. Silicone finishing technology
At present, multi-functional composite finishing makes textile products develop in a deep and high-grade direction, which can not only overcome the shortcomings of textiles themselves, but also endow textiles with versatility. Multifunctional composite finishing is a technology that combines two or more functions into a textile to improve the grade and added value of the product.
This technology has been used more and more in the finishing of cotton, wool, silk, chemical fiber, composite and blended fabrics.
For example: anti-crease and non-iron/enzyme washing composite finishing, anti-crease and non-iron/decontamination composite finishing, anti-crease and non-iron/anti-staining composite finishing, so that the fabric has added new functions on the basis of anti-crease and non-iron; Fibers with anti-ultraviolet and antibacterial functions, which can be used as fabrics for swimwear, mountaineering clothes and T-shirts; fibers with waterproof, moisture-permeable and antibacterial functions, can be used for comfortable underwear; have anti-ultraviolet, anti-infrared and antibacterial functions (cool, antibacterial) Type) fiber can be used for high-performance sportswear, casual wear, etc. At the same time, the application of nanomaterials to the composite finishing of pure cotton or cotton/chemical fiber blended fabrics with multiple functions is also a future development trend.
Post time: Nov-18-2021