Making Polyester/Cotton Blend Fabrics Silk-Like Through Alkaline Oxidation

Abstract

Alkaline oxidation of polyester/cotton blend fabrics is a topochemical reaction, and for this reason, it has been used to improve the properties of polyester/cotton blend fibers. The alkaline hydrolysis of polyester fiber and also oxidation of cotton fibers consequently reduce the degree of polymerization of the cellulosic chains. During this process, hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide are used as oxidizing agent and alkali, respectively. Fabrics treated by this method could lose up to 25% in weight and attain a silk-like handle, and also achieve an improvement in properties such as hydrophilicity, dyeability and flexibility. In this study, we want to study the effects of oxidation and alkaline treatment on the optical and physical properties of polyester/cotton blend fabrics.

Citation

Nateri, A.S. and Goodarz, M. (2013), "Making Polyester/Cotton Blend Fabrics Silk-Like Through Alkaline Oxidation", Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 150-154. https://doi.org/10.1108/RJTA-17-03-2013-B015