Textile Softener Characteristics

Fabric softener (also called fabric conditioner) is used to prevent static cling and make fabric softer i.e. Softening agents are applied to textiles to improve their hand, drape, cutting and sewing qualities.Fabric softeners work by coating the surface of the cloth fibers with a thin layer of chemicals; these chemicals have lubricant properties and are electrically conductive, thus making the fibers feel smoother and preventing buildup of static electricity

1. STUDY ON VARIOUS KINDS OF
SOFTENER (CHARACTER, PH,
APPLICATION PROCESS) IN FINISHING
ON TEXTILE GOODS
MD. AZMERILATIFBEG
MSCIN TE

2. INTRODUCTION
•Fabricsoftener(alsocalledfabricconditioner)isusedtoprevent
staticclingandmakefabricsofteri.e.Softeningagentsareapplied
totextilestoimprovetheirhand,drape,cuttingandsewing
qualities.
•Itisavailableasaliquidorasdryersheets.
•Fabricsoftenersworkbycoatingthesurfaceoftheclothfiberswith
athinlayerofchemicals;thesechemicalshavelubricantproperties
andareelectricallyconductive,thusmakingthefibersfeel
smootherandpreventingbuildupofstaticelectricity.
•Thedisadvantageofcoatingfibersbyhydrophobiclayerisin
decreasingthewaterabsorptionpropertiesofthefabric
•Based on the ionic natures softener can be classified into six
categories:
–Cationic softeners
–Anionic softeners
–Non ionic softeners
–Amphotericsofteners
–Reactive softeners
–Silicone softeners

3. Reasons for using softener:
•As the textile material goes under various mechanical and
chemical processes that make the surface of the material harsh.
For example, Removal of natural oil and waxes by scouring and
bleaching.
•Resin finishing of textile material also imparts some degree of
harshness. soaping of textile material also add harsh feeling to
the material.
•As consumers are much more caring about the touch of textile
material. This is also reason for using softener.
Desirable properties of textile softener:
•It should be easy to handle.
•It should have good compatibility to other chemicals.
•It should not affect the shade of the material.
•It should not affect the fastness of dyed material.
•It should not cause any yellowing effect on dyed and finished material.
•It should be stable to high temperature.
•It should be non volatile by water vapour.
•It should be non toxic and non caustic.
•It should be easily bio degradable.
Popular brand names include Downy (Lenor), Snuggle, Bounce, Comfort and

4. The Past
•The first fabric softeners were developed by the textile industry
during the early twentieth century. At that time the process that
was used to dye cotton fibers left them feeling harsh.
•In the early 1900s, preparations known as cotton softeners were
developed to improve the feel of these fibers after dyeing. A
typical cotton softener consisted of seven parts water, three parts
soap, and one part olive, corn, or tallow oil.
•By the 1960s several major marketers, including Procter and
Gamble, had begun selling liquid fabric softener compositions for
home use.
•In the late 1970s manufacturers found a way to deliver fabric
softening benefits in a dryer sheet format.
•In the 1990s, environmentally minded manufacturers began test
marketing ultra-concentrated formulations.
•By the end of the 1990s, annual sales of liquid fabric softeners in
the United States reached approximately $700 million (in
supermarkets, drug stores, and mass merchandisers). For the
sake of comparison, about $400 million worth of dryer sheets are
sold each year.

5. The Future
There are two formula related areas
that will affect the future of fabric
softeners.
The first is the impact the ultra-
concentrates will have on the
market
The second area is related to the
role that multi-functionality will play
in the future.

6. Raw Materials
•Conditioning agents
Themostcommoningredientsusedwasdihydrogenatedtallowdimethyl
ammoniumchloride(DHTDMAC),whichbelongstoaclassofmaterials
knownasquaternaryammoniumcompounds,orquats.Thiskindof
ingredientisusefulbecausepartofthemoleculehasapositivechargethat
attractsandbindsittonegativelychargedfabricfibers.Oneofthenew
classesofmaterialsemployedinfabricsoftenerformulationstodayis
polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS).
•Emulsifiers
Theconditioningingredientsusedinfabricsoftenersarenottypically
solubleinwaterbecauseoftheiroilynature.Therefore,anothertypeof
chemical,knownasanemulsifier.Therearethreetypesofemulsifiersused
infabricsoftenerformulations:micro-emulsions,macro-emulsions,and
emulsionpolymers.
•Other ingredients
Fabricsoftenerscontainotheringredientstoimprovetheiraestheticappeal
andtoensuretheproductwillbeshelfstable.Fragranceandcolorare
addedtomaketheproductmorepleasingtoconsumers.Inaddition,
emulsionstabilizersandpreservativesareusedtoensuretheproduct
quality.

7. The Manufacturing Process
Thepreferredmethodformanufacturingliquidsoftenersinvolvesheating
theingredientstogetherinonelargemixingvessel.Mixingtanksshould
beconstructedfromhighgradestainlesssteeltopreventattackfromthe
corrosiveagentsintheformula.Thetankistypicallyequippedwitha
jacketedshellthatallowssteamandcoldwatertobecirculated,sothe
temperatureofthebatchcanbeeasilycontrolled.Inadditionthetankis
fittedwithapropellertypemixerthatisdrivenbyalargeelectricmotor.
Thiskindofmixingbladeprovidesthehighshearthatisneededto
properlydispersetheingredients.
•Oncethewaterhasbeenaddedtothetank,heatingandmixingis
initiated.
•Theconditioningingredientsusedinsoftenersarenottypicallywater
soluble,sotheyareaddedtothewaterphaseaftertheemulsifiers.Fora
typicalstrengthformulationabout5%isused.Formoreconcentrated
formulations,levelsof10%aremorecommon.Whenblendsofquats
andsiliconesareused,thesiliconesareusedatlevelsaslowas0.5-
1.5%.
•Heatingandmixingcontinuesuntilthebatchishomogeneous.Atthis
pointcoolwateriscirculatedaroundthetanktolowerthetemperature.
Asthebatchcools,theremainingingredients,suchaspreservatives,
dyes,andfragrance,areadded.

8. Quality Control
•Simplelaboratorytestsareusedtodeterminebasic
propertiessuchaspH,viscosity,andpercentsolids.
Thesetestscanhelpconfirmthatthecorrectingredients
wereaddedattheappropriatelevels.
•Other,morerigorous,testsaredonetoensurethe
formulationisfunctioningcorrectly.Onesuchevaluation
isawaterabsorbencytest,sometimescalledtheDrayes
WettingTest.Thisprocedureinvolvesdroppingsmall
piecesoftreatedfabricontowaterandrecordingthe
lengthoftimerequiredforthefabrictosink.This
measurementistaken10timestoobtainanaverage
result.
•Anti-wrinklepropertiescanbeevaluatedbyasking
paneliststoratesamplesoffabricbeforetheyhavebeen
ironed.Theyareaskedtonumericallyratetheamountof
wrinklingbetweenthetestsampleandthefabricsoftener
treatedsample.

9. Mechanisms of Softening Effect
•Dependingontheionicnatureofthesoftenermolecule
andtherelativehydrophobicityofthefibersurface,
cationicsoftenersorientthemselveswiththeirpositively
chargedendstowardthepartiallynegativelycharged
fabrics(zetapotential),creatinganewsurfaceof
hydrophobiccarbonchainthatprovidethecharacteristic
excellentsofteningandlubricityseenwithcationic
softeners.
•Anionicsofteners,ontheotherhand,orientthemselves
withtheirnegativelychargedendsrepelledawayfromthe
negativelychargedfibersurface.Thisleadstohigher
hydrophilicity,butlesssofteningthanwithcationic
softeners
•Theorientationofnon-ionicsoftenersdependsonthe
natureofthefibersurface,withthehydrophilicportionof
thesoftenerbeingattractedtohydrophilicsurfacesand
thehydrophobicportionbeingattractedtohydrophobic
surface.

11. Cationic Softener
•The simplest cationic are the primary, secondary and tertiary mono-amines and
their salts, formed by neutralization of the amines, usually with acetic acid.
•Reaction, with alkylatinglike methyl chloride, benzyl chloride, dimethylsulphate,
etc converts the insoluble amines into water soluble salts, which are more active
than the original amines.
Mode of action:
•When a quaternary ammonium softener is dissolved in water, it ionizes into a
hydrophilic head with a negative charge and a hydrophobic tail carrying a
positive charge. On the other hand, when textile fibers are entered into water
they acquire a negative charge. When a textile fiber is entered into an aqueous
solution of a cationic softener.
•During the softening treatment the negative charge on the fiber surface attracts
the positive tail of the cationic softener. This result in firmly anchoring of the
softener residue on the fiber substance, somewhat similar to sheathing the fiber
with an oily film. This is responsible for obtaining a soft handle and a pliable, well
lubricated fiber surface.
Properties of cationic softener:
•They are compatible with most resin finishes.
•It has tendency to change the shade.
•It also affects the fastness of certain dyestuffs.
•It also causes discoloration on white fabrics.

12. MATERIALS & METHODS
•Properties:
•Appearance Milky liquid
•Composition Polyamide derivative
•Ionicity Weak cationic
•pH (1% solution)5.0 ±0.5
•Solubility Soluble in water in any
proportion
•Application pH range 4 –7
•Application temperature range 45°-50
C°

13. AN-IONIC SOFTENER
•Anionicsofteningagentsareavailableintheformof
off-whitethickpaste,creamishviscouspaste,Being
anionicincharacter,theyarecompatiblewithdirect
dyes,opticalwhiteningagents,starches,glue,
gelatine,gums,resins,polyvinylalcohol,blueing
agents,etcandarestabletohardwater,dilute
alkaliesanddiluteacids.Theymaybeappliedon
cotton,viscoserayon,acetaterayon,silkandnylon
yarnstoproducesoftandsupplefinishes.Solutions
oftheanionicsofteningagentscanbepreparedby
pouring20timesitsweightofboilingwaterwith
stirringandboilingfor5to10min

14. Silicone softeners:
Properties:
•A new class of anionic softeners.
•Expensive
•It gives improved wrinkle recovery also.
•Initially polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS) was used as softener.
•Later amino functional Silicone softener was developed which gives high
lubricity with small proportions.
•It is more expensive.
•It gives an extremely soft hand.
Properties:
•Appearance Transparent liquid
•Composition Blend of amino silicones and urethane
•Ionicity Non-ionic
•pH (1% solution) 7.0 ±1.0
•Solubility Soluble in water
•Application pH range4.5-5.5
•Solid Content 42%

15. Non-ionic softeners:
Paraffin wax and fatty emulations are
included in non ionic softening agents, e.g.
silicon AFN. They are applied like anionic
emulsions.
This group also includes:
polyglycol ethers,
polyglycol esters and
other oxyethylation products.

16. Silky Top:
•Silky Top is a blend of cationic and silicone softener.
It can be used for cotton, polyester and their blends.
It imparts cotton garment excellent limpy, softening
and brilliant look. It does not affect dye fastness. It
increases depth of dyeing.
AmphotericSoftener:
•Typical properties are good softening effects, low
permanence to washing and high antistatic effects.
They have fewer ecological problems than similar
cationic products
Hydrophilic Softeners:
•Hydrophilic Silicone is an epoxidemodified
hydrophilic silicone emulsion.
Urethane Softeners:
•Urethane Softeners is a blend of silicone softener and
polymer resins

17. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
Cationic softener:
This kind of softener makes soft fabric deeply.
It changes fabrics shade.
It makes white spot on fabrics.
Anionic softener:
It makes fabric soft comparatively low then cationic
softener.
It does not effect on shade.
It mainly use on white shade.

18. Non-ionic softener
It makes fabrics sleeper on surface.
It makes fabrics shade yellowish.
It affects on fabrics fastness properties.
It effect on fabrics water absorbency.
It makes permanent chemical spot on fabric.

19. Using of softener in textile sector:
Before unloading the fabrics, softener is used all types of fabrics in last
process to soft the fabrics. Mainly cationic softener is used but some
times another softener is used. When we need to change the shade
then cationic softener is use and when it is no need to chance the shade
only need to soft the fabrics then non-ionic softener is use.
If different types of softeners are used in color shade but only non-ionic
softener is used for white shade.
some time white shade is bright then cationic softener are use.
for open fabric Softener is use in the chemicals tank of stenter machine
In this process mixture is use of cationic softener and silicon softener. if
we need yellowish shade then we more use silicon softener. But we
need changing the shade then we use more cationic softener.
For collar, cuff and tube fabric, softener is use in the chemicals tank of
squeezer machine

20. Amount of using chemicals:
Dyeing machine
Silicon softener 1gm/liter
Cationic softener (.5-1)gm/ liter
stenter machine
Silicon softener 50gm/liter
Cationic softener 15gm/liter
Squeezer machine
Silicon softener 40gm/liter
Cationic softener 20gm/liter
note: require amount of chemicals depend into sade.

21. Formula used for calculation of softener
For dyeing machine
Gm/liter *minimum liquor of m/c
Softener = kg
1000
For stenter &squeezer m/c
Total liquor = fabrics weight * take up %
Amount of softener = (gm/liter * total liquor) gm
Or
Softener = (fabrics weight * take up % *
gm/liter) gm

22. Amount of take up%
For stenter m/c
By the take up % we means that, it is the ability of fabrics to absorbed the
water/ chemicals from chemicals tank. After slitting of the fabrics (30-40) %
water are squeeze. For this reason take up % of stenter machine are let
40%. Mainly take up % depend on the padder passer of sitting machine. If
padder passer squeezes 30% of water from fabric then take up % should be
let 30%.
Amount o take up %:
For dry fabrics (30-40) %
For wet fabrics 100 %
For squeezer m/c
In the squeezer machine after first padder the 20 % water are squeeze
from fabrics and 30% water are squeeze from fabrics by the back padder.
For this reason take up % of squeezer machine are let (15-20)%. In this
machine mainly take up % depend on the front padder passer and back
padder passer of sitting machine.
Amount o take up %:
For wet fabrics (15-20) %
For dry fabrics 100 %

23. . Softener Mark
Causes:
-Improper mixing of the Softener.
-Improper running time of the fabric during
application of softener.
-Entanglement of the fabric during application
of softener: .5 gram/liter

24. CONCLUSION
Toconcludethereportabouttheapplicationof
softeneritistobesaidthat,thesoftenerisoneof
themostimportantchemicaltobeappliedontothe
fabric.Softenermakesafabriccapableofbeing
usedwithcomfort.Italsocontrolsothervital
characteristicsofafabric.So,Itissureafterallthis
informationthattheknowledgeaboutthesoftener
isveryimportanttocompletetheprocessoftextile
processing.

25. THANK YOU