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Fluoro Carbons in Textile Finishing

By: J. Gunaseelan

Introduction

Nanotechnology has real commercial potential for the textile industry. This is mainly due to the fact thatconventional methods used to impart different properties to fabrics often do not lead to permanent effects,and will lose their functions after laundering or wearing.

Nanotechnology can provide high durability for fabrics, because nano-particles have a large surface area-to-volume ratio and high surface energy, thus presenting better affinity for fabrics and leading to an increase indurability of the function. In addition, a coating of nano-particles on fabrics will not affect their breath abilityor hand feel. Therefore, the interest in using nanotechnologies in the textile industry is increasing.

The properties imparted to textiles using nanotechnology include water repellence, soil resistance, wrinkleresistance, antibacteria, anti-static and UV-protection, flame retardation, improvement of dye ability and soon.

What Is Fluoro Carbon?

Fluorocarbons are chemical compounds that contain carbon-fluorine bonds. The relatively low reactivity andhigh polarity of the carbon-fluorine bond imparts unique characteristics to fluorocarbons. Fluorocarbons tendto be only slowly broken down in the environment and therefore many are considered persistent organicpollutants. Many commercially useful fluorocarbons also contain hydrogen, chlorine, or bromine Stain andwater repellency. If the critical surface tension of a solid fabric is greater than or equal to the surface tensionof a liquid, the liquid will wet the fabric. If the critical surface tension of the solid is less than surface tensionof the liquid, the fabric will repel the liquid.

In the case of solids 'critical surface tension' is used instead of 'surface tension'. Thus, water repellency canbe attained when the critical surface tension of the solid is smaller than surface tension of the liquid. Forexample, when a drop of water is dripped on a cotton fabric, it has been experimentally determined that the

surface tension of water and the critical surface tension of cotton are, respectively, 72 dyne/cm and 200dyne/cm, and, therefore, water readily wets the cotton fiber. However, once the cotton is treated with afluorocarbon the water repellent relation between them changes. The critical surface tension of waterrepellent finished cotton is less than the surface tension of water.

Fluorocarbons are organic compounds consisting perfluorinated carbon chain. They tend to decrease thesurface tension of the substrate. Fluorocarbons generally lower the surface tensions by forming a thin film ofcoating around the fiber. They usually are cationic in nature but can also be non-ionic and anionic. Someuseful fluorocarbons are perfluoroalkyl acrylate copolymers and their fundamental structure resembles thatof acrylic resins. The surface tension of the fluorocarbon water repellent agent is extremely small, about 10dyne/cm. Therefore, water repellency can be attained and a water drop does not adhere on the treatedcotton fiber. Industry started using water repellents based on paraffin, silicone and fluorocarbons.Comparing the three systems, it was found that those belonging to the paraffin type have low water repellent

effect at the initial stage and no durability to washing. Those of the silicone type were better than theparaffin-based products but were poor oil repellents. The fluorocarbon-based products were found to endowexcellent oil and water repellency.

Addition of crosslinking agents along with the fluorocarbon improved the durability of water and oilrepellency. Fluorocarbons can be applied in a number of ways. They can be applied by padding, kisscoating, spray, foam and exhaust. The padding method is one of the most commonly used for treatingfabrics with fluorocarbons, because of the consistency and completeness of fabric coverage that can beachieved. In the case of treatment of garments with fluorocarbons, the exhaust or spray methods can beused. Treatment with fluorocarbons has to be carefully carried out, as the quality of the water and oilrepellent properties are much dependent on the right kind of processing.

Crosslinking agents are indispensable for improving the durability of fluorocarbon water repellent agents.

They prevent the water-repellent agents from dropping out of the fibers on washing, because they form athree dimensional network and attach the water repellent agent to the fiber. Generally, when adheringmaterial B to the surface of material A, the more the physical properties of two materials are similar, the

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more strongly they adhere to each other. Generally, hydrophobic fluorocarbons strongly adhere to syntheticfibers which also are strong hydrophobic.

Therefore, good durability cannot be obtained in the case of cotton because of insufficient adhesion thehydrophilic fibers. To solve this problem and to achieve other advantages new methods have have beendeveloped using nano technology.

How The Realease Action Happens by Fluoro carbons:

A Fluorocarbon Finish (For Water and Oil Repellent & Stain Release Finish)

Requires:

Pre-washing Agent - RESIL PWA Resin RESIL LFR Extender RESIL WDI Softeners RESIL ULTRAFAB RTS Penetrating Agent (Non-rewetting type)- IPA And the Fluorocarbon itself TG 571,581,532(FOR STAIN RELEASE FINISH 992,995,996) Pre-wash forbetter performance The performance of fluorocarbons can be impaired by the presence of residues of auxiliaries, Silicone &

Cationic softeners. Pre-wash is recommended for better performance of Fluorocarbons. To improve absorbency of the fabric Cross linking Agents-Extender A must for Durable Water and Oil repellent finish Cross linking agents prevents the water-repellent agents from dropping out of fiber during washing. Three dimensional network on the fiber by reacting with water repellent agent and the fiber . Generally blocked isocynate based cross linking are found to be very effective. Resin A must for Durable Water and Oil repellent finish for improved cross linking. In recent years, fluorochemical repellents and extenders have been co-applied with durable press resins,all in the same bath. Durability of the finish is improved, repellency ratings are better. Softener The final finish/ handle is impaired by Fluorocarbons Most of the softeners affect the repellency rating because of the surfactants used in the emulsion A modified amino emulsion, engineered to perform without impairing the repellency /release properties

Common Test Methods for water and oil finished & stain release finish: Water Spray Test - AATCC 22 Water Drop Test - Dupont Method Oil Drop Test - AATCC 118 Stain/Soil release test - AATCC 130

Note: There are other test methods depending on country and buyers requirement.

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