Title:

To compare the effect of cationic and non ionic hydrocarbon softener on the properties of fabric

Abstract:
The main objective of this experiment was to compare the concentration of hydrocarbon softener
by taking two different fabrics applied by two different softeners (cationic and non ionic
softener), calculated the Pick up and Add On % of both of them before and after applying the
chemical. Then observed the hand feel of both fabrics also calculated the coefficient of friction,
the fabrics on which softener applied had less value of friction. After that we calculated the tear
and tensile strength by taking different softener applied samples and manipulated our results by
comparing it with the reference sample.

Introduction:
Cationic softeners:

These are one of the most important softening agents used for finishing process. Cationic salts
are present in hard water react with softener forming precipitation. Chemically these softener is
sap amines, amide amines, imidazoline and quaternary ammonium compounds.

Non ionic softeners:

These are used widely on blends and synthetic fibers, compatible to use for these types of fibers.
In which acetic acid is added to cold water before adding the softener. Non ionic softeners
chemically they are fatty acid, ethylene oxide condensates.

What we are going to do?

Now we are going to use cationic and non ionic softeners which are hydrocarbon based to
compare the results on different concentrations and to find that concentration on which both
samples give same hand feel and same coefficient of friction. Knowing the chemical composition
of both softeners (cationic and non ionic softeners) we are capable of choosing the concentration
that how much both of them affect bonding with fabric. But because we had done this
experiment with different concentrations to check out that which one concentration helped to
find out result which are suitable to get same results we want from them like hand feel test and
coefficient of friction majorly to conclude our result.

Materials:
 Hydrocarbon softener
 Fabric
 TDS
  Fabric weight measuring machine
 Stirrer
 Flask

Methods:
Hands feel test/Softness:

We took sample of cotton cut it from half one from them took as a reference and other for
application of cotton; for this firstly, we find out the pick up % of the fabric before and after
applying softener also Add on %. Then pad and dry the fabric and noticed the feel of the fabric
with reference sample.

Tear strength:

Firstly, pad and then dry the fabric after that we measured the tear strength of that sample along
the weft and warp wise direction of multiple small pieces of that sample in order to checked out
the tear strength of that fabric before and after the application of softener.

Tensile strength:

In the same way we pad and dry the fabric (application of softener) took out many small samples
of it and measures its tensile strength along both direction warp and weft wise, and noticed the
difference in softener applied sample with the reference sample.

Discussion:
From our results we can manipulated that both non ionic and cationic softeners reduces the
coefficient of friction. Firstly we noticed a slight difference in pick up ratio of both fabrics 76.53
and 76.07% respectively. Then after implementation of chemical we noticed a slight difference
in pick up ratio of both and because of the low pick up ratio of fabric 1 after applying of softener
it having a lower Add On % of 6.23 and 6.57 respectively because of the fabric made a hydrogen
bonding and chemically inert towards softener, as the diffusion or penetration increases the Add
On % increases respectively. On other hand the tensile strength of fabric A in warp and weft
wise; and warp wise it comes out slight higher because of higher surface area of the fabric in that
direction imparts to its strength but we noticed the major difference with reference sample and
observed that softener applied sample had a higher tensile strength same in case of the tear
strength we got somehow higher strength than the reference sample.

Conclusion:
  From our experiment we can conclude that as we increase concentration of softener value
of friction decreases. Initially at concentration of 30g/l value of friction was0.467 and
0.661 dynamic and static wise respectively, and at concentration of 180g/l it came out to
be 0.503 and 0.610 dynamic and static wise respectively.
 Tensile strength wise we can conclude that at concentration of 30g/l value of tensile
strength was 38 and at concentration of 180g/l it increases to 44 in warp direction same
effect had achieved in weft wise direction.
 If talk about the tear strength at concentration of 30g/l value of tear strength in weft
direction came out to be 480 and at concentration of 180g/l it went to 800; so a noticeable
increases in the value of strength.

Pick up%

 Pick up% before softener applied (fabric A) = 76.53%

 Pick up% before softener applied (fabric B) = 76.07%
 Pick up% after softener applied (fabric A) = 69.26%
 Pick up% after softener applied (fabric B) = 73.08%

Add On %

 Add On% of fabric A = 6.23%

 Add On% of fabric B = 6.57%

Tensile strength:

Weft A = 29kg, 31kg Weft B = 42kg, 36kg

Warp A = 39kg, 34kg Warp B = 44kg, 34kg

Tear strength:

Weft A = 1040g, 1000g Weft B = 880g, 880g

Warp A = 1040g, 960g Warp B = 1200g, 1180g

References:
x

[1] R. Paul, "Functional finishes for textiles," pp. Pages1 1-14, Feb 2015.

[2] Narendra Reddy, Abdus Salam, and Yiqi Yang, "Effect of Stuctures and Concentrations of Softeners
 on Performance Properties and Durability to Laundering of Cotton Fabric," Industrial & Engineering
Chemistry Research, vol. 47, no. 8, pp. 2502-2510, March 2008.

[3] Tomasino C, Effect of Wet Processing and Chemical Finishing on Fabric Hand. North Carolina State,
USA: North Carolina State University, 2005.