Alkaline Hydrolysis A Historical Review

With the advent of the spun polyester fiber and merchandise and our understanding of the susceptibility of

polyester to alkaline hydrolysis, it is again time to review the subject of alkaline hydrolysis to gain a better

understanding of exactly what it is and how it operates. To this end I would like to present a historical

review of alkaline hydrolysis information interlaced with the wash application chemistry the industry has

developed for this important fiber.

Alkaline Hydrolysis Chemistry

Alkaline hydrolysis is the process of adding hydroxyl ions (OH-) from the alkaline builder reacting with the

carbonyl groups (COO) of the polyester to cleave the ester groups and form two molecules.

O O O

R-C-O-R’ R-C-O-R’ R-C-OH + -O-R’

OH

This may not mean anything to you but it defines exactly what alkaline hydrolysis is and is not. This is an

important definition as it explains exactly what chemical reaction occurs and how it happens.

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Alkaline hydrolysis consumes the polyester fiber leaving one that has reduced volume, pitting and lower

tensile strength. Alkaline hydrolysis literally removes the outer layer of the polyester fiber or causes pitting

depending upon the severity. These pits provide cavities that trap soil resulting in dull or dingy textiles.

Contributing Factors

There are four conditions that are important in the understanding of alkaline hydrolysis: temperature, pH,

time and the presence of fabric softeners. All of these factors at specific levels must be in place for alkaline

hydrolysis to occur. These levels have been studied and reported in several articles and technical documents.

The Textile Rental Service Association (TRSA) addressed it in 1980; the industrial segment in an IL article

in 1981, TRSA again in an article by Dr. Charles Riggs in 1989 and once more in a TRSA Task Force Report

prepared in 1990.

The Textile Rental article in their October 1980 issue states that at 6800 ppm Na2O, a measurement of the

amount of alkali in a solution, gives unacceptable tensile strength loss at 150oF. It goes on to state that

sodium hydroxide in combination with other alkaline salts can give acceptable tensile strength loss i.e. less

than 15% loss after 20 washes. Remember that we must keep in mind the four contributing conditions that

can bring about alkaline hydrolysis, temperature, pH, time and the use of fabric softeners.

In the Industrial Launderer article in their April 1981 issue “The Effects of Detergent on Industrial Garments

Containing Polyester” they state that up to 4650 ppm of Na2O can be used at 140oF and that higher

temperatures increase tensile strength loss. They also state that fabric softeners can accentuate tensile

strength loss.

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In the Dr. Riggs article in Textile Rental 1989, Dr. Riggs states that there was no color change nor damage

on 65/35 shirts using a detergent with a use solution pH of 11.9 and 1600 ppm alkalinity. When studying a

second lower alkaline system where the pH was 10.6 and the alkalinity was 980, there was less tensile

strength loss in higher alkaline system than in the lower. This indicates that factors other than the impact of

the alkali were acting.

In Textile Laundering Technology 1990 publication, “Conditions that lead to hydrolysis have not been

established.” The best practices are to use a pH of 11.0 or lower and temperatures of 160oF or lower. It also

reinforces the statement that fabric softeners can increase the severity of the hydrolysis process.

To review:

Textile Rental 1980 Alkalinity below 6800 ppm and a temperature of 150oF

Industrial Launderer 1981 Up to 4650 ppm alkalinity and a temperature of 140oF

Textile Rental 1989 A pH of 11.9 and 1600 ppm alkalinity and

A pH of 10.6 and 980 ppm alkalinity

TRSA Task Force 1990 Best practices at pH below 11.0 and a temperature below 160oF

Softeners can increase the hydrolysis potential

(Add Use Parameter Overview graph here)

The best source of information on the impact of alkali on the polyester fiber is the manufacturer. Dupont

states in their technical information bulletin “Handling Articles Containing Dacron Polyester in the Laundry

Industry” to use a high temperature of 175 to 190oF and maintain a pH of 11.5 to 12.0 with a recommended

alkalinity of 4000 ppm Na2O.

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In today’s laundry we use several types of detergent systems all with different alkalinity levels, pHs, and

builder systems and wash formulas with different temperatures. The important thing to remember about

alkaline hydrolysis is that it takes four components to make it happen. We now have the control to adjust

each of these characteristics with the detergents systems available to our industry. Based upon our

technology we have the tools to make alkaline hydrolysis a thing of the past as long as we understand what

conditions are needed to cause alkaline hydrolysis and we monitor and control the wash conditions in our

washers. With these tools, we can make alkaline hydrolysis a thing of the past.

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