Heat Setting

Heat-setting can be defined as a treatment by which shape retention, crease resistance, elasticity
etc. is given to the fibres. It also changes the strength, softness and dye-ability of the material. All
these changes are directly connected with the structural and chemical modifications occurring in the
fibre.

The heat-setting process is mainly used for thermoplastic fibres to improve their dimensional
stability in washing and drying. It could also be done for woolen fabric. The chief processes for
imparting permanent set to wool are (a) Crabbing (b) Blowing (c) Potting or roll boiling

Fig: Stenter machine to apply heat seat

Heat-setting temperature for thermoplastic fibres varies depending on the type of fibre and their
melting point. Normally heat-setting is done at a temperature above glass transition temperature
polymer molecules vibrates vigorously, higher the temperature higher the vibration and greater the
possibility or better relaxation of molecules in the fibres. Treatment time depends on setting
temperature, fibre type and method of heat setting process. Heat setting colud be done by:

Dry heat (Stenter)

Super Heated Steam (Stenter)

Saturated steam (Pressure Stenter)

Stenter heat-setting is the most common method. In most modern stenter there are sophisticated
arrangements for example, over feed, edge curling straightener etc. In the stenter, hot air alone
could be used or super heated steam could be injected in hot air. Setting in presence of steam gives
good dimensional stability in wet processing. Setting temperature for Nylon and Polyester is 200 to
2250C for 10 to 30 seconds. At the end of stenter, the temperature of the fabric must be cooled
down below glass transition temperature using cool air. Garments could be heat set in pressurize
steamer using saturated steam.
HEAT SETTING

Dec 3, 2020 | Fabrics & Processing, News & Insights

Heat Setting

HEAT SETTING

Heat setting is a term used in the textile industry to describe a thermal process usually taking place
in either a steam atmosphere or a dry heat environment. The effect of the process gives fibers, yarns
or fabric dimensional stability and, very often, other desirable attributes like higher volume, wrinkle
resistance or temperature resistance. Very often, heat setting is also used to improve attributes for
subsequent processes.

HEAT SETTING CAN ELIMINATE THE TENDENCY OF UNDESIRABLE TORQUING. AT THE WINDING,
TWISTING, WEAVING, TUFTING AND KNITTING PROCESSES, THE INCREASED TENDENCY TO
TORQUING CAN CAUSE DIFFICULTIES IN PROCESSING THE YARN. WHEN USING HEAT SETTING FOR
CARPET YARNS, DESIRABLE RESULTS INCLUDE NOT ONLY THE DIMINISHING OF TORQUING BUT ALSO
THE STABILIZATION OR FIXING OF THE FIBER THREAD. BOTH TWIST STABILIZATION AND
STABILIZATION OF FRIEZE EFFECT ARE RESULTS OF THE HEAT SETTING PROCESS. HEAT SETTING
BENEFITS STAPLE YARNS AS WELL AS BULKED CONTINUOUS FILAMENT (BCF) YARNS. HEAT SETTING
OFTEN CAUSES SYNTHETIC FIBERS TO GAIN VOLUME AS WELL. THIS VOLUME GROWTH IS
COMMONLY DESCRIBED AS “BULK DEVELOPMENT”. ALL PROCESSES USING TEMPERATURE AND/OR
MOISTURE TO GIVE TEXTILES ONE OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED ATTRIBUTES ARE KNOWN AS HEAT
SETTING. THE TERM “THERMAL FIXATION” IS USED LESS FREQUENTLY. IN THE CARPET INDUSTRY,
THE PROCESS IS EXCLUSIVELY CALLED “HEAT SETTING”.

WHAT IS HEAT SETTING?

HEAT-SETTING IS A HEAT TREATMENT BY WHICH SHAPE RETENTION, CREASE RESISTANCE,

RESILIENCE AND ELASTICITY ARE IMPARTED TO THE FIBRES. IT ALSO BRINGS CHANGES IN STRENGTH,
STRETCHABILITY, SOFTNESS, DYEABILITY AND SOMETIMES ON THE COLOUR OF THE MATERIAL. ALL
THESE CHANGES ARE CONNECTED WITH THE STRUCTURAL AND CHEMICAL MODIFICATIONS
OCCURRING IN THE FIBRE.

THIS OPERATION IS CRUCIAL FOR FABRICS MADE OF SYNTHETIC FIBRES (PE, PA, ELASTOMERS), FOR
TRIACETATE, AND PARTLY FOR PAC FIBRES (SETTING), SINCE IT GRANTS EXCELLENT DIMENSIONAL
STABILISATION AND CREASEPROOF PROPERTIES, MAINTAINED TILL THE FABRIC IS EXPOSED (BY AIR
BLOWING) TO TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING THE HEAT SETTING ONE (AFTER BEING TREATED WITH
WATER AT A TEMPERATURE ABOVE THE SECOND ORDER GLASS TRANSITION TEMPERATURE, I.E. 80-
85°C FOR ACRYLICS).

INTRODUCTION TO HEAT SETTING

Heat setting is carried out to bring the material to it’s thermal equilibrium the material wouldn’t
changes it’s morphology it’s kept at that temperature for a long.  Heat setting is also known as
ANNEALING.  The degree of set, a term often used to describe the extent of heat setting is the
measure of how close the material has moved to a thermal equilibrium. A 100% set material is
considered to be at its thermal equilibrium at a given temperature.

Mechanism of Heat Setting • The setting temperature used is above Tg. In heat setting, inter-chain
bonds, such as hydrogen and dipole bonds, break. This allows the molecular chains to move and
adopt new, stress-free positions. New intermolecular bonds then form with the fabric in a relaxed
condition at the setting temperature. After cooling, the polymer molecules in the filaments become
frozen in place. The new bonds are stable up to the heat setting temperature. The reorganized
internal polymer structure, and the material’s dimensions, will be stable.

Objectives The objectives of heat setting processes include structure homogenization and the
elimination of internal tensions within the fibre resulting in reduced shrinkage, improved
dimensional stability, reduced creasing propensity and reduced edge-curl in woven and knitted
fabrics. To this extent, the process may be better described as thermal relaxation. Heat setting
changes not only the mechanical, but also the dyeing properties of man-made fibres. The principle is
based on heating the fibre within a fibre-specific temperature range which is limited at the upper
end by the melting point (softening range) and the respective glass transition temperature
(necessary to break the secondary bonds) at the lower end.

Working Process of Heat Setting

HEAT SETTING PROCESS

Heat setting of Some Fibers

Stages of Heat Setting

Heat-setting can be carried out at three different stages in a processing sequence i.e. in grey
condition; after scouring; and after dyeing. The stage of heat-setting depends on extent of
contaminations and types of fibres or yams present in the fabric. Heat setting after dyeing could lead
to the sublimation of disperse dyes (if not accurately selected).

Stenter Machine

Stenters are widely used for stretching, drying, heat-setting and finishing of Fabrics. The stenter
frame is usually 80-100 feet long and 70-100 inches wide. The speed ranges from 10-45 m/min with
a maximum setting time in the setting zone 30 sec at temperature ranging from 175 to 250~
depending upon the thickness and type of the material.

Methods of Heat Setting:

1.Contact method-

In this method the fabric is run in contact with a heated metal surface. Some machines are
composed of metal rollers having gas fired cores and are filled with a liquid known as diatherm to
uniformly distribute the heat. Sometimes enclosed rollers are heated with high temperature steam.

2.Steam-setting method-

Short staple polyester yarns including polyester/cotton blends are normally set by relaxation in
saturated steam. The most effective means of stabilising these materials are to steam at 107~ on the
ring spinners tube and soft dyeing packages under minimum tension. Sewing threads receive special
setting treatments, designed to confer stability whilst preserving their high tensile properties.
Polyester garments, garment lengths and hosiery are also stabilised by steaming in much the same
way as for yams. Nylon can be set in saturated steam at temperatures above 1OO°C in an autoclave
by batchwise process.

3.Hydro-setting method-

The hydro-setting or aqueous heat-setting of polyester is done with hot water in a high temperature
liquor circulating machine at about 130°C. A typical cycle may require 30 min. Water (or steam)
promote swelling of fibre and may cause some hydrolysis in the ester groups in polyester chain.
Nylon fabric can be hydro-set in hot water since the swelling action assists in weakening or breaking
intermolecular bonds.
Heat setting of polyester:

Heat-setting is a heat treatment by which shape retention, crease resistance, resilience and elasticity
are imparted to the fibres. It also brings changes in strength, stretchability, softness, dyeability and
sometimes on the colour of the material. All these changes are connected with the structural and
chemical modifications occurring in the fibre.Heat setting is the process applicable to fabrics made
from synthetic fibres like nylon, polyester in which the fabric is subjected to the action of high
temperature for a short time to make it dimensionally stable so that the garments made from such
fabrics retain their shape on washing and ironing.The main aim of heat setting process is ensure that
fabric do not alter their dimensions during use.

Three different stages of heat setting:

Heat-setting can be carried out at three different stages in a processing sequence i.e.

in grey condition (scarcely applied)

after scouring (Frequently applied); and

after dyeing (Scarcely applied) .

The stage of heat-setting depends on extent of contaminations and types of fibres or yams present
in the fabric. Heat setting after dyeing could lead to the sublimation of disperse dyes (if not
accurately selected).

The process grants excellent dimensional stability and good crease-proof properties. As far as
operating conditions are concerned, the fabric must be treated in accurately controlled moisture and
temperature conditions.

Heat setting of Some Fibers

Stenter Machine

Stenters are widely used for stretching, drying, heat-setting and finishing of Fabrics. The stenter
frame is usually 80-100 feet long and 70-100 inches wide. The speed ranges from 10-45 m/min with
a maximum setting time in the setting zone 30 sec at temperature ranging from 175 to 250~
depending upon the thickness and type of the material.
What is Heat Setting?

Heat setting is a heat treatment by which shape retention, crease resistance, resilience and elasticity
are imparted to the fibers. It also brings changes in strength, stretchability, softness, dyeability and
sometimes on the color of the material. Different methods of heat setting also help to get a flat
fabric with required weight and standard width. All these changes are connected with the structural
and chemical modifications occurring in the fiber. Normally heat setting done for lycra fabric.

Besides, Heat-setting process is used for synthetic fabrics such as those made from polyester or their
blends to make them dimensionally stable against subsequent hot processes. Other benefits of heat-
setting include less fabric wrinkling, low fabric shrinkage and reduced pilling tendency. Heat-setting
process involves subjecting the fabric to dry hot air or steam heating for a few minutes followed by
cooling. The temperature of heat-setting is usually set above the glass transition temperature and
below the melting temperature of the material comprising the fabric.

Heat setting has to be done before any hot wet processing to avoid curling of the selvedge and
discolouration (patches) during dyeing. Heat setting after wet processing may not give the required
final fabric and will have problems of wet creases not cleared, less stable, less white than the pre-
heat set fabric due to less smooth, flat surface of the finished fabric.

Once the fabric is adequately relaxed, it can be heat-set. Heat setting can be done before or after the
fabric is scoured, bleached, or dyed; however, some shades of colour, including white, may yellow
when subjected to high heat setting temperatures. This is especially true if greige fabric is heat-set. If
heat setting is performed on greige goods, spinning oils, waxes, and knitting oils may cause
discoloration or yellowing that cannot be removed in subsequent scouring and bleaching processes.
In this article I will discuss different types and methods of heat setting.

Methods of Heat Setting:

Different methods of heat setting used in textile industry are descibed below.

methods of heat setting

Contact method
In this method the fabric is run in contact with a heated metal surface. Some machines are
composed of metal rollers having gas fired cores and are filled with a liquid known as diatherm to
uniformly distribute the heat. Sometimes enclosed rollers are heated with high temperature steam.

Steam-setting method

Short staple polyester yarns including polyester/cotton blends are normally set by relaxation in
saturated steam. The most effective means of stabilizing these materials are to steam at 107~ on the
ring spinners tube and soft dyeing packages under minimum tension. Sewing threads receive special
setting treatments, designed to confer stability whilst preserving their high tensile properties.
Polyester garments, garment lengths and hosiery are also stabilized by steaming in much the same
way as for yams. Nylon can be set in saturated steam at temperatures above 1OO°C in an autoclave
by batchwise process.

Hydro-setting method

The hydro-setting or aqueous heat-setting of polyester is done with hot water in a high temperature
liquor circulating machine at about 130°C. A typical cycle may require 30 min. Water (or steam)
promote swelling of fibre and may cause some hydrolysis in the ester groups in polyester chain.
Nylon fabric can be hydro-set in hot water since the swelling action assists in weakening or breaking
intermolecular bonds.

Heat-setting using stenter machine

Stenter machine are widely used for stretching, drying, heat-setting and finishing of fabrics. Woven
and knitted fabrics of polyester and nylon fibers and their blends are normally heat-set on pin-
stenter in hot air.

An alternative to the pin stenter is the clip machine. The fabric is held into the chains either by pins
mounted into a base plate or by clips in which the fabric edge is clamped between two smooth
surfaces. Stenters that are used for setting only have a light pin chains whereas stenters used for
both drying and setting (finishing) are provided with a heavy combined pin and clip chain.

Selective infra-red emitters method

Polyester can be heat-set by exposing the material under selected areas of magnetic spectrum of
infra-red rays. The wavelength of the radiation source must be chosen with respect to the
absorption band of the fiber i.e. a particular infra-red wavelength is chosen for a particular fiber. For
example, in the case of polyester the selective infra-red radiation wavelength is the region of 1 to 4
g.

References:

Chemical Technology in the Pre-Treatment Processes of Textiles, Volume 12by S.R. Karmakar

Textile Engineering – An Introduction Edited by Yasir Nawab

Pretreatment of textile substrates by Mathews Kolanjikombil

What is Heat Setting?

Heat setting is a heat treatment by which shape retention, crease resistance, resilience and elasticity
are imparted to the fibers. It also brings changes in strength, stretchability, softness, dyeability and
sometimes on the color of the material. Different methods of heat setting also help to get a flat
fabric with required weight and standard width. All these changes are connected with the structural
and chemical modifications occurring in the fiber. Normally heat setting done for lycra fabric.

Besides, Heat-setting process is used for synthetic fabrics such as those made from polyester or their
blends to make them dimensionally stable against subsequent hot processes. Other benefits of heat-
setting include less fabric wrinkling, low fabric shrinkage and reduced pilling tendency. Heat-setting
process involves subjecting the fabric to dry hot air or steam heating for a few minutes followed by
cooling. The temperature of heat-setting is usually set above the glass transition temperature and
below the melting temperature of the material comprising the fabric.

Heat setting has to be done before any hot wet processing to avoid curling of the selvedge and
discolouration (patches) during dyeing. Heat setting after wet processing may not give the required
final fabric and will have problems of wet creases not cleared, less stable, less white than the pre-
heat set fabric due to less smooth, flat surface of the finished fabric.

Once the fabric is adequately relaxed, it can be heat-set. Heat setting can be done before or after the
fabric is scoured, bleached, or dyed; however, some shades of colour, including white, may yellow
when subjected to high heat setting temperatures. This is especially true if greige fabric is heat-set. If
heat setting is performed on greige goods, spinning oils, waxes, and knitting oils may cause
discoloration or yellowing that cannot be removed in subsequent scouring and bleaching processes.
In this article I will discuss different types and methods of heat setting.

Methods of Heat Setting:

Different methods of heat setting used in textile industry are descibed below.

methods of heat setting

Contact method
In this method the fabric is run in contact with a heated metal surface. Some machines are
composed of metal rollers having gas fired cores and are filled with a liquid known as diatherm to
uniformly distribute the heat. Sometimes enclosed rollers are heated with high temperature steam.

Steam-setting method

Short staple polyester yarns including polyester/cotton blends are normally set by relaxation in
saturated steam. The most effective means of stabilizing these materials are to steam at 107~ on the
ring spinners tube and soft dyeing packages under minimum tension. Sewing threads receive special
setting treatments, designed to confer stability whilst preserving their high tensile properties.
Polyester garments, garment lengths and hosiery are also stabilized by steaming in much the same
way as for yams. Nylon can be set in saturated steam at temperatures above 1OO°C in an autoclave
by batchwise process.

Hydro-setting method

The hydro-setting or aqueous heat-setting of polyester is done with hot water in a high temperature
liquor circulating machine at about 130°C. A typical cycle may require 30 min. Water (or steam)
promote swelling of fibre and may cause some hydrolysis in the ester groups in polyester chain.
Nylon fabric can be hydro-set in hot water since the swelling action assists in weakening or breaking
intermolecular bonds.

Heat-setting using stenter machine

Stenter machine are widely used for stretching, drying, heat-setting and finishing of fabrics. Woven
and knitted fabrics of polyester and nylon fibers and their blends are normally heat-set on pin-
stenter in hot air.

An alternative to the pin stenter is the clip machine. The fabric is held into the chains either by pins
mounted into a base plate or by clips in which the fabric edge is clamped between two smooth
surfaces. Stenters that are used for setting only have a light pin chains whereas stenters used for
both drying and setting (finishing) are provided with a heavy combined pin and clip chain.

Selective infra-red emitters method

Polyester can be heat-set by exposing the material under selected areas of magnetic spectrum of
infra-red rays. The wavelength of the radiation source must be chosen with respect to the
absorption band of the fiber i.e. a particular infra-red wavelength is chosen for a particular fiber. For
example, in the case of polyester the selective infra-red radiation wavelength is the region of 1 to 4
g.

References:

Chemical Technology in the Pre-Treatment Processes of Textiles, Volume 12by S.R. Karmakar

Textile Engineering – An Introduction Edited by Yasir Nawab

Pretreatment of textile substrates by Mathews Kolanjikombil

What is Heat Setting?

Heat setting is a term used in the textile industry to describe a thermal process usually taking place
in either a steam atmosphere or a dry heat environment. The effect of the process gives fibers, yarns
or fabric dimensional stability and, very often, other desirable attributes like higher volume, wrinkle
resistance or temperature resistance. Very often, heat setting is also used to improve attributes for
subsequent processes.

Heat setting can eliminate the tendency of undesirable torquing. At the winding, twisting, weaving,
tufting and knitting processes, the increased tendency to torquing can cause difficulties in processing
the yarn. When using heat setting for carpet yarns, desirable results include not only the diminishing
of torquing but also the stabilization or fixing of the fiber thread. Both twist stabilization and
stabilization of frieze effect are results of the heat setting process. Heat setting benefits staple yarns
as well as bulked continuous filament (BCF) yarns. Heat setting often causes synthetic fibers to gain
volume as well. This volume growth is commonly described as “bulk development”. All processes
using temperature and/or moisture to give textiles one of the above-mentioned attributes are
known as heat setting. The term “thermal fixation” is used less frequently. In the carpet industry, the
process is exclusively called “heat setting”.