Choudhury, AK Roy, et al. Journal of the Textile Institute, 2012, 103(9), 1012-1023.
Lightweight plain bleached cotton fabrics were treated with macro, micro and nano silicone softeners to evaluate the performance of softeners of different particle sizes. A series of evaluations were conducted on the hydrophilicity, physical properties (such as crease recovery, stiffness, drape, tear and tensile strength, abrasion resistance) and relative softness of the fabric samples, and the results are as follows:
· All three types increased fabric hydrophobicity, with macro and micro softeners having a more significant effect compared to nano softener.
· Crease recovery was improved by all softeners, with macro softener showing the highest improvement.
· The fabric's tearing strength was enhanced by the use of softeners, with the greatest improvement seen in samples treated with micro softener and the least in those treated with nano softener.
· The softeners significantly boosted the fabric's abrasion resistance, with samples treated with macro softener showing the highest average strength loss from abrasion cycles and those treated with nano softener showing the lowest.
· Softness increased with concentration for all three types, with nano softener-treated samples being the softest.
· Nano softeners had the best performance in terms of durability to laundering, indicating intrinsic fiber penetration. The SEM photographs confirmed that macro softeners mainly deposit on the surface, nano softeners penetrate the fibers, and micro softeners have an intermediate effect.
