Effect of fabric softeners on flame resistance of knitted fabric

Abstract

In this study effect of fabric softeners that are used during bleaching and dyeing process to improve fabric handle, high elastic resilience and sewing performance on burning behaviour of knitted fabric was investigated. After comprehensive literature survey it was seen that no published data exist with regard to the effect of softening finishes on the burning behavior of knitting fabrics. However, softening finishes will add a fuel source via the softening agent's flammability characteristics. Fire hazards due to clothing depend on various factors such as fiber type, fabric construction, chemical finishes and oxygen concentration. For this aim, in this study, cationic, amphoteric and non-ionic based softeners were chosen and they were applied to cotton knitted fabrics at the five different concentrations. Burning behaviour of the all fabrics was evaluated by using BS 5438 vertical flammability test method due to its results are very similar to real fabric burning behaviour and it is more responsive than the other test methods. The relationship between flame propagation rate and concentration of the softeners were tried to define. Experimental results were evaluated according to Polynomial Regression Analysis by using SPSS statistical programme and how, and at which level softener's concentrations affect knitted fabric's burning behaviour was defined. Generally using fabric softeners, at each concentration levels considerably caused the fabric's flammability to increase

Özet

Çalışmada, ağartma ve boyama sonrası kumaşların tutumunu, dikiş kolaylığını ve esnekliğini arttırmak üzere kullanılan yumuşatıcıların örme kumaşın yanma davranışını nasıl etkilediğini incelemek amacıyla amfoterik, katyonik ve nanyonik karakterli silikon ve yumuşatıcıların her biri beş değişik konsantrasyonda pamuklu süprem kumaşlara uygulanmış ve yanma davranışları BS 5438 dikey yanma testine göre değerlendirilmiştir. Deney sonuçlan SPSS istatistik programı kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Yapılan polinomiyal regresyon analizi çalışması ile değişen yumuşatıcı konsantrasyonu ve kumaşların yanma yayılma hızlan arasındaki ilişki belirlenmeye çalışılmıştır.Genel olarak yumuşatıcı kullanımı kumaş yanıcılığını önemli ölçüde arttırmıştır.