This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Goldthwait, C. F. Articles by Sloan, W. G. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Contribution of Swelling to Water-Resistant Cotton Fabrics

Effects of Maturity of Cotton, Cloth Construction, and Finishing Processes

Southern Regional Research Laboratory, New Orleans, Louisiana

William G. Sloan

Southern Regional Research Laboratory, New Orleans, Louisiana

A summary of a comprehensive study of the manufacture and finishing of swelling- type water-resistant cotton fabrics of medium weight is presented. These are fabrics which stop the passage of water by the swelling of their constituent fibers. Such stoppage depends upon a zone of very high density flatwise through the fabric. Of many fabrics produced, a few were of swelling type in the grey, but only one after finishing.

Variables which are usually given less consideration, had most attention, viz., maturity, and use of very immature cottons; effects of processing the yarn before weaving; and effects of increasing the tightness of fabrics by adding picks up to 36% more than normal. The fabrics were finished in a pilot plant, and an unusual study was made of the effects of successive steps in finishing on air and water resistance.

Unique fabrics produced showed unusual properties, especially strength and thickness.

Fabrics were evaluated for closing by methods intended to exclude water resistance from other sources than swelling. Many special tests showed that swelling capacity was reduced by finishing, to a greater extent with immature than with mature cottons. The air spaces in dense, grey fabrics of very immature cotton constitute capillary sys tems of unusually fine pores, especially resistant to the passage of air or water. This advantage over mature cotton is largely offset, however, because the immature cotton loses 4-5% more noncellulosic material when scoured, which leaves more space to fill by swelling. Cottons of average maturity, and from fine to average in fineness, are preferable.

Entrapped air in partially swollen fabrics contributed to water resistance beyond the effect of air in ordinary water-repellent goods. This was observed especially in samples swollen in water vapor and may add to the resistance of a fabric in service if exposed to a very humid atmosphere.

Textile Research Journal, Vol. 31, No. 5, 434-446 (1961)
DOI: 10.1177/004051756103100506


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?