INVESTIGATION ON SHRINKAGE OF POLYESTER FABRIC AFTER ALKALI TREATMENT

Abstract

In textile industry, 100% polyester fabric is mainly to produce winter apparel,
bags and households products, modified polyesyer fiber is used for producing quality
sport-wears. The drawback of 100% polyester fabric is toughness and low moisture
absorption. To improve the comfort of 100% polyester fabric, the fabric is treated by
alkali; after alkali treatment the surface structure of polyester fiber is modified, the
fabric is smoother and has better moisture absorption. For fabric produced by staple
fiber, the fabric normally has a shrinkage after finishing, especially alkali treatment.
The paper investigated influence of alkali treatment on shrinkage of 100% polyester
fabric with the parameters: treatment temperature, treatment time and treatment
concentration. The experiments indicated that when technological parameters of
alkali treatment increase, the shrinkage of 100% polyester fabric increase sharply
and polyester fabric warp shrinkage is higher than weft shrinkage.