Properties of silicone softeners and effects on the fabric style-Iota

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Service > Properties of silicone softeners and effects on the fabric style

Properties of silicone softeners and effects on the fabric style

The basic components of the silicone-based softening agents are a wide variety of linear polysiloxanes, their molecular weight is not high, the flow state at normal temperature, it is usually known as a silicone oil. Polydimethylsiloxane silicone silicon (DMPS), also known as methyl silicone oil, when the partially methylated methyl silicone is more substituted carbon functional groups, known as modified silicone oil. By nature of the substituents can be divided into reactive modified silicone oil and modified silicone-modified non-reactive silicone oil.

Silicone softener in domestic production and application can be said to go through four generations: the first generation of high molecular weight silicone emulsions terminal hydroxyl groups (hydroxyl milk), by siloxane octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4), water, emulsifiers, catalysts and other raw materials under certain conditions emulsion polymerization, with the third generation of reactive groups (amino, epoxy) polysiloxane emulsion polymerization process substantially identical with the hydroxyl milk, except that the in the feed by adding a certain amount of the silane coupling agent. Amino, the introduction of these epoxy functional groups, which greatly improves the finished fabric softness, smoothness, elasticity and durability of finishing effect, the downside is that there is breaking, the phenomenon of floating oil during use. Such silicone emulsions with reactive groups due to the use of ionic surfactants, an emulsion which was strongly cationic or anionic, when compounded with other additives strong selectivity, poor compatibility,; Fourth generation based on amino silicone-modified silicone represented, is the most representative varieties silicone softener on the market today, we usually put aminoethylaminopropyl standard called polydimethylsiloxane silicone oil, and put Other amino substituted polysiloxane called modified silicone oil. When the amino-silicone amino polarity due to the strong, and the fiber surface hydroxyl, carboxyl and other interactions, and the orientation of the fibers form a very strong adsorption, so that the coefficient of friction between the fibers decreases, which means that the fabric in hand, with a small The force will be able to make the fibers begin to slide, so feel soft. Amino silicone oil is easy to be a suitable emulsifying surfactant to form a stable transparent microemulsion.

The fourth generation of silicone products (amino-modified silicone oil) has become the mainstream silicon softener, so we focus on the relationship between structure and properties of amino silicone fabric.

Characteristics of amino silicone oil

Amino silicone has four important parameters: ammonia value, viscosity, particle size and reactivity. These four parameters reflecting the quality of basic amino silicone oil, and will greatly affect the treated fabric style. Such as feel, whiteness, shade, and the degree of difficulty of silicone oil emulsion.

Ammonia values

Amino silicone oil imparts a variety of properties such as softness, smoothness, fullness mostly brought amino polymers. Amino group content by ammonia value, which refers to the number of milliliters of the amino silicone and 1g desired concentration of hydrochloric acid of 1 equivalent. Thus, the ammonia value is directly proportional to the mole percent amino silicone oil content. Amino group content is higher, the higher ammonia value is, the more finishing fabrics feel soft, smooth, because the amino functional groups increases, so that it greatly increased affinity for the fabric to form a more regular molecular arrangement, to impart fabric softening smooth feel .

But amino active hydrogen easily oxidized forming a chromophore, resulting in yellowing of the fabric or slightly yellow. Amino group in the same situation, obviously with the increasing content of amino (or ammonia value), increase the probability of oxidation, severe yellowing.

With increasing polarity increased ammonia value of amino-silicone molecule, thereby providing for the amino silicone emulsion favorable prerequisites, microemulsion can be made, and the size and distribution of the choice of emulsifier and the emulsion particle diameter and also Ammonia values correlated.

Viscosity

Viscosity and polymer molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. In general, the greater the viscosity, the greater the molecular weight of the amino silicone oil, the better the softer the feel of the fabric surface in the film formation, the better the smoothness, but its permeability worse, especially for hard twist woven fabric and fine denier fabric, silicone oil is difficult to penetrate inside the fiber, affect the fabric performance, the viscosity is too large will make the emulsion stability is made worse or difficult microemulsion. Generally can not be adjusted only by the viscosity of the product, often to balance the performance of the product value and viscosity by ammonia. Ammonia is usually low value, they need high viscosity, and thus balance the softness of the fabric.

Thus, smooth feel on the requirements of the amino-modified silicone oil of high viscosity. However, when softening baking, some amino silicone cross-linked film, thereby increasing the molecular weight, therefore, the initial and final molecular weight of an amino silicone oil in the silicone oil film formation on the fabric of different molecular weights. Thus, the same amino silicone oil under different processing conditions, the final product of the slip can vary a lot. On the other hand, low-viscosity silicone oil can also be adjusted by adding a crosslinking agent or curing temperature to improve the fabric handle. Low-viscosity silicone oil increased permeability, and through cross-linking agent and process optimization can be integrated high, the advantages of low viscosity silicone oil. General amino silicone oil viscosity range of 150 to 5000 cps.

But it is worth noting that the molecular weight distribution of amino silicone affect product performance may be greater. Penetrate inside the low molecular weight fiber, and high molecular weight distribution in the outer surface of the fibers, the fibers are amino silicone inside and outside of the package, giving the fabric a soft and smooth feel, but the problem may be caused by differences in the molecular weight is too much effect on micro stability of the emulsion.

Reactivity

Amino silicone oil having reactivity, can produce self-crosslinking, and the degree of crosslinking increases, the fabric will increase slippery feeling, softness and fullness, especially for improving elasticity more apparent finishing. Of course, the general amino silicone oil increases when using the crosslinking agent or curing conditions, can also increase the degree of crosslinking, and thus can improve resilience. A hydroxy or amino-terminal amino silicone oil, the ammonia value is higher, a good cross-linking degree thereof, the better the elasticity.

Microemulsion emulsion particle size and charge of

Amino-silicone oil emulsion with small particle sizes, generally less than 0.15μ, it is thermodynamically stable emulsion is completely dispersed state, its storage stability, excellent heat stability and shear stability, generally not breaking. While small particle size increases the surface area of the particles, thereby greatly improving the probability of contact with the fabric of the amino-silicone, the adsorption amount of the surface increases and the uniformity is also improved, to improve permeability, thus easy to form a continuous film, improve the flexibility of the fabric, slipperiness and a sense of fullness, especially for fine denier fabric. However, if the particle size distribution of amino silicone uneven, will greatly affect the stability of the emulsion.

Amino silicone microemulsion charge depends emulsifier. Under normal circumstances anionic fiber adsorption of cationic amino silicone is easy to improve the treatment effect. The adsorption of anionic emulsion is not easy, non-ionic emulsion adsorbed amount and uniformity of better than anionic emulsion. If the fiber negative charge is small, the impact on the different charge of the microemulsion is greatly reduced. Thus fiber such as polyester adsorption of various charges microemulsion and uniformity are better than cotton fibers.

Affect the performance of the different amino silicone and fabric feel

Softness

Although the amino silicone is characterized by the combination of amino functional groups and greatly improve the fabric of the affinity of silicone fabric and regular arrangement of the way, giving the fabric a soft and smooth feel. But the actual finishing effect depends largely on the nature of the amino functional groups, number and distribution of amino silicone oil. Meanwhile latex emulsion formulations and average particle size also affects the soft feel. If these factors to achieve the desired balance, then finishing the optimum soft style, called "super soft." Ammonia values are generally more amino silicone softener in between 0.3 to 0.6, ammonia higher the value, the more uniform distribution of amino groups in the silicone oil, the softer the fabric feel, but when ammonia is greater than 0.6, and a soft touch fabric obvious increase. In addition, smaller particle size emulsion, the emulsion is more conducive to attach sets, good for a soft touch.

Smooth feel

Due to the surface tension is small organic silicon compounds, amino silicone microemulsion therefore easily spread on the fiber surface, to form a good smooth feel. In general, the smaller the value of ammonia, the greater the molecular weight of an amino silicone oil, the smoothness, the better. In addition, terminal amino silicone oil due to link the silicon atoms are all connected to the methyl group, may be formed very neatly aligned, thereby obtaining an excellent smooth feel.

Elastic (fullness)

Amino-silicone fabric softener to bring elasticity (fullness), because of different reactivity, the viscosity of the silicone oil and ammonia values differ. In general, the flexibility of the fabric depends on the fabric in drying stereotypes, amino silicon film on the fabric surface crosslinking conditions. Amino silicone oil a. terminal hydroxyl value of its high ammonia is fullness (elastic) the better. b. the introduction of hydroxyl side chains can be adjusted more substantial elastic fabric. c. the introduction of long-chain alkyl side chains are also available to the ideal elastic feel. d. Select a suitable crosslinking agent, preferably an elastic effect can be obtained.

Whiteness

Because of the special active amino functional group, at the time, under the influence of heat and ultraviolet amino may be oxidized, resulting fabric yellowing or slightly yellow. Impact of amino silicone fabric whiteness, including causing yellowing of white fabric and colored fabric discoloration, whiteness has been the amino silicone finishing agent in addition to feel important outside evaluation indicators. Typically the lower the ammonia value of amino-silicone, the better the whiteness; however Accordingly, the ammonia value becomes small, the softener is deteriorated. This requires selecting an appropriate ammonia value of the silicone oil to achieve the desired feel. In the case of a low value of ammonia, but also by changing the molecular weight of an amino silicone oil, to achieve a desired soft touch.

Amino silicone finishing style

In general, the finishing touch on the requirements can be summarized as soft, smooth and elastic (fullness) three aspects. We already know that ammonia can choose different values, different end groups and the control of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the different synthesized viscosity, and the reactivity of ammonia value of amino silicone oil differences. Then, select a different combination of silicone oil and a variety of amino silicone, meet a variety of fibers in soft, smooth and elastic different requirements.

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