Cationization of waste woven cotton fabric - the influence on mechanical properties

Abstract

In this paper, the influence of cationization on the mechanical properties of waste cotton fabrics was investigated. Prior to determination of the mechanical properties, the efficiency of the cationizing agent was researched. Since the waste material was used, and its active groups are blocked, it was questionable whether it could be cationized. Therefore, waste cellulosic material, optically bleached and printed cotton fabrics, leftovers after tailoring process, were cationized during the mercerization process under laboratory conditions with high performance 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl-trimethyl ammonium chloride and more ecologically acceptable cationizing agents. Based on the zeta potential it was found that waste materials, optically bleached and printed cotton cloth, were cationized. Testing the tensile properties of cationized materials confirmed improved strength and elongation, enabling the “filter” to be produced by the needle-punch process. Application of such filter would have multiple benefits for textile industry - textile waste recycling and waste waters purification, which directly have positive influence to environment protection.