This work evaluated the change in the low-stress mechanical behavior of 100% cotton and cotton/polyester yarns after the yarns were treated with a cellulase enzyme. The yarns made on four different spinning systems using the same fiber stock were reeled into skeins and the skeins were enzyme treated under identical treatment conditions. The compression and bending properties of both the treated and untreated yarns were measured to understand the influence of enzyme treatment on the hand related mechanical behavior of the structurally different yarns. The treated yarns representing different spinning systems showed widely different weight losses, suggesting that both fiber erosion and fiber separation from the yarn might be contributing to the observed weight losses. Irrespective of the structural differences, all treated yarns showed greater thickness compression, higher compression energy, and reduced compressive resilience, all of which indicate improvement in compressive softness. Most treated yarns also showed reduced bending stiffness, suggesting improvement in yarn flexibility. The extent of change in yarn properties was found to be different for different yarns, suggesting that it may be necessary to optimize the treatment conditions separately for different yarn structures. From the observed changes in yarn properties, it can be concluded that optimally engineered woven and knitted fabrics made from the treated yarns would feel softer and more flexible.
By: P. Radhakrishnaiah, Jingwu He and Fred L. Cook Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332
Submit Date: 12/31/1999 20:00