Hydro and Oil Repellent Finishing of Textiles by UV-curing: Influence of Scaled-up Process Parameters

The topic of the present study was the semi-industrial scale-up of the hydro and oil repellent finishing of textile fabrics by ultraviolet (UV) curing of silica based or fluorocarbon resins on fiber surface. The method applied at laboratory scale to cotton, polyester and polyamide fibers was already studied in previous works [1-3]: the optimization of process parameters, followed by a deep characterization of treated samples, revealed the effectiveness of the treatment. In the present study, a great number of larger fabric samples were impregnated by padding with commercial finishing agents and then were irradiated with an high power, semi industrial UV lamp, in air. Samples add-on was significantly reduced in order to hold down the finishing cost. White and dyed samples of different textile composition were treated and evaluated in terms of conferred repellency, yellowing or color changes. Most relevant process parameters were investigated, considering the thermal process normally adopted at industrial level as reference. Results were so statistically evaluated by Six Sigma method with Minitab 16 software, to point out the most influencing parameters and the real possibility to replace the thermal treatment with UV-curing. [1] F. Ferrero, M. Periolatto, C. Udrescu, Fibers Polym, 13(2), 191 (2012). [2] F. Ferrero, M. Periolatto, J of Nanosci Nanotechnol, 11, 8663 (2011). [3] F. Ferrero, M. Periolatto, M. Sangermano, M. Bianchetto Songia, J App Polym Sci, 107, 810 (2008).