Cellulase treatment is commonly used to produce specific finishing effects such as ageing, defuzzing, softening. Later is often achieved by sacrificing strength of fabric. Therefore, this research was undertaken to investigate the effects of enzymaticpre-treatment on the properties of cellulosic fibers and fabric produced from enzymaticallymodified fibers. Due to cleavage of glucosidic bond due to cellulase action, reducing ends produce on the fiber surface. They are the potential sites for hydrogenbonds with the neighboring fibers in nonwoven structure. This presumably could increase the strength of the nonwoven fabric. Thus, a series of experiments were conducted to investigate the changes in fiber properties and to give recommendations for preferable operation conditions. Tests were carried out using raw cotton and commercial enzyme solution, Cellusoft L. During this study a series fabric samples were produced from enzymatically modified raw cotton. These samples were tested for their strength and bending properties. The results indicate some improvement in strength and bending properties of the fabric regardless of the decrease in the single fiber strength.
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