MICROBIOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF POLYESTER FABRICS FOR ENHANCING THE MOISTURE REGAIN AND IMPROVE THE WEAR COMFORT PROPERTIES

摘要

A novel biological treatment to polyester fabrics under anaerobic conditions brings about significant surface etching with improved moisture regain. The treatment with and without chemical pretreatments indicated that pretreatment gave optimum results. The moisture regain and the 'total hand value' have increased from 0.2% to 1.4% and from 2.8 to 4.0 respectively. The improvement in hydrophilicity is also shown in terms of increase in wicking height and soil release properties. The dyeing characteristics with disperse dyes, basic dyes and natural dyes show an increment in the k/s values. Dyeing with the basic dye, Basic blue is 4 times more than the control. Scanning Electron Microscopy indicated pits and pores in the treated lot responsible for higher absorption of water molecules. Being a biological treatment it offers several advantages such as discharge of less toxic effluents, economy in the treatment and making the process eco-friendly.