Cationic softeners cause more yellowing of cotton fabric than silicone or non-ionic softeners. Testing showed that as the concentration of cationic softeners increased from 5% to 20%, the yellowness index and b-value increased, indicating higher levels of yellowing. The bending length and absorbency time decreased with higher cationic softener concentration, showing increased softness and hydrophobicity. More analysis is needed to determine trends conclusively. The document studied the effects of different types and concentrations of softeners on the yellowing and properties of cotton fabric.

1. of Cotton Because
of Softeners
LABEESH KUMAR
(2015TTF2388)

2. Hypothesis:
In LNJ Denim where I was working previous year, there was a huge problem of Shade defects
due to softeners. So I decide to couple my colour knowledge with my work experience and
design this experiment.
Here I divide my experiment in two parts-
1. To study the yellowing effect of different kinds of softeners on cotton fabric
2. To study the softening and yellowing effect of different cationic softener concentration on
cotton fabric, by measuring Bending length, absorbency time (Drop test), Whiteness index(CIE
WI) and Yellowing Index (YI E313).
Further Scope:
We can optimize the softening process by CCD (Central composite design)
technique by taking the various parameters like pH, Concentration, Temperature
etc.

3. AIM-1 • To study the yellowing effect of different kinds of
softeners on cotton fabric.
SOFTENING • MECHANISM
CAUSES OF
YELLOWNESS
INSTRUMENTAL
GENERAL
INFORMATION
RESULTS &
DISSCUSSION
• EFFECT ON YELLOWNESS
• EFFECT ON WHITENESS
INFERENCES

4. Aim-1:
• To study the yellowing effect of different kinds of softeners on cotton
fabric.

5. Why softener…?
Softness ↑
Handle ↑
Drape ↑
Cutting qualities ↑
Sewing qualities ↑
static build-up ↓

6. FABRIC SUBSTRATE
MECHANISMS OF SOFTENING:
Orientation and
bonding
It’s a surface
effect.
New surface of
Mol. Chains,
Provide Softening
Reduce inter
fibre friction
We touch the tail
of the molecule
Hydrophobic
tail
Cationic
softener
-ve zeta potential on
cotton surface

7. Cationic softeners
Non-ionic softener
Anionic softener

8. Silicone softeners

9. 1. FIBER AGEING:
Continuous exposure and photo oxidation causes yellowness increase
2. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS
Yellowing by ozone -Earth surface Ozone oxidizes the Indigo dye into Isatin and Antranalic
acid, which are yellow in colour
Oxides of nitrogen-Nitrogen oxides react with the residues present on the surface of the
fabric and cause yellowness of Nylons
3. CHEMICAL ADDITIVES
Softeners
Optical brightening agent- Over usage, High heat or high humidity
CAUSES OF FABRIC YELLOWING:

10. YELLOWING DUE TO SOFTENERS
• Most commonly used softeners are the amine based (N-H) cationic
and silicone softeners
• Reacts with free Cl, and form chloramines (yellow in colour)
• These Amines oxidise at higher temperature to form oxides of nitrogen
(yellow in colour)

11. General information about
Instruments:

12. Whiteness Index-CIE

13. RECIPE & PROCEDURE
Sample Chemicals Concentration(%)
1 Cationic 10
2 Cationic 20
3 Non-ionic 10
4 Non-ionic 20
5 Silicon 10
6 Silicon 20
Weigh the samples
Prepare the softener
solutions with M:L =
1:40
Pad the samples by
padding mangle
Dry the samples at
105 ⁰C for 2 min.
Testing the treated and untreated samples at Spectrophotometer .

14. Sample name L* a* b* WI-CIE YI-E313 DL* Da* Db* DE*
Untreated 83.4 -0.11 0.46 60.61 0.89
Cationic 10% 83.61 -0.19 1.05 58.01 2.09 0.21 L -0.08 G 0.59 Y 0.63
Cationic 20% 83.05 -0.22 1.12 56.58 2.21 -0.35 D -0.11 G 0.66 Y 0.76
Non-ionic 10% 83.48 -0.14 0.67 59.68 1.32 0.07 L -0.02 G 0.21 Y 0.22
Non-ionic 20% 82.64 -0.11 0.49 58.99 0.96 -0.76 D 0 0.03Y 0.77
Silicon 10% 83.69 -0.13 0.82 59.31 1.65 0.29 L -0.02 G 0.42 Y 0.44
Silicon 20% 83.27 -0.14 0.88 58.21 1.78 -0.13 D -0.02 G 0.42 Y 0.44
Experimental results:

15. Sample name YI-E313
Untreated 0.89
Cationic 10% 2.09
Cationic 20% 2.21
0.89
2.09
2.21
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Untreated 10 20
Yellownessindex
Cationic softener %
Cationic softener % ‘vs’Yellowness index
Observations:

16. 0.89
1.65
1.78
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2
Untreated Silicon 10% Silicon 20%
Yellownessindex
Silicon softener %
Silicon softener % ‘vs’ Yellowness index
Yellowness index
Sample name YI-E313
Untreated 0.89
Silicon 10% 1.65
Silicon 20%
1.78

17. 0.89
1.32
0.96
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
Untreated Nonionic 10% Nonionic 20%
Yellownessindex
Nonionic softener %
Non-ionic softener % ‘vs’ Yellowness index
YI-E313
Sample name YI-E313
Untreated 0.89
Nonionic 10% 1.32
Nonionic 20% 0.96

18. untreated, 0.89
10%, 2.09
20%, 2.21
untreated, 0.89
10%, 1.65
20%, 1.78
10%, 1.32
20%, 0.96
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
untreated 10% 20%
YELLOWNESSINDEX
SILICON SOFTENER %
cationic silicon non ionic
The order of yellowing tendency of softeners-
Cationic softener > Silicon softener > Non-ionic softener

19. Concentration Cationic Silicon Nonionic
Untreated 60.61 60.61 60.61
10% 58.01 59.31 59.68
20% 56.58 58.21 58.99
Untreated, 60.61
10%, 58.01
20%, 56.58
Untreated, 60.61
10%, 59.31
20%, 58.21
Untreated, 60.61
10%, 59.68
20%, 58.99
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
Untreated 10% 20%
Whitenessindex
Softner conc.(%)
Whiteness index v/s softner concentration(%)
Cationic silicon Nonionic
The order of Whitening tendency because of softeners-
Cationic softener < Silicon softener < Non-ionic softener

20. INFERENCES:
• Among three kinds of softeners, cationic softener is showing highest
yellowness and least whiteness- Because it’s the only one which is
having amine groups.
• On increasing concentration of softener yellowness is increasing in
cationic, and silicon softeners but there is no specific trend for non-
ionic softener.
• We can’t infer the trend from these three values, So more number of
experimental analysis is required.
• Because in cationic softeners quaternary ammonium group may
present, hence it’s imparting yellowness to cotton fabric.

21. AIM-2
• To study the softening and yellowing effect of
different cationic softener concentration on
cotton fabric.
CATIONIC
SOFTENER
RECIPE AND
PROCEDURE
RESULT AND
DISSCUSSION
• EFFECT ON BENDING LENGTH
• EFFECT ON YELLOWNESS
• EFFECT ON ABSORBENCY
INFERENCES

22. AIM-2
To study the softening and yellowing effect of different cationic softener
concentration on cotton fabric, by measuring Bending length, absorbency time
(Drop test), Whiteness index(CIE WI) and Yellowing Index (YI E313).

23. CATIONIC SOFTENER
Defined as materials which dissolve or disperse in water, concentrate and orient
at interfaces and ionize in such a way that the cation includes a hydrocarbon
chain, which is hydrophobic and contains from 8 to 25 carbon atoms.
 Shows the best soft handle.
 Have affinity to almost all fibres and are usually applied by the exhaust method
 Only problem is incompatibility with anionic auxiliaries (optical brighteners,
dyeing auxiliaries) as well as their tendency to yellow in comparison with non-
ionic products.
 Cationic softeners are mainly used for coloured textile substrates .

25. Chemicals Recipe 1 Recipe 2 Recipe 3 Recipe 4
Cationic softener
(%)
5 10 15 20
Following tests are done -
• Bending length
• Absorbency
• CIE L a b testing
With change in softener concentration
• Softener Concentration (%) - 5, 10, 15, 20
• M:L - 1:40
• Process- Pad - Dry
RECIPE & PROCEDURE

26. EFFECT ON BENDING LENGTH
Softener
Concentration (%)
Bending Length (cm)
Warp Weft
UT 2.75 2.72
5 2.65 2.3
10 2.55 2.25
15 2.35 2.24
20 2.23 2.1
RESULT & DISCUSSION:

27. 2.75 2.65 2.55
2.35
2.23
2.72 2.3 2.25 2.24 2.1
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
Control 5 10 15 20
BendingLength(cm)
Softener Concentration (%)
Bending length Vs softener conc.
Warp Weft
Inference#1
• On increasing the softener concentration bending length decreases.
Softness
inter fibre friction
That’s why fibre bends more easily.
Inference#2
• Warp-way bending length > Weft-way bending length .
May be because
• generally EPI >PPI
• On warp we applied
size during weaving so
residual starch is giving
the higher bending
length.
For Weftway bending length
For Warpway bending length

28. EFFECT ON ABSORBENCY
Soften
er
Conc.
(%)
Absorbency (..m
..sec)
5 4 min
10 5min 30 sec
15 5 min 55 sec
20 9 min
240
330
355
540
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
5 10 15 20
ABSORBENCYTIME(SEC)
SOFTENER CONC.(%)
Abosrbancy time (sec)
Abosrbancy (sec)
On adding cationic softener absorbency reduces drastically-
“Because by definition a cationic softener includes a hydrocarbon chain,
which is hydrophobic and contains from 8 to 25 carbon atoms.”
For Untreated= 2-3 sec

29. EFFECT ON YELLOWNESS:
1st sample set
Sample name L* a* b* WI-CIE YI-E313 DL* Da* Db* DE*
Untreated 83.25 -0.13 0.48 60.2 0.92
Cationic 5%(F) 84.04 -0.17 0.57 61.28 1.07 0.79L -0.03G 0.09Y 0.8
Cationic 10%(F) 83.56 -0.18 0.58 60.27 1.09 0.30L -0.05G 0.10Y 0.32
Cationic 15%(F) 84.23 -0.21 0.63 61.35 1.16 0.98L -0.07G 0.15Y 0.99
Cationic 20%(F) 84.1 -0.19 0.71 60.68 1.35 0.85L -0.06G 0.23Y 0.88
Concentration(%) YI-E313-1 Db*-1
0 0.92
5 1.07 0.09Y
10 1.09 0.10Y
15 1.16 0.15Y
20 1.35 0.23Y

30. 2nd sample set
Sample name L* a* b* WI-CIE YI-E313 DL* Da* Db* DE*
Untreated 83.25 -0.13 0.48 60.2 0.92
Cationic 5%(B) 83.62 -0.2 0.61 60.27 1.13 0.37L -0.07G 0.13Y 0.4
Cationic 10%(B) 84.1 -0.2 0.63 61.08 1.18 0.85L -0.06G 0.15Y 0.86
Cationic 15%(B) 84.12 -0.19 0.66 60.97 1.25 0.86L -0.05G 0.18Y 0.88
Cationic 20%(B) 84.36 -0.22 0.7 61.27 1.3 1.11L -0.09G 0.22Y 1.14
Concentration(%) YI-E313-2 Db*-2
0 0.92
5 1.13 0.13Y
10 1.18 0.15Y
15 1.25 0.18Y
20 1.3 0.22Y

31. Conc.
(%)
YI-E313
(For 1st
sample set)
YI-E313
(For 2nd
sample set)
0 0.92 0.92
5 1.07 1.13
10 1.09 1.18
15 1.16 1.25
20 1.35 1.3
0, 0.92
5, 1.07
10, 1.09
15, 1.16
20, 1.35
0, 0.92
5, 1.13
10, 1.18
15, 1.25
20, 1.3
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
0 5 10 15 20
YellownessindexYI-E313
Cationic softener Concentration (%)
YI-E313-1 YI-E313-2

32. Concentration
(%)
Db* (For 1st
sample set)
Db* (For 2nd
sample set)
5 0.09Y 0.13Y
10 0.10Y 0.15Y
15 0.15Y 0.18Y
20 0.23Y 0.22Y
5, 0.09 10, 0.1
15, 0.15
20, 0.23
5, 0.13
10, 0.15 15, 0.18
20, 0.22
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
5 10 15 20
Db*value
Concentration(%)
Db* value v/s Concentration(%)
Db* (For 1st sample set) Db* (For 2nd sample set)

33. Conclusion:
 Among all type of softeners cationic softeners are showing the more yellowing for cotton
fabric.
 Higher the concentration of cationic softener, more will be the –
• Yellowing effect
• Softening effect
• And lesser absorbency.
 For minimizing the yellowness of cotton we will prefer lesser concentration of softener.

34. REFERENCES:
• Handbook of fiber science and technology. Vol. II; Functional finishes: Part B. Menachem Lewin und
Stephen B. Sello.
• GUPTA, D. "Softening treatments for technical textiles." Advances in the Dyeing and Finishing of Technical
Textiles (2013): 154.
• Boethling, R. S., Elizabeth Sommer, and David DiFiore. "Designing small molecules for
biodegradability." Chemical reviews 107, no. 6 (2007): 2207-2227.
• Bakhtyar, S.; Nguyen, K.; Rabke, S.; Gagnon, M. M. Closed Bottle Biodegradation Test for Drilling Fluids.
Presented at the 27th Annual Meeting, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) North
America, Montreal, Canada, 5-9 Nov, 2006.
• Ajayi, Joseph O. "Fabric smoothness, friction, and handle." Textile research journal 62, no. 1 (1992): 52-59.
• Ali, S. I., and Shahida Begum. "Fabric softeners and softness perception."Ergonomics 37, no. 5 (1994): 801-
806.
• Czech, A. M., J. Pavlenyi, and A. J. Sabia. "Modified Silicone Softeners for Fluorocarbon Soil Release
Treatments." Textile Chemist & Colorist 29, no. 9 (1997).
• Almeida, Luís de, and Artur Cavaco Paulo. "Softening of cotton by enzymatic hydrolysis." (1993).

35. Thank you…   