This document presents information about softeners. It defines softeners as finishing agents that make fabric soft. It discusses why softening is done to impart properties like soft hand, pliability and flexibility. It describes the mechanism of softening involving long hydrophobic and water-soluble polar groups that are surface active. It outlines the main types of softeners as cationic, anionic and reactive. Cationic softeners are commonly used quaternary ammonium salts. Anionic softeners are unstable in hard water. Reactive softeners involve cross-linking. The document concludes by discussing applications of softeners in adding softness and smoothness to textiles.

1. Presented By :
Alishba Iqbal:21-NTU-AM-1145
Afeefa Safdar:21-NTU-AM-1145
Eman Murtaza:21-NTU-AM-1145
Asad ullah :21-NTU-AM-1147
Gulam Abbas :21-NTU-AM-1151
Topic
Softener

2. Content:
• Define softener
• Why we do softening
• Mechanism of softening
• Types of softener
• Applications of softener

3. Definition :
Softener is an finishing agent, substance or lubricant which used to make fabric soft.
Softening Agent
• Glyphosate.
• Asphalt.
• Protease.
• Collagen.
• Siloxane.
• Glycerol.
• Bitumen.
• Detergent.

4. Why we do softening?
• To impart soft hand.
• Pliability.
• Flexibility .
• Drape.
• Removal of natural waxes and oil.
• Mechanical finishing processes can also make fabric feel stiff .

5. Mechanism of softening :
• Softeners contain one or two long, hydrophobic chains, usually C18
hydrocarbon.
• These are attached to a water‐soluble polar ‘head’ group to form an
amphiphilic, and therefore surface‐ active, molecule.

6. Types of softener:
1. Cationic softener
2. Anionic softener
3. Reactive softeners

7. Cationic softener :
They are usually quaternary ammonium salts, amino-esters and amino-amides. They are
recommended for all types of fiber, and can be also applied with exhaustion process in acid
environment (pH 4-5).
Chemically cationic softener.
• sap amines
• amido amines
• imidazoline
• Quaternary ammonium compounds

8. Anionic softener
They are unstable in hard water and acid environment.
Anionic finishing agents have negatively charged
hydrophilic group. The cellulose acquires negative charge
when wetted out and attracts the positively charged
hydrophobic group, with hydrophilic group orienting away
from the fiber surface

9. Reactive softener:
• N-methylol derivatives of superior fatty amides or urea
compounds replaced with fatty acids. The products have
to be cross-linked. They provide permanent softness and
water repellency.

10. Application of softener:
• Fabrics softeners add softness and smoothness to the textile substrates and
fabrics.
• enhancing tear strength and color shade.
• They also guarantee soft handling, moisture management, and improved tear
resistance.
• Softeners have their main effects on the fabrics' surface.