Fibrillation tendency of cellulosic fibers, part 6: Effects of treatments with additive polymers

The influences of the treatments with various polymers on fibrillation and abrasion resistances of lyo-cell materials were investigated with respect to the type of polymer, the polymer concentration, and the drying temperature. Fibril number, generated with agitation using ball-bearings (FNball), was decreased with increasing the concentration of aminofunctional polysiloxane because of reduction in water retention capacity (WRV) in fibers. The never-dried lyocell fiber showed smaller decrease in FNball because of its higher WRV when compared to dried fibers. The treatment with aminofunctional polysiloxane enhanced not only the fibrillation resistance but also abrasion resistance, which was indicated as rotation number of abrasive bar in the abrasion test (RNabr). No fibrillation was obtained in the fiber treated with 10 g/L aminofunctional polysiloxane at 120 degrees C for 20 min, while the fibers treated at 60 and 170 degrees C for 15 min were fibrillated in the agitation and abrasion tests. The addition of secondary polyethylene derivative also reduced the fibrillation tendency of lyocell; however, the extent of the reduction was lesser when compared with aminofunctional polysiloxane. The treatments with polyacrylate, polyurethane, and polyisocyanate derivatives improved the fibrillation resistance in lyocell fabrics, while fiber abrasion resistance was not significantly improved by the treatment with those additives, except in polyisocyanate. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.