Hugo Jean Marie Demeyere

Quantifying wetting and wicking phenomena in cotton terry as affected by fabric conditioner treatment.

To enable the simultaneous determination of both the speed and extent of liquid absorption in cotton fabrics, we have developed a radial, horizontal wicking experiment. The initial part of the absorbed mass versus time profile is linear, which allows us to determine the wicking rate. After a given time, a constant mass is reached, corresponding to the liquid absorption capacity of the fabric. Using the method proposed, we show that a fabric conditioner does not affect the physical characteristics. such as porosity and pore size, and hence the water absorption capacity of cotton terry. On the other hand, there is a pronounced effect on the wicking rate. Based on the experimentally determined values of the contact angle of water on the treated fabrics, the differences in wicking rates as a function of the kind of fabric conditioner can be ascribed to differences in wettability.

B.1.I – Laundry Cleaning of Textiles

This chapter reviews the different aspects of textile cleaning and laundry detergents. A brief introduction to textiles, soils, and different detergent forms is given, and the key ingredients and cleaning mechanisms in a modern domestic laundry detergent (comprising surfactants, bleach, enzymes, builders, chelants, polymers, and others) are covered. Performance test methods and future trends are also analyzed. Over the past decades, a stream of innovations has led to more and more effective and efficient laundry detergents. These innovations were partly driven by the need to ensure compatibility with modern textiles and washing appliances. An even more important factor driving the innovations comes from the need to minimize environmental impact and from the consumer wish for increased performance and convenience. This approach has led to the development of superior products with readily biodegradable surfactants, new builders which replace phosphates, an optimized bleach system along with enzymes that take a more central role in many textile-cleaning products. Several other additives have been developed to strengthen specific performance areas and/or to deliver fabric care benefits. In addition to the formulation, the physical form of the laundry products has also evolved over time, from classical granules to liquids, then to compact granules and liquids, and more recently, to tablets and single-dose liquid laundry products (liquitabs).

PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF BIMODALS : A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SUBMICRON SIZING INSTRUMENTATION

During the preparation of polymer colloids the formation of bi- and multimodal populations can be observed. In order to control processes and applications one should be able to monitor the phenomena underlying the formation of multimodals. Therefore the capability of different particle sizing instruments to resolve bimodals in the submicron range, has been investigated. The selected techniques were: Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (PCS), Static Light Scattering (SLS), Sedimentation Field Flow Fractionation (SF3), Disk Photosedimentometer (DCP) and Electron Microscopy (EM). For PCS the comparative study has been broadenend towards different commercial instruments and software packages located in a university as well in an industrial environment.