Increased Comfort of Polyester Fabrics.

Area of Science:

• Textile Science
• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Fiber hydrophilicity is crucial for textile comfort and user experience.
• Polyester (PES) modification aims to increase moisture content for improved comfort.
• Glycerol's hygroscopic properties offer potential for enhancing PES hydrophilicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the hydrophilicity of polyester (PES) through glycerol treatments.
• To investigate the effects of microwave irradiation and alkaline treatment on glycerol adhesion.
• To evaluate the impact of various treatment conditions on PES moisture content and comfort.

Main Methods:

• Glycerol treatment of PES fabrics.
• Application of microwave irradiation and alkaline treatment.
• Characterization using moisture content, negative ion, water diffusion, and water vapor resistance analyses.
• Evaluation of parameters: bath ratio, temperature, time, and microwave intensity.

Main Results:

• Decreasing bath ratio and increasing time/temperature significantly boosted moisture gain in PES, reaching almost 14%.
• Alkaline treatment resulted in the highest moisture increase.
• 500 W microwave irradiation enhanced glycerol retention after rinsing.
• Glycerol-treated PES fabrics showed improved moisture content and comfort compared to untreated PES, cotton, and wool.

Conclusions:

• Glycerol treatment, especially with alkaline and microwave assistance, effectively improves polyester hydrophilicity and moisture management.
• Optimized treatment conditions lead to substantial moisture gain, enhancing fabric comfort.
• Modified PES demonstrates comparable or improved moisture properties relative to natural fibers like cotton and wool.