Science ile & Kamel et al., J Textile Sci Eng 2012, 2:5 xt e E T n DOI: 10.4172/2165-8064.1000117 f g o i n l e a e n r r i n u Journal of Textile Science & Engineering g o J ISSN: 2165-8064 Research Article OpOpenen Access Access Improving Properties of Polyester and Cellulose Acetate Fabrics using Laser Irradiation Kamel MM1, Raslan WM1, Helmy HM1* and Al-Ashkar E2 1Textile Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt 2Physics Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt Abstract Polyester (PET) and Cellulose Acetate (CA) fabrics were modified by excimer laser irradiation. The induced surface changes were characterized by Scaning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The effect of laser treatment conditions such as power and time of irradiation on the dyeing behaviour of both polyester and cellulose acetate fabrics was studied. A greater depth of shade was achieved on laser treated fabrics compared to the untreated fabric dyed with disperse dye upon the same dyeing conditions. Fabric wettability, surface roughness and fastness properties were also given. Microscopic analysis of the cross section of the dyed samples showed deeper penetration of dye molecules inside the interior structure of cellulose acetate fabric. The depth of disperse dye into CA fibers increased from 20.2% for untreated sample to 43.9% for treated one that may help to overcome the ring dyeing problem. Also, laser treatment of cellulose acetate was more effective in enhancing its dyeability with disperse dye than ultrasonic dyeing technique under the same dyeing conditions. Keywords: Polyester; Cellulose acetate; Disperses dye; Laser also indicated. The Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) after dyeing treatment; Surface modification; Dyeability of CA and PET was evaluated as an indication of reduction of the pollution impacts. Introduction Experimental Poly Ethylene Terephthalate (PET) was the most important synthetic fibers in terms of annual world demand as well as in terms Materials of end uses. Cellulose Acetate (CA) is considered as man made fibers White secondary cellulose acetate (CA), satin weave, of density and it was used in fine clothes. Both PET and CA fabrics were dyed 1.32 g/cm3 and of 38.5% acetyl content was used. The fabric was cleaned with disperse dyes, which have a very low water solubility and were in an aqueous solution containing 2 g/l of nonionic detergent (Hostapal applied as aqueous dispersions. The dyeing process with disperse dyes CV, Clariant) at 60°C for 20 min followed by warm and cold rinsing. can be regarded as four sequential stages [1], (i) dissolution of dye The fabric was dried under ambient conditions. Polyester fabric (78 molecules from the dispersed state into the monomolecular dissolved dtex, 34 filaments) was provided by Misr Rayon Co, Kafr El-Dawar, state, (ii) transportation through the bulk solution to near the surface Egypt. The fabric was soaped at 40°C for 30 min, thoroughly washed, of the fiber, (iii) diffusion through any boundary layer surrounding the and air dried at room temperature. fiber and partition to the immediate surface of the fiber, (iv) diffusion within the fiber. The diffusion within the fiber is commonly regarded as Commercial disperse dyes such as C. I. Disperse Red 60 the rate-determining step in a circulating dye bath for well formulated (anthraquinone structure) and C. I. Disperse Red 82 (monoazo dyes. The surface modification of fibers may affect the diffusion step structure) were used for dyeing polyester and cellulose acetate and consequently the colour depth. respectively. All used chemicals were of reagent grade. Excimer laser etching of polyester fiber surfaces had been reported Laser treatment [2]. The induced physical and chemical properties due to this surface Irradiation of polyester and acetate fabric was conducted using a morphological modification had important impacts in textile processing Continuum Laser PRII 8000 OPO (Continuum Electro-Optics, Inc, of the fibers. The dyeability was found to be improved significantly USA, 2007) pulsed visible excimer laser of wavelength (λ) 532 nm, time after laser treatment. The wetting behaviour of the irradiated fabric of pulse 7 ns and maximum power of 5000 m watt Continuous Waves also changed substantially. Induced properties of polyester fabric due (CW) laser treatment was carried out using Infra Red Diode Laser to irradiation of excimer laser, including surface luster, wettability, of wave length (λ) 807 nm and maximum power of 457 m watt and dyeability and stability of the resulting micro-structures in the fiber surface, were investigated. After excimer laser treatment, the dyeability of the fabric was improved. The study on surface reflectance showed that excimer laser treatment resulted in a reduction and a more *Corresponding author: Helmy HM, Textile Research Division, National Research uniform distribution of fabric glossiness; the treated polyester fabric Centre, Cairo, Egypt, E-mail: [email protected] samples had a silk-like appearance [3]. Received April 16, 2012; Accepted June 23, 2012; Published June 25, 2012 The aim of this work was studying the dyeing behavior of laser Citation: Kamel MM, Raslan WM, Helmy HM, Al-Ashkar E (2012) Improving treated polyester and cellulose acetate fabrics dyed with disperse Properties of Polyester and Cellulose Acetate Fabrics using Laser Irradiation. J Textile Sci Eng 2:117. doi:10.4172/2165-8064.1000117 dyestuffs. The reflection of the morphological changes induced by excimer laser ablation on the dyeing ability was deduced. The cross- Copyright: © 2012 Kamel MM, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits section of dyed fibers was also evaluated. The fiber wettability, surface unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the roughness, whiteness, tensile properties and fastness properties were original author and source are credited. J Textile Sci Eng ISSN: 2165-8064 JTESE, an open access journal Volume 2 • Issue 5 • 1000117 Citation: Kamel MM, Raslan WM, Helmy HM, Al-Ashkar E (2012) Improving Properties of Polyester and Cellulose Acetate Fabrics using Laser Irradiation. J Textile Sci Eng 2:117. doi:10.4172/2165-8064.1000117 Page 2 of 6 intensity of 50 watt/cm2. The applied powers varied from 110 -510 mw Preparation of cross-sections: The dyed fibers were mounted in for different time intervals varied from 1 to 10 min. The fabric samples blocks and trimmed to obtain one clean cut surface perpendicular to were white plain weaves. All the samples were washed before excimer the fiber axis. The untreated and treated CA and PET samples were laser treatment to eliminate oil and other contamination on the surface. subjected to image microscopic analysis. The distance that the dye had diffused into the fiber was determined, starting from the fiber surface Dyeing along the fiber radius. The average of 15 readings was considered. The Polyester and cellulose acetate fabrics were exhaust dyed using C. penetration depth % was evaluated for each sample. I. Disperse Red 60 and C.I Disperse Red 82 respectively. Dyeing of the Results and Discussion fabrics was carried out in a bath containing (1% o.w.f) dye solution at different temperatures (70°-100°C) for different time intervals (5-90 Whiteness, wettability and surface roughness min) using a liquor ratio of 1:50. Dispersing agent of 1 g/l was added. The whiteness index: The whiteness index of both untreated and The pH of the bath was adjusted at 4.5 using acetic acid. At the end of treated fabric was measured. It can be noticed from Table 1 that there the dyeing, the dyed samples were rinsed with hot and cold water and was a slight increase in whiteness of both CA and PET fabrics after laser air dried. treatment. The whiteness indexes of pulsed laser treated CA samples at Ultrasonic dyeing: Ultrasonic dyeing was carried out using Digital 310 and 320 mw were approximately similar and it slightly decreased Ultrasonic Cleaner SH 400 (MTI Corporation, USA). The experimental by increasing the laser power up to 413 mw. Pulsed laser treatment of device was composed of an electrical generator operated at a frequency PET samples at different powers (110-510mw) had no significant effect of 50 kHz and a power of 400 w. The samples, weighing 1.0 g, were dyed on the whiteness of the fiber while CW laser treatment gives a slight in 50 ml beakers with C.I Disperse Red 82. The amount of dye used was increase in W.I. as shown in Table 1. 1% o.w.f. at a liquor ratio of 1:50. The dyeing was carried out at 70°C The wettability of both untreated and laser treated PET and CA and pH of dye liquors were adjusted to 4.5. samples were evaluated by measuring the wetting time (sec). Table Measurements 1 illustrates the values of the wetting times for different CA and PET samples treated at different powers. It is clear that the drastic Whiteness: Changes in fabric whiteness after laser treatment were increase in wettability was achieved within one min upon applying measured using Ultra Scan PRO-Hunter Lab spectrophotometer laser irradiation. All treated samples have higher wettability than the according to AATCC test method 153 -1985 [4]. untreated one. The lower power level of laser irradiation was more effective in enhancing the fiber wettability than the higher power. Wettability: The Wettability was evaluated by measuring the wetting time according to the AATCC test method 35-1989 [5]. A drop This holds true as reported elsewhere [10] that the high energy dose of water was allowed to fall from a fixed height onto the surface of the treatment of PET resulted in an increased contact angle indicating sample under examination. The taken time for disappearing of the drop that the surface was more hydrophobic while the low energy treatment of water was measured and expressed by the wetting time.