Study of Silicon Softener on Some Properties of Corona Discharge Treated Cotton Fabric

In this research, silicon softener was used on untreated and corona treated cotton fabrics. Cotton fabrics were treated at different concentrations of silicon softener. The bending length, crease recovery angle and wetting time were determined. By increasing the concentration of softener, the bending length decreased while the wetting time and crease recovery angle increased. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM(was used for investigation of surface morphology. The SEM micro-graphs from the samples showed etching effect on the cotton fabric samples treated with corona discharge which could be a reason for better absorption of the softener into the fiers. The silicon softener was also observed on the surface of treated and untreated cotton fabrics. The FTIR/ATR analysis confimed the chemical change on the surface of treated cotton fabric which could be due to the increase of hydrophilic groups. The results also showed that the presence of the silicon softener on the surface of corona treated cotton fabric enhanced the hydrophilicity. These results are in agreement with the results of bending length, wetting time and crease recovery angle. The results showed the orientation of silicon softener on the surface of untreated cotton and absorption of softener into the cotton fabrics treated with corona discharge.