Knittability Enhancement Study of 100 % Linen yarn using Softeners

Abstract

100% linen short-staple yarns, spun using the wet spinning technique were used for this study. As the raw linen yarns are stiff, they cannot be directly used for knitting without any blend. This study was focused on the softening of 100% linen yarns using cationic and nonionic softeners in four different methods each. Out of the 8 different samples treated, yarn treated with the material: Liquor Ratio of 1:10 and concentration of cationic softener 2% OWL at a temperature of 50 degrees C for 30 mins showed good results like increase in softness, elongation, improved flexural rigidity, hairiness, friction, and unevenness with minimum loss in strength. This leads to a good result in the softening of 100% linen yarn. Knitting trials were also carried out, the untreated linen yarns show poor knittability and the knitted fabrics produced using softener treated yarns showed excellent knittability without any defects in the fabrics.

Keywords

• cationic softeners
• nonionic softeners
• softening
• yarn properties
• friction
• linen