Introduction:

Softening
As a general rule, each fiber has its specific softness value, which depends on its chemical
composition and physical structure (less crystallinity = greater softness). The fineness of the fiber
or of the filament directly affects the softness of the yarn (woollens, worsteds, microfibers etc.).
Softening is carried out when the softness characteristics of a certain fabric must be improved,
always carefully considering the composition and properties of the substrate. It is also worth
underlining that no standard methods have been developed and established to determine exactly
what the softness of a fabric is. This evaluation is therefore almost personal and carried out on
the basis of operators experience. It is anyway possible to distinguish between many types of
softness:
a) surface softness,
b) surface smoothness,
c) elasticity (to compression and stretching).
Silicon washes generally doing on all type of fabrics i.e. Twill, Denim, Canvas, Knit, Corduroy.
Silicon wash is required for the following reasons:1.

It gives durable softness, elastic handle,

2.

It helps to antipilling affects, dimensional stability, and resistance.

3.

It helps to fabrics to be cut and sewn more easily allows and improving wears and easy
care properties.

Key words:
Silicon softener, color effect, shade, fabric strength, Reflectance, color strength

Materials and method:

Raw materials:
In this project we are used 100% cotton carded yarn for single jersey rib fabrics. Remazol
reactive colour used for dyeing, this dyes imported from Taiwan. Enzyme after dyeing. Silicon
softener used in finishing. Silicon is imported from Taiwan.

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Recipe:
Pre- treatment
Chemicals

Percentage

amount

Pclf

1%

7.30 kg

soda

.5%

3.7 kg

Sequestering agent

1%

11.00 kg

Antifoaming agent

1%

1.00 kg

Dyeing chemicals
S/B black

Percentage
6%

amount
43.800 kg

S/S sodium

7%

51.100 kg

salt

7%

51.100 kg

H2o2

0.7%

5.100 kg

Sq.- 117

3.700 kg

Softener 4d

percentage
o.5%

amount
3.700 kg

Silicon / stabilizer

0.3%

2.200 kg

Acid

0.1%

1.500 kg

After treatment

Procedure:
Raw Fabrics inspection
Batching
Washing
Scouring & bleaching
Dyeing
Fixing agent
Wash
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Softener wash
Bath drop & drying

Fabrics treatment:
We used 1%, 4% and 0% silicon in this knit fabrics. We used this silicon percentage in skuzzier
machine. After the treatment in dryer 80 degree heat used for drying the fabrics. In the same
process in different percentage we used silicon. Then tested the fabrics.

Method:
We are done 6 physical tests on these fabrics on different ISO method. We do shrinkage test on
ISO method: 6330. Spirality test done in ISO method: 2000. Color fastness to rubbing in ISO
method: 10512. Color fastness to wash done in ISO method: 105. Bursting strength done in ISO
method: 13938 - 2-1999. And done spectrophotometer test.
Spirality test:
ISO method: ISO 6330
Sample size: 30 cm* 30 cm
Chemical use: sodium perborate tetra hydrate, detergent
Machine wash 1 hour at 50 degree temperature
Shrinkage test:
ISO method: ISO 6330
Sample size: 30 cm* 30 cm
Chemical use: sodium perborate tetra hydrate, detergent
Machine wash 1 hour at 50degree temperature
Color fastness to rubbing:
ISO method: ISO 105*12
Machine name: rubbing crocking master
Sample materials: crocking cloth (5*5)
Sample fabrics: 14cm *5cm

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Color fastness wash:

Method: ISO 105 c06
Sample size: 4cm *10cm
Materials: Multitier (4cm* 10cm), steeliness still ball
Chemicals: sodium perborate tetra hydrate, detergent, distil water
In machine running time: 30 minute at 60 degree temperature
Bursting strength test:
Method: ISO 13938 - 2-1999
Materials: sample fabrics, bursting machine

Result and discussion

Spirality test:
Table: 1: Results of spirality test
Serial no

Result

0% silicon

0%

1% silicon

0.7%

4% silicon

0.75%

result
1%
1%
0%
0%
0%

result

0% silicon 1% silicon 4% silicon

Discussion:
In table 1 without silicon fabrics shows no change in spirality, 1% silicon finished fabrics shows
0.7% spirality and 4% silicon fabrics shows 0.75 %spirality. So, without silicon finished fabrics
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has no change in spirality and 1% and 4 % have small change in spirality. So without use of
silicon has good spirality percentage.
Shrinkage test: table 2: Results of Shrinkage test
Serial no
0% silicon
1% silicon
4% silicon

Length wise
3.3%
2.3%
1.6%

Width wise
0%
0%
3.3%

3.50%
3.00%
2.50%
2.00%

length

1.50%

width

1.00%
0.50%
0.00%
0% silicon

1% silicon

4% silicon

In table 2 shrinkage test result is calculated. 0% silicon length wise shrinkage has changed but no
change in width wise, 1% silicon has same effect in width wise but small difference in length
wise and 4% silicon have changed in both length and width wise. From the result we can easily
that 1% silicon has good effect in shrinkage.
Rubbing test:
Table: 3: Results of Rubbing test
Serial no

Dry rub

Wet rub

0% silicon

4-5

1% silicon

3-4

4% silicon

2-3

Discussion:

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In table 3 rubbing test result in calculated, by this result 0% silicon has good effect on dry rub
but bad effect on wet rub. 1% silicon has good effect in dry rub but bad effect on wet rub. 4%
silicon has good effect on dry rub but small difference in wet rub. So 4% silicon has good on
rubbing test. More silicon has good effect on rubbing.

Colour fastness to wash:

Table: 4: Results of color fastness to wash with multifiber
Serial no

acetate

cotton

nylon

polyester

acrylic

wool

0% silicon

4-5

4-5

4-5

4-5

4-5

1% silicon

4-5

3-4

4-5

4-5

4-5

4-5

4% silicon

4-5

4-5

4-5

4-5

4-5

Discussion:
In table 4 colour fatness to wash result is almost same in every percentage use of silicon. In 1%
silicon we found the colour fastness to wash different result with cotton likely very close to other
percentage result. So, silicon percentage is not so effective in colour fastness.
Bursting strength:
Table: 5: Results of Bursting strength test
Serial no

result

0% silicon

340

1% silicon
4% silicon

346
354

result
360
350
340
330

result

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Discussion:
Fabrics strength is very important test for fulfill the buyer requirements. 0% silicon test result is
340, 1% silicon result is 346 and 4% silicon result is 354. So, the more percentage using of
silicon fabrics strength is high.
Spectrophotometer test:
We take 1% silicon wash fabrics as standard
Serial no

Dl*

Db*

Da*

Dc*

Dh*

0% silicon washed fabrics

Result according to 1%
silicon washed fabrics
4% silicon washed fabrics
Result according to 1%
silicon washed fabrics

-0.29

-0.17

0.48

-0.48

-0.18

-0.82

0.10

0.44

-0.43

0.12

Discussion:
We can see 0% silicon finish fabrics is more dark as saturated and greenish comparing with 1%
silicon finish fabrics,
And again 4% silicon finish fabric is darker less saturated and reddish compare with 1% silicon
finished fabrics.
So we can say that the more silicon we use the batch become more reddish

Conclusion:
By end of all discussion, result and analysis, we found different types of value in using different
percentages of silicon. Some tests results are very close to each other and some tests result is far
different. Silicon softener is used in finishing process of dyeing. By using silicon fabrics surface
become very smooth and the hand feel is soft. Colour reflectance is more in using of silicon.
Silicon percentage has very effective in hand feel. More using of silicon hand feel smoothness is
more but a standard percentage amount of silicon is used in production. Basically 1% and 4%
silicon is likely used in production or the depend of buyer requirements. By the result of this test
we can easily say that silicon percentage is more effective on shrinkage, color reflectance, and on
bursting strength.

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