Improvement of Hand Feeling Properties of Fabrics Containing Recycled Fibers by Enzymatic Treatments

Abstract

Clothing is one of the most basic needs for human survival. For this reason, the textile sector is one of the sectors with the highest consumption. However, the use of chemicals, water and natural resources in this large sector has increased to unbelievable levels. Today, there is a need for studies under the name of sustainability due to increasing population and decreasing natural resources. The most basic element in the studies is observed as recycling. However, it is observed that the hand feeling properties of fabrics containing recycled fibers are not meet with market needs. In this study, different enzyme combinations were applied to undyed fabrics by conventional methods in order to improve the hand feeling of fabrics containing recycled fibers. The subjective hand feeling evaluations, whiteness-yellowness values and hydrophilicity values of the obtained fabrics were compared. As a result of the tests, positive or negative changes were observed in the fabric behavior and these changes were evaluated as a result of the application of different enzyme combinations with different methods. Enzyme applications positively affected the hydrophilicity of the fabric. Positive and negative results of different enzyme applications were observed in the whiteness-yellowness values of the fabric.