Study of Novel Pregelled Starch for Sizing of Cotton Textiles

Abstract

Several research and developmental work attempts have been made in this manuscript to synthesize what is called tailored polymeric materials with new characteristics based on pregelled starch through a number of processes which, in turn, entail several chemical treatments. This is done by subjecting pregelled starch as a starting substrate to acid hydrolysis to obtain different molecular sizes. Pregelled starch with different molecular sizes are carbamoylethylated by using acrylamide and sodium hydroxide at different durations, then grafted with different monomers by using a potassium permanganate/citric acid redox system to initiate grafting. Furthermore, application of the newly tailored pregelled starch derived products as a sizing agent of cotton textiles is systematically studied. It is shown from the data that (a) the extent of carbamoylethylation expressed as N% increases by increasing the extent of hydrolysis and duration; (b) the graft yield expressed as mmol. monomer/100 g sample of different monomers onto carbamoylethylated and carbamoylethylated hydrolyzed pregelled starches increases by increasing the extent of carbamoylethylation and degree of hydrolysis, and follows the order: methacrylamide (MAam) > methacrylonitrile (MAN) > methacrylic acid (MAA), and (c) cotton fabrics sized with grafted carbamoylethylated hydrolyzed pregelled starch acquire higher mechanical properties, i.e. TS, elongation at break, and abrasion resistance values than hydrolyzed, carbamoylethylated and carbamoylethylated hydrolyzed pregelled starches. Finally, the use of the above tailored modified pregelled starch derived products in the sizing of cotton textiles contribute to reinforcement of the cotton textile after sizing to overcome the forced loss in fabrics/yarns during the spinning process as shown above.