Masters Degrees (Consumer Science)
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Browsing Masters Degrees (Consumer Science) by Subject "Activation (Chemistry)"
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Item Open Access The evaluation of electro-chemically activated water as an alternative detergent for polyamide and machine washable wool(University of the Free State, 2010-05) Van Heerden, Natasha; Steyn, H. J. H.English: The electro-chemical activation of aqueous media is relatively new technology. The alkaline part of the activated media (catholyte) is used in a wide variety of applications due to outstanding detergency properties. The standard phosphate based detergents currently used by consumers cause a negative impact on the environment. Catholyte provides an environmental friendlier alternative as it returns to be neutral water within 48 hours after activation. Although catholyte may be an environmentally friendly medium for washing, the influence that it has on the properties of textile materials, for example wool and polyamide is still only based upon speculation. Little is also known about the soil removal efficiency of this medium on wool and polyamide. The aim of this study was to evaluate electro-chemically activated water (catholyte) as an alternative detergent for machine washable wool and polyamide 6,6. This was done by determining the influence of catholyte on certain important properties of these textile fabrics as well as the soil removal efficiency. The machine washable wool and polyamide 6,6 textile fabrics were laundered at 30°C and 40°C with catholyte, phosphate detergent or distilled water for five, ten, twenty or fifty laundering cycles respectively. The standard test methods for laundering (AATCC 61) and measuring the tearing strength (ASTM D1424), tensile strength (ISO/SANS 13934-1), wrinkle recovery (AATCC 66), bending length (BS 3356), soil removal (AATCC 135) and dimensional change were used. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for the statistical interpretation of the results obtained. Catholyte, detergent and distilled water caused a significant decrease in the tearing strength of both the polyamide 6,6 and wool fabrics. The temperature had no significant influence on the tearing strength of polyamide 6,6 fabric although it caused a significant decrease in the tearing strength of wool. The number of laundering cycles caused a significant decrease in the tearing strength of the warp yarns of polyamide 6,6 as well as the weft and warp yarns of wool, however it did not have a significant influence on the weft yarns of polyamide 6,6. Catholyte, detergent and distilled water as well as the temperature and number of laundering cycles did not have a significant influence on the tensile strength on the weft yarns of the polyamide 6,6. It did however cause a significant decrease in tensile strength of the warp yarns of polyamide 6,6 and the weft and warp yarns of wool. Catholyte, detergent and distilled water as well as the temperature and number of laundering cycles had a significant influence on the bending length (stiffness) of polyamide 6,6 and wool, causing the fabric to become stiffer. Catholyte, detergent and distilled water caused a significant increase in the wrinkle recovery in the weft of polyamide 6,6 and decrease in wrinkle recovery in the weft of wool. It did not have a significant influence in the warp of wool and polyamide 6,6. The temperature had no significant influence on the wrinkle recovery of the wool and weft of polyamide, although it caused a significant fluctuation in the warp of polyamide 6,6. The number of laundering cycles caused a significant fluctuation in the wrinkle recovery of the polyamide 6,6 and wool fabrics. Catholyte, detergent and distilled water, as well as the temperature and number of laundering cycles did not have a significant influence on the dimensional stability of polyamide 6,6. It did however cause the wool fabric to shrink significantly. Catholyte and detergent proved to be significantly effective in removing soil from polyamide 6,6 and wool. The temperature only had a significant influence on soil removal from the wool.