Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Chemistry and Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #283108
Title: Electrokinetic analysis of hydroentangled greige cotton-synthetic fiber blends for absorbent technologies

Author
item Edwards, Judson - Vince
item Condon, Brian
item Sawhney, Amar
item Reynolds, Michael
item Allen Jr, Hiram
item Nam, Sunghyun
item BOPP, ALVIN - Southern University
item CHEN, JONATHAN - University Of Texas
item Prevost, Nicolette

Submitted to: Textile Research Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2013
Publication Date: 11/26/2013
Citation: Edwards, J.V., Condon, B.D., Sawhney, A.P., Reynolds, M.L., Allen Jr, H.C., Nam, S., Bopp, A., Chen, J., Prevost, N.T. 2013. Electrokinetic analysis of hydroentangled greige cotton-synthetic fiber blends for absorbent technologies. Textile Research Journal. 83(18):1949-1960.

Interpretive Summary: Cotton in addition to being environmentally friendly has many other positive attributes that are of value including softness, comfort, non-irritating, hypo-allergenic and breathability, it is our future goal to further map the usefulness of nonwoven cotton for incontinence control design into absorbent materials employing electrokinetic analysis. This paper explores the preparation, analysis and conjectural incontinence application of greige cotton combined with synthetic fibers. The types of nonwoven fabrics produced demonstrated absorbent properties similar to those found in incontinence products. Since there is a growing interest in using hydroentangled greige cotton in absorbent nonwoven products the paper is a timely contribution to demonstrating the potential to explore greige cotton for specific uses in the area of absorbent nonwoven incontinence products.

Technical Abstract: Through nonwoven hydroentanglement of greige cotton blends with polyester and nylon varying degrees of fiber surface polarity, swelling and absorbance can be achieved. Electrokinetic properties of nonwoven blends made with Ultra CleanTM cotton (100% greige or virgin cotton) and polyester or nylon in 40:60 and 60:40 ratios demonstrated distinct differences in charge, swell, and percent moisture uptake capability. An electrochemical double layer analysis of charge based on a pH titration (plateau) was employed to measure the fiber surface polarity which ranged from -60 to -26 mv. A linear relationship of fiber swelling and percent moisture content is apparent when greige cotton and synthetic fibers are blended. Water contact angles revealed that the cotton/synthetic fiber blends were hydrophobic (contact angle > 90o) while retaining significant absorbency. The greige cotton/synthetic nonwoven materials, however, possess absorbent properties characterized by varying degrees of moisture uptake, fiber polarity, and swelling attributes similar to absorbent fluid transport materials present in the layers of incontinence products. Electrokinetic properties of the blended greige cotton/synthetic nonwovens are correlated to absorbent incontinence materials.