Effect of Nonionic Surfactant Solutions on Wetting and Absorbancy of PET Fabric 1. Mixtures and Dilutions of Span 20 and Tween 20

The effects of changing aqueous solution properties by nonionic surfactants on wetting behavior and water retention properies of hydrophobic PET (polyethylene terephthalate) fabric were reported. The aqueous solution properties were diversified by mixing and diluting two nonionic surfactants, i.e., sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20) and polyoxyethylene(20) sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20). The surface wetting properties ($cos{\theta}$) of PET fabric were greatly improved by adding $10^{-1}g/dl$ Tween 20 and further improved by mixing Span 20 to the system. The water retention properties (W) of PET fabric were also greatly increased by addition of $10^{-1}g/dl$ Tween 20. In diluted surfactant systems, the $cos{\theta} were increased with decreasing surface tension of aqueous liquids. The ratios of aqueous liquid retained in the pore structure to liquid retention capacity (W/H) were also increased with decreasing surface tension, however, W/H values were dramatically increased right after critical micelle concentration (cmc). The existence of micelles was important for the retention of aqueous liquids in the fabric. The critical surface tension of PET fabric used was found to be 28.7dyne/cm.

비이온계 계면활성제 수용액이 PET직물의 습윤특성에 미치는 영향 제1보 : Span 20과 Tween 20의 혼합계와 희석계