Performance Types and Characteristics of Silicone Softeners

May 12, 2021

Among the wide variety of softeners, silicone additives have attracted more and more attention due to their unique surface properties and excellent softening properties. Most domestic fabrics finished with silicone softeners are hydrophobic, which makes the wearer feel stuffy and difficult to wash. Many products often show demulsification and bleaching. The traditional hydrophilic polyether silicone oil has better hydrophilicity and water solubility, but its flexibility and finishing effect are poor in durability. Therefore, the development of a new type of hydrophilic silicone softener with excellent flexibility and durability has strong practical significance.
Performance characteristics of silicone softener
Since the 1960s, polysiloxane compounds have been applied to textiles abroad; since the 1970s, polydimethylsiloxane has been modified for textile finishing to give fabrics softness and unique hand feeling. Since the late 1970s, my country has begun to research and develop silicone textile printing and dyeing auxiliaries. At present, hundreds of auxiliaries factories are producing silicone softeners. Its products are: polydimethylsiloxane (methyl silicone oil), poly Methyl hydrogen siloxane (hydrogen silicone oil), polymethyl hydroxy siloxane (hydroxy silicone oil) and modified silicone containing ethylene oxide, polyether and amino groups. Among them, the fastest and most developed are various types of amino silicone oils, and microemulsions are used as commercial products. This type of product is easy to use, has excellent softness, and is suitable for various fibers, so it is widely used. However, after treatment with amino silicone oil, the hydrophilicity of the fabric is reduced, which affects the wearability of the fabric. Hydrophilic self-emulsifying amino silicone oil appears on the market. It can be used without emulsifiers, and the softness of the finished fabric is slightly reduced , And the hydrophilicity increases. At present, in the domestic market, a wide range of softener tablets (soft tablets) are almost dominated by amino silicone oil.

Introduction
Softener is a compound of organopolysiloxane polymer and polymer, suitable for softening natural fiber textiles such as cotton, wool, silk, hemp and human hair.
Organosilicon fabric finishing auxiliaries have a wide range of applications in fabric finishing. This additive can treat not only natural fiber fabrics, but also various synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon. The treated fabric is anti-wrinkle, anti-fouling, anti-static, anti-pilling, plump, soft, elastic and shiny, and has a smooth, cool and firm style. Silicone treatment can also increase the strength of the fiber and reduce wear. Silicone softener is a promising softener, and it is also an important additive to improve product quality and increase product added value in textile printing and dyeing.
Performance characteristics
1. Easily soluble in water, the aqueous solution is extremely stable, and the compatibility is good;
2. Give the fabric a soft, smooth, and plump feel, and have good drape and bulkiness;
3. Excellent water absorption and good air permeability;
4. Hygroscopicity and antistatic properties;
5. It has good resilience and wrinkle resistance;
6. The working fluid is stable, no demulsification, no oil floating;
Physical and chemical properties
Appearance: colorless to light yellow transparent emulsion;
Ionicity: non-ionic;
PH value: 6-7.5 (1% aqueous solution);
Specific gravity: 1.01-1.040 (g/ml).

Features
Silicone quaternary ammonium salts can be used in the hydrophilic finishing of fabrics, widely imparting good water absorption, sweat absorption, softness, smoothness, resilience, anti-static properties, and non-toxic and harmless to fabrics. It is a highly efficient, safe, multi- Functional soft finishing agent. In addition to being used for antibacterial and soft finishing of fabrics, silicone quaternary ammonium salts can also be used on the surface of other materials. For example, the appropriate addition of silicone quaternary ammonium salt to wood, leather, non-woven fabrics, polyurethane, rubber, man-made fibers, synthetic fibers and various silicate surface coatings greatly enhances the antibacterial and antifungal effect; in leather fatliquor , Adding silicon ammonium chloride to the finishing agent, in addition to increasing the flexibility and firmness of the conjunctiva, the anti-mold effect is particularly outstanding; a certain amount of silicon ammonium chloride is added to the corrosion protection coating on the bottom of the ship. In addition to the corrosion inhibition function, it can also greatly improve the effectiveness of preventing the adhesion of algae and other organisms, maintain the ship chain, and extend the maintenance cycle of the ship.

Common textile auxiliaries
Scouring agent, dyeing agent, leveling agent, softening agent, hair effect enhancer, polyester low-temperature dyeing carrier, substitute alkali, CT powder, chelating dispersant, non-phosphorus environmentally friendly chelating agent, acid leveling agent, cotton leveling Agent, acrylic fiber levelling agent, smoothing agent, mercerizing penetrant (mererized oil), chemical fiber oiling agent (polyester oiling agent, POY oiling agent), high-efficiency deboiling powder, hydrogen peroxide stabilizer, silicon removal agent, foaming agent, soaping Agent (low foam soaping agent, acid soaping agent, anti-staining soaping agent for white ground), shrinking agent, liquid wax (yarn smoothing agent), finishing agent, antistatic agent, wool mercerizing agent, raising agent, color fixing Agents (formaldehyde-free fixing agent, turquoise fixing agent, color-changing fixing agent, acid fixing agent), stiffening agent, oxygen bleaching stabilizer, degreasing agent, printing auxiliary.