You are on page 1of 13

Welcome To Rimpro India www.rimpro-india.

com

What are Surfactants?

These are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid. Surfactants are organic compounds that have amphiphilic molecules this implies that hey have both a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic group or vice versa. They lower surface tension between two liquids or a liquid and a solid. Surfactant may be used as detergents, wetting agents, forming agents, emulsifiers and so on. There are different types of surfactants such as the ethoxylates, fatty alcohol ethoxylate, fatty acid ethoxylate and fatty amines ethoxylate.

What is the Importance of Surfactants in The Textile Industry?

In the textile industry surfactants are used for three main processes as discussed below. Scouring Lubrication Dying and finishing

Scouring

Scouring- in the textile industry, scouring for natural and synthetic fibers is very paramount. Scouring is aimed at ensuring the fabric is well prepared and impurities, either man made or natural are removed.

Lubrication

Lubrication - after the scouring operation, the fats in the initial fabric are eliminated. This implies that materials have to be added which will serve as lubricants. This is because lubrication is very important in the spinning, cording, and weaving operation. Surfactants act as lubricants and softeners.

Dying and finishing

Dying and finishing - these process uses most of the surfactants in the textile industry. Surfactants act as wetting agents, dying agents and as penetrates. These are the major uses of surfactants in the textile industry amongst many more uses. This shows that surfactants play a very important role in the textile industry.

Various Surfactants used in the Textile Industry

There are many types of surfactants, below are some of the surfactants that are used in the textile industry. Ethoxylates Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylate Fatty Acid Ethoxylate

Fatty Amines Ethoxylate

Ethoxylates

Ethoxylates - These are produced from the ethoxylation processes. In the textile industries, the ethoxylates are used for scouring, lubricating, finishing and dying of the fabrics.

Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylate

Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylate - These range from clear yellowish liquids to wax solids, depending on their length of the alkyl chain. Fatty alcohol ethoxylates are used for scouring and emulsifying in the textile industry. They are also used in dye leveling and as wetting agents. The major function of fatty alcohol ethoxylates is emulsification.

Fatty Acid Ethoxylate

Fatty Acid Ethoxylate - They are used as non ionic surfactants in a number of processes in the textile industry. Fatty acid ethoxylates are used as emulsifiers, water softeners, wetting agents and as spin dying agents.

Fatty Amines Ethoxylate

Fatty Amines Ethoxylate - They are good oil emulsifiers, and dye dispersants. They are also good as wetting agents. Fatty amine ethoxylates are important in the textile industry in for they act as fiber lubricants and also as dying agents.

Contact Us
Rimpro India Plot No. 87, 88, 98, 99 & 100, G.I.D.C., Gojaria, Ta. & Dist. Mehsana, North Gujarat, India.
Phone:- +91 - 2763 263242 Email: info@rimpro-india.com

Thank You

Rimpro India

You might also like