CMC (Carboxymethyl Cellulose) is an important textile finishing agent and has a wide range of applications in the textile finishing process. It is a water-soluble cellulose derivative with good thickening, adhesion, stability and other properties, and is widely used in textile printing, finishing, dyeing and other links.
1. The role of CMC in textile finishing
Thickening effect
CMC, as a natural polymer thickener, is often used to increase the viscosity of liquid finishing agents in textile finishing. It can improve the fluidity of the liquid and make it more evenly distributed on the surface of the textile, thereby improving the finishing effect. In addition, the thickened finishing liquid can better adhere to the surface of the textile fiber, improve the utilization efficiency of the finishing agent, and reduce the consumption of the finishing agent.
Improve the feel and softness of the fabric
CMC can improve the softness of the fabric by forming a thin film covering the fiber surface. Especially on fabrics treated with CMC, the feel will be softer and more comfortable, which meets the requirements of modern consumers for the feel of textiles. This is an important application of CMC in textile finishing, making it a common choice for soft finishing of textiles.
Improve the stain resistance of fabrics
CMC can improve the hydrophilicity of the fabric surface and form a protective film on the fabric surface, which can not only effectively prevent stain penetration, but also improve the washing performance of the fabric. In textile finishing, the application of CMC helps to improve the stain resistance of fabrics, especially in the treatment of some high-end fabrics or easily dirty fabrics.
Promote dyeing and printing effects
CMC is often used as a thickener in the process of textile printing and printing. It can adjust the viscosity of dyes and printing slurries to make them more evenly distributed on the surface of textiles, improve the accuracy of dyeing and printing and the saturation of colors. Because CMC has good dye dispersion, it can also help dyes better penetrate into the fiber, improve dyeing uniformity and depth.
Improve the washability of fabrics
The finishing effect of CMC is not limited to the treatment of the fabric surface, but also improves the washability of the fabric. In many finishing processes, the film layer formed by CMC can maintain its finishing effect after the fabric has been washed many times, reducing the decay of the finishing effect. Therefore, fabrics treated with CMC can often maintain the finishing effect for a longer time after washing.
2. Application of CMC in different finishing processes
Softening finishing
In the softening finishing of textiles, CMC, as a natural thickener, can significantly improve the softness and comfort of fabrics. Compared with traditional softeners, CMC has better environmental protection and stability, so it is widely used in textiles with high environmental protection requirements, such as baby clothes, bedding, etc.
Anti-wrinkle finishing
CMC can form strong hydrogen bonds with cellulose and protein, so it has a certain effect in anti-wrinkle finishing. Although the anti-wrinkle effect of CMC is not as good as some professional anti-wrinkle finishing agents, it can still prolong the flatness of the fabric by reducing the friction on the fiber surface and enhancing the wrinkle resistance of the fabric.
Dyeing finishing
In the dyeing process, CMC is often added to the dye as a thickener, which can increase the adhesion of the dye, improve the distribution of the dye on the fiber, and make the dyeing process more uniform. The application of CMC can significantly improve the dyeing effect, especially in the case of large-area dyeing or complex fiber properties, the dyeing effect is particularly prominent.
Antistatic finishing
CMC also has a certain antistatic effect. In some synthetic fiber fabrics, static electricity is a common quality defect. By adding CMC, the static electricity accumulation of fabrics can be effectively reduced, making the fabrics more comfortable and safe. Antistatic finishing is particularly important, especially in textiles used in electronic products and precision equipment.
3. Advantages and disadvantages of CMC in textile finishing
Advantages
Environmentally friendly
CMC is a high molecular compound of natural origin. Its production process does not rely on harmful chemicals, so its application in textile finishing is highly environmentally friendly. Compared with some traditional synthetic finishing agents, CMC has lower toxicity and less pollution to the environment.
Degradability
CMC is a biodegradable material. Textiles treated with CMC can be better decomposed after being discarded, with less burden on the environment, which meets the requirements of sustainable development.
High safety
CMC is non-toxic and harmless to the human body, so it can be widely used in textiles for infants, medical and other high-standard requirements, with high safety.
Good adhesion
CMC can form a strong adhesion with fibers, thereby effectively improving the finishing effect and reducing the waste of finishing agents.
Disadvantages
Easily affected by humidity
CMC easily absorbs moisture and expands in a humid environment, resulting in a decrease in its finishing effect. Therefore, special attention should be paid to its stability when used in a humid environment.
High processing technology requirements
Although CMC has a good application effect in finishing, its thickening and stability are easily affected by process conditions. Therefore, in practical applications, parameters such as temperature, pH value and concentration need to be strictly controlled.
CMC has shown its many advantages in textile finishing, and plays an important role in thickening, softening, anti-fouling and dyeing finishing. With the increasingly stringent environmental regulations and the increasing demand of consumers for environmentally friendly products, the naturalness and degradability of CMC make it have broad application prospects in the textile industry. However, in practical applications, some technical problems still need to be solved, such as the influence of humidity and the fine control of processing technology, in order to further improve its finishing effect and application stability.
Post time: Jan-06-2025