Effect of cellulase treatment on the extent of post-finishing and dyeing of cotton fabrics

Acid and neutral cellulases have been applied to mercerised and non-mercerised cotton fabrics, as pretreatment steps, prior to subsequent soft finishing, easy care finishing as well as combined anionic or cationic dyeing and finishing. The effects of these enzymatic treatments on the performance properties of the finished cotton fabrics have been investigated. The results indicate that (a) the enhancement in fabric resiliency and softness as well as the decrease in fabric strength are governed by the effects of enzymatic activity on cellulose, acid>neutral>none, as well as the type of softening agent, Siligen® SIN>Solousoft® WMA>Basosoft® SWK; (b) enzymatic pretreaments followed by resin finishing results in an improvement in the extent of crosslinking, expressed as nitrogen content and fabric resiliency, along with a decrease in fabric stiffness and breaking strength, and the extent of changes in the aforementioned properties is governed by both the reactivity and functionality of the crosslinking agent as well as the type of the cellulosic substrate; (c) treatment of cotton fabrics with an acid or neutral cellulases and subsequent anionic or cationic dyeing and finishing in presence of a reactive additive, choline chloride or citric acid, respectively, results in enhancing both the extent of post-dyeing and resin finishing, and the degree of improvement in the aforementioned properties is determined by the nature of the enzyme, cellulosic substrate, finishing agent, and additive along with the dye class.