Adhesion to textile fibres and fabrics

The production of textile fibres and the end-uses for textile-based materials continue to expand each year as the globalisation of the textile and clothing industries takes place. There is a wide range of natural and manufactured fibres available, but satisfactory adhesion to fibres, yarns and fabrics depends upon the nature of the fibre surface, the presence of natural or added impurities, and the effects of physical and chemical treatments. For aesthetic reasons, many textile materials are bleached, dyed and/or printed, and chemical finishing treatments are widely used in order to upgrade the fabric performance. Such treatments may modify the fibre surface energy, and the wetting and spreading processes, thereby creating difficulties in obtaining satisfactory adhesion to textile materials that are flexible, and may be moulded, bonded, coated or laminated. This paper will address some of the problem areas in relation to adhesion to fibres and fabrics, with reference also to problems that may be experienced in practice. Satisfactory adhesion to fibres and fabrics may be obtained when the material is dry, but failure of the adhesivejoints may occur during aftercare treatments, e.g. washing and dry cleaning treatments. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.