Comparative Analysis of the Effect of Heatsetting and Wet Processes on the Tensile Properties of Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) and Poly Ethylene Terephthalate (PET) knitted fabrics

Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is biodegradable, melt processable and environmentally benign aliphatic polyester produced from the fermentation of natural renewable resources like corn, sugar and vegetable. The comparative analysis of the effect of time of heatsetting and wet processing from this research showed that PLA exhibited good textile properties for versatile end applications. This research comparatively studied the effect of time of heatsetting and wet processes on the tensile properties of Ingeo Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and Poly (ethylene terepthalate) (PET) fabrics using the Kawabata Evaluation System (KES-FB) for fabrics. The tensile properties of PLA and PET fabrics determined using the KES-FB were fabric Extension, EM [%], Linearity of Load Extension, LT [-], Tensile Energy [WT] g.cm/cm and Tensile Resilience, RT [%]. Tensile properties were determined in both warp and weft directions to appreciate fabric anisotropy. Inorder to make for a comprehensive comparative analysis of the effect of heatsetting and wet processing on the tensile properties of knitted PLA and PET Fabrics, a total of sixteen fabrics were subjected to varying heatsetting temperatures of 15s, 30s, 45s, 60s, 90s, 120s and 240s, with subsequent wet processing phases including scouring, dyeing, alkaline clearing and softening followed by subjection to the KES-FB fabric evaluation system to cover fabric anisotropy. Results were used in understanding comparatively the tensile properties of Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and Poly (ethylene terepthalate) (PET) knitted fabrics. Copyright © IJMMT, all rights reserved.