• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 2011

The effects of nonionic surfactant solutions of 0.1g/dL on detergency and liquid wetting/retention properties of soiled polyester/cotton(65/35) cloth were studied. Soiled polyester/cotton(65/35) cloth (EMPA 104) and 10 different nonionic surfactants (Span 20, Tween 20, 40, 60, 80, 21, 61, 81, 65, 85) were used in the study. The water retention and liquid retention capacity values of soiled cloth were decreased compared with those of unsoiled cloth. The wetting and water retention of soiled cloth improved with addition of surfactants, whereas water retention ratio(W/H) values didnot change markedly. Generally surfactants with low surface tension and high HLB (Hydrophile-lipophile balance) were more effective in improving the wetting/retention properties of soiled cloth. Nonionic surfactants having high ethylene oxide contents of 20 moles; i.e., Tween 20, 40, 60 & 80, showed better detergency than low ethylene oxide contents of 4 moles; i.e., Tween 21, 61 & 81. As HLB values of surfactants and $cos{\theta}$ of the soiled cloth increase, the detergency values of soiled cloth increased.