蒸汽洗对棉织物手感的影响及其作用机制

doi:10.13475/j.fzxb.20251002601

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective Conventional laundering consumes large amounts of water and chemicals, and the intense mechanical action frequently damages cotton garments. "Steam-wash" programmes that apply hot, moist air with almost no water have been introduced in domestic washers to remove odours and creases, yet their influence on fabric hand is still poorly quantified. This work therefore sets out to clarify how steam care changes the tactile properties of cotton textiles and to elucidate the underlying physicochemical mechanism. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of intelligent steam-ironing processes.

Method Pre-wash plain-weave cotton and terry towel fabrics were divided into three groups to receive (i) steam-washing, (ii) conventional 40 ℃ wash with softener, and (iii) normal washing as control. Fabric hand values (stiffness, softness, smoothness) were assessed with a PhabrOmeter^®, and whiteness was monitored for 30 d. To decouple moisture and thermal effects, pre-dried cotton was conditioned under varying temperature/humidity regimes. Moisture content and absorption kinetics were measured gravimetrically. Bending rigidity was determined immediately post-conditioning according to GB/T 18318.1. XRD, and FT-IR analyses tracked supramolecular structural changes, with crystallinity index (Crl) and hydrogen-bonding quantified by curve fitting.

Results It was found that steam wash reduced the stiffness of both plain-weave cotton and cotton terry towel fabrics by approximately 2% and 6%, while softness was increased by 0.4 and 3.0 units, respectively. The improvement in fabric hand due to steam wash was comparable to that obtained using liquid softener. Moreover, steam wash avoided the 2-unit whiteness loss observed with softener after 30 days of storage, demonstrating its significant advantage in preserving fabric whiteness. The stiffness of fabrics is influenced by their moisture content, which is primarily controlled by the temperature and humidity of the surrounding environment. When the ambient temperature was constant, the moisture content of the fabric demonstrated increases with the rising relative humidity (RH). Conversely, at a constant humidity level, the moisture content showed decreases as the temperature increased. Raising RH from 25% to 90% at 25 ℃ increased equilibrium moisture content from 2.3% to 8.6% and lowered crystallinity index from 80.6% to 60.5%, while the (002) crystal thickness shrank from 5.57 nm to 3.41 nm. Conversely, increasing temperature at 90% RH reduced moisture content (MC) and made the fabrics stiffer and more crystalline. When the RH was raised from 25% to 90% at 25 ℃, the equilibrium moisture content increased from 2.3% to 8.6%, the crystallinity index decreased from 80.6% to 60.5%, and the (002) crystal thickness decreased from 5.57 nm to 3.41 nm. Conversely, when the temperature was increased from 25 ℃ to 85 ℃ at 90% RH, the equilibrium moisture content (MC) decreased from 8.6% to 4.6%, and the crystallinity index increased from 60.5% to 79%. The bending rigidity of the fabric increased with the moisture content (MC) until reaching a critical point of 4.6% (w/w), beyond which it decreased sharply, and this turning point coincided with the minima in fabric crystallinity index and hydrogen bond density. FT-IR showed that the intermolecular O(6)H…O(3') bond fraction dropped by 25% as moisture content reached 8.6%, indicating water-assisted disruption of the inter-chain network. The kinetic data further showed that cotton reaches moisture equilibrium within 10 min under typical steam-cycle conditions, confirming that the observed structural changes are realistically accessible during a 20-30 min steam refresh.

Conclusion Steam wash consistently improves cotton fabric hand by differentially affecting the fiber's supramolecular structure depending on the moisture uptake level. When the moisture content exceeds a critical threshold of approximately 4.6%, water molecules penetrate the sub-crystalline regions, disrupt intermolecular hydrogen bonds, and reduce crystallite size, thereby lowering bending rigidity. This process is purely physical as no new functional groups are formed, thus preserving whiteness and fiber integrity. This study confirms that steam washing provides softness and comfort comparable to that achieved by using chemical softeners, but without additive use or color damage. It defines the target moisture content window (6%-9%) for appliance developers to optimize garment hand feel.

Key words: steam washing, hygrothermal treatment, cotton fabric, handle, softness, moisture content, crystallinity, hydrogen bond

CLC Number:

TS116

LIU Jimin, REN Yajie, WANG Zhiqiang, CHEN He, WANG Huaifang. Effect of steam washing on cotton fabric hand and its underlying mechanism[J].Journal of Textile Research, 2026, 47(02): 230-238.

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URL: http://www.fzxb.org.cn/EN/10.13475/j.fzxb.20251002601

http://www.fzxb.org.cn/EN/Y2026/V47/I02/230

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References 29

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试样编号	护理方式	不同放置时间下的白度值/%
试样编号	护理方式	0 d	5 d	10 d	15 d	30 d
1^#	未护理	83.2	83.2	83.2	83.2	83.2
2^#	柔顺剂护理	83.2	83.2	83.1	83.2	83.1
3^#	蒸汽洗护理	83.2	83.1	83.2	83.2	83.2
4^#	未护理	81.1	81.1	81.1	81.1	81.1
5^#	柔顺剂护理	81.4	81.3	81.0	81.0	79.4
6^#	蒸汽洗护理	81.4	81.3	81.2	81.2	81.3

样品	含湿率/%	晶面	衍射角 2θ/(°)	D/nm	结晶指数/%
OD	-	101	14.5	5.84	77.4
		10$\stackrel{-}{1}$	16.5	7.60
		002	22.5	5.57
T₄R	4.6	101	15.0	5.84	79.0
		10$\stackrel{-}{1}$	16.5	7.61
		002	22.8	6.50
T₂R	6.9	101	15.0	6.82	75.8
		10$\stackrel{-}{1}$	16.6	3.70
		002	23.0	5.01
T₁R	8.6	101	15.0	9.52	60.5
		10$\stackrel{-}{1}$	17.0	1.37
		002	23.5	3.41

样品	含湿率/%	晶面	衍射角 2θ/(°)	D/nm	结晶指数/%
		101	14.9	5.84
OD	-	10$\stackrel{-}{1}$	16.5	7.60	77.4
		002	22.7	5.57
		101	15.6	5.37
TR₂	3.6	10$\stackrel{-}{1}$	17.0	4.8	80.6
		002	23.5	6.43
		101	15.5	5.43
TR₃	5.4	10$\stackrel{-}{1}$	17.1	7.51	75.8
		002	23.3	5.34
		101	15.0	9.52
TR₄	8.6	10$\stackrel{-}{1}$	17.0	1.37	60.5
		002	23.5	3.41

样品	含湿率/%	氢键	波数/cm^-1	峰面积占比/%
OD	-	O(2) H…O(6)	3 451.8	20.5
		O(3) H…O(5)	3 332.2	47.6
		O(6) H…O(3')	3 208.9	31.9
T₄R	4.6	O(2) H…O(6)	3 450.2	20.8
		O(3) H…O(5)	3 324.9	46.3
		O(6) H…O(3')	3 200.7	32.9
T₂R	6.9	O(2) H…O(6)	3 454.5	24.1
		O(3) H…O(5)	3 331.8	47.2
		O(6) H…O(3')	3 210.8	28.7
T₁R	8.6	O(2) H…O(6)	3 453.9	23.4
		O(3) H…O(5)	3 314.9	52.7
		O(6) H…O(3')	3 176.9	23.9

样品	含湿率/%	氢键	波数/cm^-1	峰面积占比/%
OD	-	O(2) H…O(6)	3 451.8	20.5
		O(3) H…O(5)	3 332.2	47.6
		O(6) H…O(3')	3 208.9	31.9
TR₂	3.6	O(2) H…O(6)	3 450.1	21.2
		O(3) H…O(5)	3 327.9	46.6
		O(6) H…O(3')	3 208.7	32.1
TR₃	5.4	O(2) H…O(6)	3 451.2	21.7
		O(3) H…O(5)	3 336.3	47.5
		O(6) H…O(3')	3 216.5	30.7
TR₄	8.6	O(2) H…O(6)	3 453.9	23.4
		O(3) H…O(5)	3 314.9	52.7
		O(6) H…O(3')	3 176.9	23.9

Effect of steam washing on cotton fabric hand and its underlying mechanism

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编号	温度/℃	湿度/%
TR₁	25	25
TR₂	25	45
TR₃	25	65
TR₄	25	90
T₁R	25	90
T₂R	45	90
T₃R	65	90
T₄R	85	90

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