Effects of foamers and stabilizers on foaming ability and stability of oxidized starch/polyacrylic acid size liquor in foam sizing

Abstract

Foam sizing has been studied as a low-add-on technology. Foam properties of size liquor, including foaming ability and foam stability, can directly affect the quality of sized yarns. Different foamers and stabilizers were added to oxidized starch/polyacrylic acid size liquor to prepare foaming size liquor. This paper reports the foam properties of the foaming size liquor the optimized mixed proportions of foamers and stabilizers. Foaming ratio and foam half-life time were measured to characterize the foaming ability and foam stability. The experimental results revealed that foam properties of the composite foamer and stabilizer were greater than those of each individual agent. The foam properties achieved optimum levels when the ratio of lauryl sodium sulfate to dodecyl dimethyl betaine was 80:20 and the foamer concentration was 6g/L. It was also found that the composite stabilizers of dodecanol and guar gum at a ratio of 60:40 exhibited a synergistic effect, achieving optimal foam properties at a stabilizer concentration of 4g/L. Yarn properties of the foam sizing were better than those of conventional sizing at optimum conditions.