Dacron®/Orlon® Blends in Apparel—Product Value,Wear Comfort,Energy Savings,and Environmental Aspects

Abstract

A growing trade interest has recently developed in cotton spun yarns from blends of low-dpf Dacron® and Orlon® staple for traditional cotton-type knits and wovens. Dacron as the major blend com ponent (e.g. 75%) offers excellent strength, ease-of-care, better fabric stability, and better whiteness retention than cotton and cotton blends. Orlon as the minor blend component (e.g. 25%) offers a soft, natural hand, high bulk and cover, superior coloration potential, and better wear comfort than cotton and cotton blends.

Dacron/Orlon blends will place a lower demand on energy resources—an important advantage today and for the future. They dry faster in finishing plants and home dryers. Also, lower wash temperatures and shorter drying cycles are satisfactory in commercial and home-laundering. Dacron/ Orlon blends use less water in commercial dyeing operation and hence conserve an important resource. Furthermore, Dacron/Orlon dyebaths gave lower effluent loads than those used for cotton and blends. In addition, the cotton dust problem is eliminated with Dacron/Orlon blends.

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