Abstract
Nylon 6, nylon 66, and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers were subjected to superheated steaming. The effects of a small amount of water vapor in superheated steam on the fine structure and dyeing behavior of the fibers were examined at varying steaming temperatures by measuring shrinkage, crystallinity, crystallite size, x-ray dif fraction pattern, and saturation dye-uptake value. The results obtained were compared with those of dry heat treatment. Superheated steaming of the fibers increased their shrinkage, crystallinity, and crystallite size and decreased their dyeability compared to dry heat treatment. With superheated steaming, the shrinkage, crystallinity, and crystallite size showed a minimum at about 160°C for nylon 6 and at approximately 140°C for nylon 66 as the steaming temperature increased, whereas the minimum could not be detected for PET. These behaviors observed in superheated steaming were interpreted in terms of the two effects of heat and water vapor components.
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