Adhesion to textile fibres and fabrics

The production of textile fibres and the end-uses for textile-based materia ls continue to expand each year as the globalisation of the textile and clo thing industries takes place. There is a wide range of natural and manufact ured fibres available, but satisfactory adhesion to fibres, yarns and fabri cs depends upon the nature of the fibre surface, the presence of natural or added impurities, and the effects of physical and chemical treatments. For aesthetic reasons, many textile materials are bleached, dyed and/or printe d, and chemical finishing treatments are widely used in order to upgrade th e fabric performance. Such treatments may modify the fibre surface energy, and the wetting and spreading processes, thereby creating difficulties in o btaining satisfactory adhesion to textile materials that are flexible, and may be moulded, bonded, coated or laminated. This paper will address some o f the problem areas in relation to adhesion to fibres and fabrics, with ref erence also to problems that may be experienced in practice. Satisfactory a dhesion to fibres and fabrics may be obtained when the material is dry, but failure of the adhesive joints may occur during aftercare treatments, e.g. washing and dry cleaning treatments. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.