Jack 'n' Jill and their jaded jeans

By: Naresh M. Saraf and Deepak V. Alat

Jack 'n' Jill, after returning from the hill, have growninto adolescent teens. Like any other member of the community, they had takenup to jeans as a symbol of youth.

Things went well for quite some time, as they started withbasic denim. Then the new fashion came, where pre-bleached, faded denims werein vogue. So they bought new pairs. Jack went to town in search of a job whileJill went to the beach with her friends to enjoy her freedom. After one week,when both returned to their village and, to their dismay, both their bleachedjeans had turned yellow!

Jill tried to wash them, though she is not supposed to washjeans at least for one lunar month, but the dirty yellow tinge remained. Shediscussed the problem with her friends, teachers and learned men and women invillage but could not find satisfactory answer.

A visiting consultant told her it was phenolic yellowing,which he had heard about from some other consultant.

Finally she approached a professor of textile chemistry. Heasked the background details and concluded that this is nothing but OzoneFading!

He narrated his experience and findings, which werefascinating and enlightening to both Jack 'n' Jill.

Indigo dyeing is carried out on continuous ranges, either insheet form or in rope form.

Unlike conventional dyeing, this kind of yarn dyeing is inring-dyed form, where dyestuff is not allowed to diffuse inside.

The ring-dyed yarn leads to a faded look on usage, becauseof loss of colour due to abrasion or wear a tear. Fading can also be enhancedartificially in garment form, by either mechanical, chemical or enzymaticassistants.

Unfortunately these fashion garments are prone to yellowingas a result of decomposition of indigo (Isatin and Anthranilinic acid) due toenvironmental influences. This yellowing is an irreversible phenomenon. Thedestruction of indigo is due to NOx and oxidants, particularly atmosphericozone, which is, major cause of yellowing. Ozone is present naturally in airnear the seashore, where there are fewer pollutants. Apart from giving afeeling of freshness to the holidaymakers, ozone also silently fades thedenims. In industrial cities, chemical smog along with ozone is the mainculprit in the yellowing of denims.

Two types of smog have been reported in literature. 'Londonsmog' is caused by soot particles am sulphur dioxide. These particles absorbpart of sunlight, making a visible' smog. Sulphur dioxide in this smog iscapable of destroying indigo. The second type of smog is called 'LA smog' andis invisible. It consists of nitrogen oxides from automobile exhausts. This isalso called a 'photochemical smog' and is present usually in the summer monthsand in populated areas with heavy automobile pollution.

Due to the depleting layer of natural ozone, the sun's UVradiation, mainly shorter wavelengths, increasingly reaches the earth's surfacein the summer months. The UV light reacts with nitrogen oxides as we as oxygenin the air to form an ozone molecule, which is unstable. The ozone thus formed destroysindigo. Since ozone generation is continuous process, yellowing continues.

Based on the molecular weight of Ozone and Indigo,theoretically approx 1 gm ozone can destroy 10.9 gm of Indigo. Apart fromozone, nitrogen oxides present in air also destroy indigo.

This phenomenon of photochemical smog & decomposition of Indigo is represented in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively.

Lighter or bleached denims fade faster than basic unwashed denim.

Table 1 & Fig. 3 show the correlation between indigo concentration, ozone concentrations and the extent of fading.

In order to relate laboratory results to actual exposure in a warehouse, a 5-year study was conducted to determine the actual rate of fading under various exposure conditions. The results from these tests are shown in Fig. 3.

2. Air Humidity and Temperature

Higher humidity and higher temperature are known to accelerate yellowing.

High humidity gives a thin water film on denim, which increases the absorption rate of ozone.

High humidity results in higher moisture retention by the denim fabric, consequently increasing the absorption rate of ozone (Table 2).

3. Finishing Chemicals

Some softeners protect denim while others enhance yellowing.

A popular misconception is that silicone emulsions aggravated yellowing. However, a detailed study demonstrated that a surfactant used for emulsification of the silicone oil is the main culprit, rather than silicone oil itself. Silicone oil, irrespective of its viscosity, amine value or modified structure, does not significantly contribute to yellowing. (Figs. 4 & 5)

4. Intensity of UV & NOx in the Environment

Higher UV intensity and higher concentrations of NOx lead to higher concentration of Ozone, which in turn leads to quicker yellowing.

5. Duration of Exposure to UV and NOx

The longer the exposure, the greater the yellowing.

6. Packing Material of Garments

Yellowing during storage due to reaction between antioxidant in packing material & NOx.

Prevention of Yellowing

It is a known fact that certain finishing chemicals accelerate decomposition of indigo. The extent of decomposition would depend upon the concentration of the finishing chemical on the garment, its chemical nature and the form of its decomposition products. Thus, to protect indigo from destruction, the 'anti-matter', or formulations that have exactly the opposite properties from the destructive species, have been evaluated.

Various formulations were tried, to assess their effect on the destruction of indigo, and suitable formulations were identified and marketed as special finishes for denim to prevent yellowing.

These finishes form a protective layer on a substrate and react with ozone as well as NOx simultaneously during exposure.

The preferential reaction of softener or finish formulation with ozone and NOx protects indigo from decomposition.

A protective softener undergoes degradation, sacrificing itself with ozone, thereby preventing destruction of indigo. Primary oxidation takes place at the free amine group in the softener, whereas secondary oxidation takes place in the main structure, which will vary depending upon the chemistry of softener. However, the softener can slow down degradation of indigo but cannot prevent it completely.

Those finishers who are ignorant about this phenomenon choose softeners based on 'hand' feel alone and thus may compromise on yellowing.

After listening to the story, we at Sarex decided to help Jack and Jill to overcome the yellowing of denims without compromising softness or yellowing. We took desized, medium and fully bleached denim garment and subjected them to a softening treatment with Sarasoft- OZ (Conc) in a drum washer at 40^o 45^o C for 20-30 minutes; ph 4-5 with acetic acid, MLR 1:10. This was followed by hydroextraction and then tumble drying.

The treated and untreated garments were then tested for Ozone fading by the AATCC 109 Test Method for 2 cycles and the following results were obtained.

As shown above, the garment treated with SarasoftOZ (Conc) gives an increase in Ozone Fade Rating by 1 to 1 units, which is the internationally accepted norm by garment merchandisers.

Apart from selection of a suitable softener, SarasoftOZ (Conc), the following measures will also prevent destruction of indigo.

1. Prevent back-staining during desizing, biofading or stone washing. Loose indigo on undyed weft is prone to yellowing.
2. Proper rinsing before finishing to eliminate residues of surface-active agents and other chemicals, which will interfere in the protective action.
3. Removal of Mn+2 residues by treatment with Saraquest-W or suitable sequestering agent if potassium permanganate is used for fading.
4. Avoiding softeners/finishing chemicals that accelerate indigo decomposition. Initial screening in laboratory is recommended.
5. Dry the garments as quickly as possible, as wet garments are more prone to yellowing.
6. Use suitable packing material to avoid phenolic yellowing. Avoid packing materials containing BHT (Butylated Hydroxy Toluene).
7. Avoid exposure of garments to light and atmospheric ozone and NOx.
8. Have proper ventilation in store rooms to avoid buildup of NOx. Avoid fuel-based trucks and forklifts. Instead, use electrically operated vehicles to avoid build-up of exhaust fumes in warehouses.
9. Avoid storing and display in highly polluted areas having higher photochemical smog.

To read more articles on Textile, Industry, Technical Textile, Dyes & Chemicals, Machinery, Fashion, Apparel, Technology, Retail, Leather, Footwear & Jewellery,  Software and General please visit https://articles.fibre2fashion.com

To promote your company, product and services via promotional article, follow this link: https://www.fibre2fashion.com/services/article-writing-service/content-promotion-services.asp