The Difference between Ordinary Softener and Silicone Softener

Softeners can be divided into two types, fatty acid derivatives and silicone oils. The former is a traditionally widely used softener while the latter is a new species. With fast development of silicone softeners, new varieties with various properties and functions are constantly being developed and marketed. Thus, there are some differences between ordinary softener and silicone softener to tell you.

Ⅰ. The advantages of silicone softeners over ordinary softeners

Because silicone softeners not only have better softening effect than ordinary softeners, but also the finishing effect has better durability. Therefore, they have occupied a dominant position in textile soft finishing. However, due to their durable effect, the repair treatment will become more difficult, once there are dyeing defects that need to be repaired to be solved, or defects are caused by careless operation of the soft treatment, or color change caused by the soft treatment.

Fatty acid derivative softeners and silicone softeners are mostly cationic, weakly cationic or non-ionic in terms of ionic properties. Therefore, under the premise of compatibility allows, the application is often used with fixing agent for a bath treatment. When the DH value of their working bath is weakly acidic it is the best in most cases. Moreover, the treatment bath temperature of 30-45 cc is appropriate. After the softening treatment, it is no need to wash. While the fastness of the reaction film formation after baking is higher.

If the uncareful operation happens, the silicone softener is prone to demulsification and oil drift. Some kinds of dyed materials that need to be softened in the dyeing machine, such as garments, yarns and loose fibers, are also easy to accumulative contamination of silicone oil substances in the equipment after a long time. It is more difficult to remove and repair than fatty acid softeners.

Silicone oil is essentially water-insoluble liquid and must be emulsified before it can be used in dyeing and finishing. Some so-called water-soluble silicone oils essentially have the function of self-emulsification in water. If the properties of silicone oils cannot be fully understood during use, causing severe violation of the required process conditions, the problem of demulsification and oil separation will also occur.

Ⅱ. The physical and chemical characteristics of silicone softeners

1. The best stability DH value range of working bath is 5-6.5.

2. The most suitable temperature for working bath is 30-45℃.

3. About ionicity: most varieties are cationic, followed by non-ionic, and some varieties are anionic. (The cationic type is generally superior comparing the softening effects of various varieties.)

When they are given the most stable process conditions and cooperated with the characteristics and commonalities of fixing agents and softeners, good treatment effects will be obtained. Otherwise, it can be a way to destroy and remove them. As the silicone softener has the highest fastness, the others will naturally be solved if the silicone can be used.

The above is the difference between the ordinary softener and the silicone softener we have shared for you. We hope it will help you.