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Abstract:
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The textile and apparel industries create approximately 176 million tons of fibrous
solid waste per year. Apparel manufactures continually try to reduce cut waste, but
studies show that 15-20% of the fabric still becomes scrap material. This scrap
material that is wasted can be recycled and used as a raw material for a textile warp
size.
One option for cotton fibrous waste is to convert the cotton into carboxymethyl
cellulose or CMC. Previously, CMC has been produced from cotton linters or wood
pulp. The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of cotton waste and its
conversion to carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The cotton waste CMC was also
studied for performance as a yarn size.
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Prepared fabric, reactive and vat dyed fabrics (with and without durable press
finish), and indigo yarn dyed fabric without finish, were the raw material wastes used
to make CMC. Each raw material waste was converted to CMC, a water soluble
cellulose, and was compared to commercial CMC control. Five of the six cotton waste
CMC's performed as well as a commercial grade CMC. The tensile, abrasion
resistance, penetration, and encapsulation properties, as well as the desizing
performance were compared to commercial CMC. Through further research
manufacturers will be able to use their cotton waste as a warp size, saving sizing costs
and costs of handling and disposal of waste.
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