Abstract:

The bleaching of greige linen woven fabric using ultraviolet irradiation on hydrogen peroxide impregnated samples was studied. The effect of a photoinitiator, sodium hydroxide, sodium peroxydisulphate for hydrogen peroxide, the irradiation time and distance between the fabric and ultraviolet light lamp on the samples’ whiteness, lightness, weight loss, moisture sorption and wettability properties was investigated. The UV/H₂O₂ bleaching process was optimised with the aid of Box-Behnken experimental design and three optimum recipes were achieved. As a result of the study, a novel bleaching process using ultraviolet irradiation and hydrogen peroxide for greige linen woven fabric was developed which saves on energy and time.