Abstract:

The paper presents findings concerning the assessment of the biochemical modification effect on the electrostatic and sorption properties of polyester knitted fabrics containing a yarn with carbon fibres in their structure. The modification of hygroscopic properties of polyester fibres was carried out during the laboratory finishing process of fabrics with the use of an enzyme from the group of hydrolases – esterase under trade name of Texazym PES. The effect of the enzyme on the structure of the fibre surface was shown by means of SEM images, while the efficiency of its hydrophilic action was assessed by testing the sorption parameters of the fabrics. To assess the effect of hygroscopic properties on the electrostatic parameters of the fabrics, tests were carried out under various conditions of air humidity. An analysis of changes in the hygroscopic and electrostatic properties of knitted fabrics after the biochemical modification was made in relation to fabrics after the conventional finishing process. The experiments were performed at the initial stage for selected stitch structures of polyester warp knitted fabrics with various contents of the yarn with conductive fibres and different procedures of its incorporation. The test results obtained showed the advantageous influence of finishing with hydrolytic enzyme on knitted fabric’s electrostatic properties with respect to protective functions against static electricity. The method of biochemical modification of polyester fibres used on a laboratory scale in this study can find practical use in creating the physiological comfort function of fabrics from conventional synthetic fibres by providing special features resulting from the content of conductive fibres in their structure.