A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND COLORFASTNESS PROPERTIES OF PAD-STEAM AND MICROWAVE FIXING METHODS IN ACRYLIC KNITTED FABRICS

Abstract

The present study examined the energy efficiency and color fastness of acrylic knitted fabrics subjected to two distinct dyeing methodologies: pad-steam and microwave. Three formulations of dyes were prepared in light, medium, and dark shades using cationic dyes (Bezacryl Goldgelb GL 200, Rot GRL 180, and Blue GRL 300). The fabrics were subjected to treatment with microwave (800 W) and pad-steam (105 °C) processes for a duration ranging from 60 to 240 seconds. Color was measured using the CIE L*a*b* system, and washing, rubbing, and light fastness were assessed ISO standards. The utilization of microwave technology has been demonstrated to enhance sustainability, with the potential to reduce processing time and energy consumption by up to 60%. However, the pad-steam method yielded greater color depth and enhanced lightfastness, particularly for darker tones. A linear relationship (R² = 1.000) was determined between energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, and 3.73 kg of CO₂ was saved in 240 seconds with the microwave method. The results demonstrate that microwave curing is a robust alternative for sustainable textile applications.

Keywords

• Acrylic knit fabric
• Microwave fixing
• Pad-steam
• Energy efficiency
• Color fastness

AKRİLİK ÖRME KUMAŞLARDA PED STEAM VE MİKRODALGA FİKSE YÖNTEMLERİNİN ENERJİ VERİMLİLİĞİ VE RENK HASLIĞI ÖZELLİKLERİNİN KARŞILAŞTIRMALI ANALİZİ

Abstract

Bu çalışmada, akrilik örme kumaşların pad-steam ve mikrodalga fikse yöntemleriyle boyanması sonucunda elde edilen kumaşların, enerji verimliliği ve renk haslığı özellikleri bakımından karşılaştırmalı analizi yapılmıştır. Bezacryl Goldgelb GL 200, Rot GRL 180 ve Blue GRL 300 katyonik boyarmaddeleri kullanılarak açık, orta ve koyu tonlarda üç farklı boya reçetesi hazırlanmıştır. Kumaşlar, belirli sürelerde (60–240 s) mikrodalga (800 W) ve pad-steam (105 °C) yöntemleriyle fikse edilmiştir. Renk ölçümleri CIE L*a*b* sistemine göre yapılmış, yıkama, sürtme ve ışık haslığı testleri ISO standartlarına göre değerlendirilmiştir. Mikrodalga yönteminin, daha kısa işlem süresi ve %60’a varan enerji tasarrufu ile ekolojik açıdan daha avantajlı olduğu saptanmıştır. Pad-steam yöntemi ise özellikle koyu tonlarda daha yüksek renk derinliği ve daha iyi ışık haslığı sağlamaktadır. Enerji tüketimi ile CO₂ emisyonları arasında doğrusal ilişki (R² = 1.000) tespit edilmiş, mikrodalga yöntemiyle 240 saniyede 3.73 kg CO₂ tasarrufu sağlanmıştır. Sonuçlar, mikrodalga fikse yönteminin sürdürülebilir tekstil uygulamaları açısından güçlü bir alternatif olduğunu göstermektedir.

Keywords

• Akrilik örgü kumaş
• Mikrodalga fikse
• Ped steamı
• Enerji verimliliği
• Renk haslığı

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