REPORT Fiber Finishes and Lubricants

SPECIAL

From Diapers to Industrial Textiles Fiber Finishes That Cover the Surface
By Martin Williams, Uniqema

niqema is a global busi- A WIDE RANGE OF EFFECT PRODUCTS FOR EVERY APPLICATION ness that supplies the Fiber Chemistry Effect little bits of magic that deliver so much of Nylon Esterification Lubrication the convenience and benefit that Polyester Alkoxylation Static Protection we take for granted in modern Polypropylene Quaternization Emulsification life. Uniqema is a member of the Acrylic Phosphation Dispersion ICI Group of companies. It was Cellulosic Polymerization Wetting created in January 1999 by Polyurethane Wicking bringing together five existing ICI Spreading businesses which already operated in the rapidly changing markets of textiles, personal care, polymers, oil production, lubricants and find on the polystyrene tray that holds your other specialty applications. supermarket chicken chicken diapers! Uniqema draws on a diverse range of resources, state-of-the-art research and devel- HOW IT WORKS opment programs, and unique technologies and Wicking agents are critical to the performance expertise in a variety of markets to support its of diapers that have polyolefin cover stock. fiber finish business. Polyolefins have a hydrophobic surface and withUniqemas products provide critical effects out modification will not wick. The wicking agent such as lubrication, static protection, emulsifi- promotes the transfer of the body fluid (urine or cation, wetting and wicking to the surface of menses) from the cover stock surface into the manmade fibers. The business combines absorbent core. Effective wicking agents provide breadth of product range, expertise to formulate the stay-dry liner to the cover stock. these products into effective fiber finishes and a Advanced wicking agent technology not only complete, global manufacturing set. The result transports the liquid through the cover stock is that our customers achieve outstanding per- but also distributes the liquid across the diaper formance built on a firm foundation. construction via the acquisition layer, avoiding the sagging baby diaper phenomenon. ENHANCED SURFACE COVERAGE Uniqema has a complete range of products for In Uniqema we do not pursue science for its wicking, which includes internal (compounded) own sake. Our aim is to develop technologies additives, fiber finishes and ESC technology. that are relevant to the future needs of our cusWith the continuing growth in the market tomers and their customers. A good example for adult incontinence products, the amount of of this approach is Uniqemas patented body fluid to insult the diaper and the number Enhanced Surface Coverage (ESC) technology. of insults a diaper is required to withstand have The benefits of ESC are more far reaching created more stringent performance criteria for that one might think, and are employed in wicking agents for cover stock. It is very imporsuch diverse areas as geotextiles, carpets, tant to remove fluid away from the skin as soon apparel and diapers. One of the most benefi- as possible to avoid damaging skin cells (cytocial uses is in human absorbent/hygiene toxicity). Hence, durability of the wicking products such as babies diapers, feminine effect on the cover stock surface is an imporhygiene and adult incontinence products. tant performance requirement. And in the food industry, for example, appliUniqemas patented Enhanced Surface cations such as the absorption mats that you Coverage technology provides both durability of
Reprinted with permission of International Fiber Journal

SIMS images of commercial polypropylene BCF yarns, showing finishes without (left) and with (right) ESC technology.

effect (i.e. ability to withstand multiple insults and still perform) and better spreading of the wicking finish on the cover stock surface. The better spreading leads to an overall lower requirement for the wicking finish, and the improved durability of performance arises from an improved affinity between finish and fiber. Uniqema has available several wicking agent formulations, suitable for use in both spunbond and thermal-bonded staple processes, which are formulated using its ESC technology. These include Cirrasol PP811, Cirrasol PP822, Cirrasol PP832, and Cirrasol PP833 wicking agents, which, when subjected to the Lister strike-through test, proved to be up to 5 times as effective in transporting the insult compared to similar products. In addition to an improved Lister strike-through rate Uniqemas products offer other benefits such as reduced cytotoxicity effects, improved anti-

static performance, carding performance, thermal bond strength retention, foam generation, gluing performance and low migration. Uniqemas latest innovation involves durable hydrophilic finishes that combine the performance durability of an internally compounded additive with the flexibility of a fiber finish. The products, Cirrasol PP842 and Cirrasol PP843, provide these benefits and are silicone-free. IMPROVING PERFORMANCE ESC technology has proven its effectiveness in giving process and end-use benefits in the manmade fiber industry. The dramatic improvement achieved in the degree of coverage of the finish on fiber surfaces means that finish properties are enhanced. In commercial applications, ESC technology is today employed to improve performance in the production and use of staple fibers, filament yarns and nonwovens through, for example: Plant output: by allowing higher ring-frame speeds without fiber damage, and by reduced waste levels. Better properties: by providing greater anti-static protection, and by enabling reduced friction and wear. Health & safety: by less dust and fly generation, and by reduced sling in filament yarn manufacture. Quality: by increased uniformity of end product, and by increased strength of nonwoven fabrics.

Environment: reduced finish levels, and by use of biodegradable materials. ABOUT UNIQEMA Uniqema is a major supplier into all major fiber-producing regions of the world. Components are sourced from Uniqema sites worldwide, and formulated at sites in UK, Spain, United States, Korea and India. Technical service is provided locally from sites in the UK, Korea and United States and from a global development center near Mumbai, India. The India laboratory has sophisticated equipment to check fiber properties in processing and conduct a wide range of physical tests. The technical centers in Europe and North America employ filament yarn extrusion, carding, drawing and ring spinning equipment, along with test equipment for the evaluation of friction, cohesion, electrostatic, absorbency, tensile, abrasion and dyeing performance. The broad scope of Uniqema's application technology allows the cross-fertilization of ideas between different technical areas, and enables us to provide novel solutions to IF J our customers problems.
For more information contact Uniqema. Europe Martin Williams, Tel.: 44 1642 437507. Fax: 44 1642 437374. E-mail: martin.williams@uniqema.com Americas - Mark Nehra, Tel.: 1 302 574 5148. Fax: 1 302 574 1170. E-mail: mark.nehra@uniqema.com Asia - Peter Lindsay. Tel.: 61 392 512334. Fax: 61 392 512129. E-mail: peter.lindsay@uniqema.com

AFM images clearly show finish spots on fiber with a standard finish (left), compared to almost perfect coverage by an ESC finish, even at a much lower application level (right).