Effect of Chitosan Treatment on the Hand of Nonwoven Fabric

키토산 처리에 의한 부직포의 태 변화

Nonwoven fabrics for diaper coverstock were treated with chitosan solution by pad-dry method. Two chitosans of different molecular weigh(Mw) with similar degree of deacetylation(DDA) were used: Mw 1,800(chitosan oligomer, DDA 84%). Effect of chitosan treatment on the mechanical properties was investigated using KES-FB system. Primary hand values were calculated from mechanical properties using the same equation as the men's suiting equation with minor modification, and total hand values were calculated using new KN-5LNW equation for nonwoven fabrics developed by Kawabata et al. Increase in chitosan treatment concentration increased B, 2HB, WT, LT and RC, and decreased WC continuously. Chitosan treatment affected other mechanical properties regardless of molecular weight. Considering primary hand values obtained from mechanical properties, it was found that chitosan of Mw 180,000 and chitosan oligomer provided softer, smoother, and more bulky at below 0.05% and above 0.5% treatment concentration respectively. Samples treated with 1.0% chitosan oligomer solution, and 0.01％ chitosan solution of Mw 180,000 showed the best total hand values. (Korean J Human Ecology 1(2):119∼128, 1998)