The Efect of Softeners on Thermal Comfort and Wetting Properties of Bamboo Viscose and Bamboo/Cotton Blended Fabrics Eylen Sema Dalbaşı a , Gamze Süpüren Mengüç b , Arif Taner Özgüney a , and Nilgün Özdil a a Department of Textile Engineering, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey; b Emel Akın Vocational Training School, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey ABSTRACT Nowadays, there is a great interest on thermal comfort properties of textile products. In addition to fber properties and fabric structure, the fnishing appli- cations infuencing thermophysiological comfort and wetting properties are searched to contribute better characteristics to the garments. In this study, it was purposed to investigate the efect of various softeners on thermal comfort and wetting properties of the 100% bamboo viscose and bamboo/cotton blended knitted fabrics. The diferent softeners were applied to the fabrics by padding method. Furthermore, the washing durability of the softeners after 10 and 20 washing cycles was evaluated. Thermal comfort, water vapor permeabil- ity, and vertical capillary wetting measurements of the fabrics were performed. The results were evaluated statistically. According to the results, it was found that thermal resistance values of softened bamboo viscose and bamboo/cotton blended fabrics were lower than those of untreated and unwashed fabrics. Softening treatments increased thermal absorptivity values and supplied a cooler feeling. Moreover, the vertical capillary wetting values of the softened fabrics were lower than those of untreated fabrics. 摘要 目前，人们对纺织品的热舒适性能有着极大的兴趣. 除了纤维性能和织物 结构外，还研究了影响热生理舒适性和润湿性的整理应用，以使服装具有 更好的特性. 研究了不同柔软剂对100%竹粘胶和竹棉混纺针织物热舒适性 和润湿性的影响. 采用填充法对织物进行柔软处理. 此外，还评估了10次和 20次洗涤循环后软化剂的洗涤耐久性. 对织物的热舒适性、透湿性和垂直 毛细润湿性进行了测试. 对结果进行统计学评价. 结果表明，软化后的竹粘 胶和竹棉混纺织物的热阻值均低于未经处理和未经处理的织物. 软化处理 增加了热吸收值，并提供了一个凉爽的感觉. 柔软织物的垂直毛细润湿值 低于未经处理的织物. KEYWORDS Bamboo viscose; cotton; softener; washing; comfort properties; vertical capillary wetting 关键词 竹粘胶; 棉; 柔软剂; 洗涤; 舒适性能; 垂直毛细管润 湿 Introduction Cotton fber is the purest source of cellulose and the most signifcant natural fber. The economic signifcance of cotton in the global market is evident by its majority share (over 50%) among fbers for apparel and textile goods. It has many qualities and countless end uses. The highest quality cotton varieties have the longest fbers, thin, soft handle, with good resilience and elasticity, which makes them easy to spin, suitable for the production of high-quality goods especially garments. Cotton has its own physical and chemical properties that are required to know for better processing in spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, printing as well as fnishing (Becerra 2000; Cook 1984; Gordon and Hsieh 2006; Kozłowski 2012). CONTACT Gamze Süpüren Mengüç gamze.supuren.menguc@ege.edu.tr Emel Akın Vocational Training School, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey JOURNAL OF NATURAL FIBERS https://doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2020.1788480 © 2020 Taylor & Francis