Comparative Analysis on Strength Properties of Fabric Using Intra-layer Polyvinyl Butyral-paste Spinning

Bonding among fibers is critical to developing a high strength fabric. Chemical adhesive (polyvinyl butyral, abbreviated as PVB) can improve the bonding between fibers to improve yarn strength to the required level. However, retaining the fabric strength after abrasion and washing without the loss of chemical adhesive is challenging. In this study, a novel method has been applied to intra-layer PVB-paste spinning to improve yarn strength. The forming mechanism and PVB flow/fibers compaction model of PVB-paste spun yarn were analyzed. The optimum process parameters of intra-layer PVB-paste spinning combined with orthogonal experiments were established, which maximally increased the binding force between the filament and staple fibers to improve the yarn strength. Moreover, in comparison to original yarn, PVB-paste spun yarn strength can be increased up to 32.3% in the best case. Therefore, the yarn strength could be improved via intra-layer PVB-paste spinning. Meanwhile, the tearing and breaking strength of PVB-paste fabric were approximately 27.8% and 7.2% more than those of cotton fabric, respectively. Additionally, the fabric made by that yarn also maintains good strength performance during abrasion and washing, while also having good hand-feel characteristics. Overall, the successful manufacture of these PVB-paste fabric should promote the development of high-performance fabric.