Polymeric Anti-Creasing Agents
A crease forms when fabric running in rope folds onto itself and that fold is set under pressure and heat. A polymeric anti-creasing agent leaves a lubricating film on the fibre surface so the folded faces are less likely to lock together.
How does a crease form?
In rope dyeing the fabric folds, turns and rides over itself continuously. For a fold to become permanent it needs three things: high temperature, pressure at the fold line and enough time. Above the glass transition temperature of polyester the fibre becomes formable, and a crease set at that point will not fully open even on the stenter.
Dye uptake also differs along the fold. So a crease usually brings two faults at once: a physical mark and a colour difference running along it.
What does a polymeric agent do?
The product leaves a thin polymer film on the fibre surface. That film lowers friction at two contact points: fabric against fabric and fabric against machine. With lower friction the rope opens and closes more freely and the folds do not keep landing in the same place.
The second effect is on how the rope travels. A lubricated rope passes through narrow sections without jamming and circulates more evenly, which also reduces tension marks along the selvedge.
Polymeric or oil-based?
The two groups solve the same problem with different risks.
|
|
Polymeric |
Oil-based |
|---|---|---|
|
Lubricity |
Medium to high |
High |
|
Staining risk |
Low |
Present if the emulsion breaks |
|
Rinsing out |
Easy |
Needs a wash step |
|
Effect on shade |
Low |
To be checked |
Polymeric products are preferred on pale shades and wherever staining tolerance is low. Where lubricity is not enough, on heavy fabrics and awkward machine geometry, the choice moves to the oil-based side.
How does it enter the recipe?
The anti-creasing agent is dosed into the dye bath before the dye. Dosage follows fabric construction, machine type and liquor ratio: pending from the client.
Two things get checked. First, foam: an anti-creasing agent that foams disturbs the circulation of the jet and produces the very crease you were trying to prevent. Second, dye compatibility; if the ionic character of the polymer runs against the dye, you can see precipitation or a shade shift. Any product new to a recipe is trialled in the lab.
Product comparison
Comparison
| Product | Description | Ionic character | Dosage | Temperature stability | Foam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DK ANTICREASE 1026 | Polymeric anti-creasing agent | awaiting data | awaiting data | awaiting data | awaiting data |
| DK ANTICREASE 1010 | Polymeric anti-creasing agent | awaiting data | awaiting data | awaiting data | awaiting data |
| DK ANTICREASE MAX | Concentrated polymeric anti-creasing agent | awaiting data | awaiting data | awaiting data | awaiting data |
Products
- DK ANTICREASE 1010
Polymeric anti-creasing agent whose film rinses out easily, protecting the goods without touching the next finish.
- DK ANTICREASE 1026
Polymeric anti-creasing agent that leaves a lubricating film on the fibre and keeps crease marks out of rope-form goods.
- DK ANTICREASE MAX
Concentrated polymeric anti-creasing agent giving protection at low dosage on heavy, crease-prone lots.
Common questions
Will an anti-creasing agent open a crease that has already set?
No. The product prevents; once the fold is set, the remedy is mechanical rather than chemical and rarely complete. That is why the dosage has to be right at the start of the dyeing.
Does it shift the shade?
With polymeric products the effect is usually small, though not zero. The polymer shares the bath with the dye and at high dosage can change the rate of exhaustion. Check colour whenever the recipe changes.
Why does dosage rise on elastane knits?
Elastane makes the fabric retract, so the rope travels as a tighter mass. A tight rope folds more often and puts more pressure on each fold, which raises the lubricity you need.
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Not finding what you need?
We develop custom formulations. Tell us your process, machine type and the result you are after, and the lab will set up a trial and send a sample.