WICKING OF SPIN FINISHES AND RELATED LIQUIDS INTO CONTINUOUS FILAMENT YARNS

Using a simple electronic method for measuring wicking times, we have shown that horizontal wicking of liquids into continuous filament yarns follows the Lucas-Washburn equation. We have investigated the effects of the liquid properties, viscosity, and surface tension, and of the liquid-solid interaction parameter cos theta(a). We have found that transient effects due to surfactant adsorption play a significant role in wicking, and that cos theta(a) values of approximately 0.7 or higher are necessary for wicking to take place. Certain kinds of fluorosurfactants seem to have a considerable negative effect on the wicking of model finishes in yarns and on the distribution of these finishes on the surfaces of constituent fibers.