Enzyme and silicone treatments on jute fibre. Part II: Effect on process performance during yarn making and yarn properties

Characterization of modified jute fibres treated with selective mixed enzyme and aminosilicone compound has been reported earlier. This part of the study relates to assessment of the effectiveness of such chemical (aminosilicone) and biochemical (mixture of cellulase, xylanase, and pectinase enzymes) modifications of raw jute fibres (with or without selective pretreatments using dilute NaOH, H2O2, and a combination of H2O2 and K2S2O8) on process performance during yarn making and property parameters of such yarns. Usually, jute fibres are spun into yarns applying 1.5% to 3% mineral oil-in-water emulsion prior to carding. 0.5% aminosilicone treatment of jute fibres under specified condition makes them suitable for yarn making without the use of mineral oil, and produces a softer yarn having substantially lower yarn mass irregularity and yarn imperfection values, though with some lowering in tenacity values. Some advantages accrued in regard to process performance (energy efficiency and less fibre droppage during carding) during yarn making for 4% mixed-enzyme-treated jute fibres at 55 degrees C for 2 h over raw and bleached jute fibres are outweighed by the increase of spinning end breakage rate, much lowering of yarn tenacity, and specific work of rupture. However, 1% mixed enzyme treatment of jute fibres shows some advantages in process performance associated with much lower extent of reduction in yarn tenacity and specific work of rupture with acceptable end breakage rate during spinning, rendering an overall gain from this treatment.