Optimization of Operational Parameters of Foam Sizing Process for Cotton Yarns Based on Plackett-Burman Experiment Design

This study was aimed at investigating the process optimization of foam sizing for cotton yarns. In this work, effects of major foam-sizing process factors including size concentration, blowing ratio, stirring speed, pre-wetting temperature, pre-drying temperature, squeezing pressure and drying temperature were studied on the hairiness (more than 3 mm) and abrasion resistance of foam-sized yarns. The combination of Plackett-Burman, steepest ascent path analysis and Box-Behnken design were adopted to optimize the foam-sizing process of cotton yarns. Results revealed that size concentration, blowing ratio and squeezing pressure were significant factors that affected the hairiness and abrasion resistance. Optimum hairiness and abrasion resistance were obtained when the cotton yarns were sized at size concentration of 19.33%, blowing ratio of 4.27 and squeezing pressure of 0.78kN. The theoretical values and the observed values were in reasonably good agreement and the deviation was less than 1%. Verifcation and repeated trial results showed that it has good reproducibility and imparts the foam sizing process of cotton yarns.