Softeners provide their main effects on the surface of the fibres. Small softener molecules, in addition, penetrate the fibre and provide an internal plasticisation of the fibre forming polymer by reducing of the glass transition temperature Tg. The physical arrangement of the usual softener molecules on the fibre surface is important and shown in Fig. 3.1. It depends on the ionic nature of the softener molecule and the relative hydrophobicity of the fibre surface. Cationic softeners orient themselves with their positively charged ends toward the partially negatively charged fibre (zeta potential), creating a new surface of hydrophobic carbon chains that provide the characteristic excellent softening and lubricity seen with cationic softeners. Anionic softeners, on the other hand, orient themselves with their negatively charged ends repelled away from the negatively charged fibre surface. This leads to higher hydrophilicity, but less softening than with cationic softeners. The orientation of non-ionic softeners depends on the nature of the fibre surface, with the hydrophilic portion of the softener being attracted to hydrophilic surfaces and the hydrophobic portion being attracted to hydrophobic surfaces.
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