Soil Release and Easy-Care Finishing
topic
Soil release finishes reduce polyester's affinity for oily soil and improve soil removal in washing. Mechanism: hydrophilic PET-compatible polymer (polyethylene terephthalate–polyoxyethylene terephthalate, PET-POET copolymer) forms thin hydrophilic coating. In washing, water penetrates coating, undermining oily soil adhesion. Easy-care finishing with silicone softener + crosslinker improves wrinkle recovery without compromising tensile properties. Evaluated by AATCC 130 (oil stain release) and AATCC 124 (appearance after washing).
Role
Soil release finishing addresses polyester's oleophilic surface — a major disadvantage versus cotton in maintenance. PET-POET copolymers are a classic example of surface-compatible functional coating design based on molecular affinity.