Sizing process of cotton yarn by size from a copolymer of methacrylic acid and hydrolyzed potato starch

In this paper, the synthesis, characterization and application of a copolymer as a sizing agent obtained by the grafting of methacrylic acid on hydrolyzed potato starch were investigated. Starch hydrolysis was performed in order to reduce the average molar mass (i.e. the size of the macromolecules). Grafting of methacrylic acid on hydrolyzed potato starch was performed to obtain a product that can be effective in textile processing, for example, for sizing yarn. The grafting of the monomer has been confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra of hydrolyzed and grafted potato starch. The distribution of molar masses was determined chromatographically. The results obtained by sizing of cotton yarn with the new starch agent confirmed its higher breaking strength, elongation, abrasion resistance, reduced hairiness, better evenness, etc. Grafted hydrolyzed potato starch (almost identical to the commercial medium) exhibits better performance as a potential agent for sizing cotton yarn than ungrafted hydrolyzed starch.