Have you ever had such an experience? Put on a new T-shirt, the fabric gently wraps around the skin like a gentle cloud; or walk out of the bathroom wrapped in a fluffy bath towel, the whole body is warm and soft. These moments that make people feel happy are inseparable from the "magic" of hydrophilic cotton and textile softener. Today, let's talk about this golden pair that makes fabrics gentle.


1. Magic cotton that can "drink water"
Speaking of hydrophilic cotton, we must first talk about the "little temper" of cotton. The surface of ordinary cotton fiber is a little "afraid of water" because it has some small hydrophobic groups, just like putting a layer of "waterproof coat" on the fiber. But hydrophilic cotton is different. Scientists use physical rubbing, chemical "transformation" and other methods to "ask away" these hydrophobic groups, making cotton fibers particularly love to "drink water".


The water absorption speed of hydrophilic cotton can be called the "champion in the cotton world". When you sweat profusely after exercise, ordinary cotton clothes may stick to your body, while hydrophilic cotton clothes can absorb sweat in a few seconds and keep your skin dry. Its breathability is also excellent. The gaps between the fibers are like small windows, and the air can pass freely, sweeping away the stuffiness. What's more intimate is that the softness of hydrophilic cotton is not "pretended". The natural fiber structure plus special treatment makes it feel as delicate as a baby's face, which is particularly friendly to people with sensitive skin.


In life, hydrophilic cotton is everywhere. Baby's diapers, towels close to the face, and sheets and quilts that hug each other to sleep every day are all made of hydrophilic cotton. Especially in the humid rainy season in the south, hydrophilic cotton bedding can quickly absorb moisture, so that sleep is no longer sticky.


2. Softener: "skin cream" for fabrics
Textile softeners are like "skin cream" for fabrics, specifically solving problems such as "roughness" and "tightness" of fabrics. Imagine that untreated fabric fibers are like messy balls of wool, rubbing and pulling each other, and the feel is naturally stiff. Softeners are like "lubricating" these fibers, making them smooth and fluffy, soft and elastic to the touch.


There are many members in the softener family, which can be divided into cationic, anionic, nonionic, etc. according to their "character". Cationic softener is like a passionate "socialite", especially good at "making friends" with fibers such as cotton and wool. It can not only soften fabrics, but also eliminate static electricity - in winter, when you take off your sweater, there will be no more crackling sparks, thanks to its help. Anionic softener is a "good partner" of synthetic fibers, with high cost performance and suitable for large-scale industrial production. Nonionic softener is the most "versatile", no matter what kind of fiber material can get along harmoniously, and it is also stable at high temperatures, suitable for various washing conditions.


3. When hydrophilic cotton meets softener
You may be curious, why do you need softener for hydrophilic cotton that is already very soft? In fact, hydrophilic cotton has to go through "tests" such as high temperature and pulling during the textile processing process, and the fibers will become stiff. Softener can make these "injured" fibers "revive". It quietly drills into the gaps between the fibers, reduces friction, and restores the fabric to a fluffy and soft state, feeling as light as freshly picked cotton.


Some people worry that softeners will block the "water absorption channel" of hydrophilic cotton. In fact, choosing the right product can achieve the best of both worlds. Now many softeners for hydrophilic cotton use special formulas, and the molecular structure is like a "small spring", which can not only adhere to the fiber surface to form a protective film, but also will not cover the hydrophilic group. Experiments have shown that after treatment with a suitable softener, the water absorption of hydrophilic cotton not only did not decrease, but because the fiber is more fluffy, the water absorption speed becomes faster.


Softeners can also extend the "lifespan" of hydrophilic cotton. During daily wear and washing, fabrics will be subject to various frictions. The protective film formed by softeners is like a layer of invisible armor, reducing the damage to the fibers by external forces. The hydrophilic cotton towels that have been "maintained" by softeners are still as soft as before after more than half a year, while those without softeners may have become hard and shed.