Kaolin clay offers numerous uses in large-scale important industries, including textiles. The use of kaolin in the textile industry might become an alternative to other common industrial clay minerals.  How can kaolin contribute to the textile industry, and why should you consider investing in this material?

Let us see several ways kaolin can be used in textile production.

Kaolin for Interlining Fabric

Kaolin is one of potential materials to be used in interlining fabric, which is a piece of fabric attached on one side of the textile to alter its characteristics. This piece is important in creating both specific designs and functions in various outfits.

Interlining is done on the “wrong” side of the fabric; the one people will not see when someone wears an outfit. The functions include:

  1. Adding Body

Interlining helps maintain the shape of the outfit and adds a body, thanks to stronger and stiffer material. Common for outfits such as dresses, skirts, jackets, and blouses.

  1. Preventing/Reducing Creasing

Creasing usually happens on a natural fabric. Interlining helps to prevent the fiber from scrunching up together with movements, reducing creasing.

  1. Creating Draping Effect

An outfit with a draping effect needs to have some kind of weight on specific areas, so the fabric can move and fall nicely. Interlining is useful for this purpose, especially on skirts, dresses, and blouses.

  1. Preventing Shadowing Effect

An outfit with thin fabric can cause a shadowing effect on unwanted spots, including where the underwear is. Interlining helps in adding density so the fabric can be less transparent without ruining its lightweight form.

  1. Preventing Stretchy Fabric

Outfits with open-weave fiber often stretch on certain parts, like on the elbows. Such stretchiness can also be visible on outfits that fit the body, especially after a long wear. Interlining fabric helps prevent or reduce the risk of stretchy fabric. 

Kaolin clay is used to fortify the fiber used for interlining. Its structure helps fabric to be firmer and heavier than its surrounding, lending to the effect manufacturers want from a specific outfit or fabric.

Kaolin for Pilling Resistance on Textile

Newer studies on the use of kaolin in the textile industry showed potential in using it to improve pilling resistance.

In the textile industry, pilling resistance refers to the ability of the fabric to reduce the appearance of fluffs and pills. They cause unbecoming textures on knitted fabric and wool, for example. Usually, textile factories prevent this problem by performing biopolishing, or the use of cellulose enzymes to remove the protruding balls, fuzzes, and fiber.

Textile manufacturing often requires multiple biopolishing steps, which risk reducing the tensile strength of the fibers. A 2022 study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information showed that kaolin can reduce this problem. Mixing kaolin into the textile for pilling resistance can reduce pills and fuzzes without ruining the fiber strength.

With kaolin, textile manufacturers might be able to give the fabric pilling resistance while presenting weakened or frayed fibers. The results are textiles or outfits with better, stronger, more tear-resistance quality, but less rigid.

Kaolin for Textile Wastewater Treatment

The use of kaolin in the textile industry potentially covers the wastewater treatment. Textile manufacturing results in a high amount of waste, mostly consisting of dye, chemicals, and suspended particles. A proper treatment is necessary to prevent the dye and chemically-laden waste from being absorbed by the soil.

The process of wastewater treatment in the textile industry consists of several steps, combining several types of treatments. Kaolin can be used as a surfactant to bind chemicals and dye into floating particles, making it easier to filter and treat them.

Kaolin can also be mixed with filtering layer components for absorption. Kaolin can also be used multiple times, unlike activated carbon. There is also less environmental impact with the use of kaolin clay.

Should You Invest in Kaolin for the Textile Industry?

Kaolin has a bright future as an investment for the textile industry. While the effects of kaolin on textile manufacturing (and wastewater treatment) need further studies, this material is already considered versatile and potential. 

Textiles have a major role in global industry, and the growing population will require more production. When textile companies and related businesses start discussing the environmental effects and other issues, you can offer kaolin as a solution for such problems.

This is why you should partner with the best kaolin supplier to fulfill the growing demands. Yukami is an Indonesia-based kaolin supplier ideal for your business partner. Selling industry-grade kaolin in various forms, like cake and powder, they are heavily sought-out by various industries around the world.

Yukami has more than 30 years of experience and served clients in various regions, especially Asia. Get your kaolin from the right supplier like Yukami to grow your business, including partnering with textile manufacturers.

The use of kaolin in the textile industry is not a new concept, but it needs further studies. Nevertheless, kaolin clay has shown a positive industry trend, ideal to support businesses in many fields, including textile. Start your kaolin business now and get your product only from Yukami.