Elvanol™ T-series
for Textile SizingElvanol™

Elvanol™
T-series
for Textile Sizing
Elvanol™ T-Series of polyvinyl alcohol are unique copolymers developed especially for use as warp sizes for polyester/cotton blends and other spun yarns.
Alone or in combination with starch and additives, Elvanol™ T-Series are being
used successfully on practically every type of spun yarn now on the market,
including acetate, acrylic, cotton, rayon, wool, nylon, and polyester spuns andsuch blends as polyester/cotton, polyester/wool, polyester/rayon, Nomex(r)polyamide, and glass fibers.

ADVANTAGES OF ELVANOL™ T-SERIES• Low Add-On• High Weaving Efficiency• Low Weave-Room Humidity• Excellent Size Bath Stability• Ease of Desizing• Environmentally Friendly• Economically Recoverable and Reuseable• Favorable Cost / Performance

RESIN CHARACTERISTICS• Shipping & Storage• Effects of Concentration of• Viscosity of Elvanol™ at 71˚C

03

04

SIZE BATH FORMULAS

05

PREPARING SIZE SOLUTIONS• Cleaning of Equipment• Size Preparation

06

2

SLASHER OPERATION• Size Box Temperature• Squeeze Rolls• Drying Cans
• Stretch• Warp Density• Size Box Warp Density vs Yarn Count07

WEAVING SIZED YARNS• Sized Yarn Properties• Weave Room Humidity• Sized Yarn Properties

08

DESIZING• Desizing• Wash Conditions• Enzymes• Steaming• Typical Desizing Examples

09

GENERAL• Waste Disposal• Safe Handling10Advantages of Elvanol™ T-seriesSize bath formulas based on Elvanol™ T-Series are simple and easy to prepare, and run without difficulty on
the slasher. Important performance advantages of the Elvanol™ T-Series as a warp size include the following:

Low Add-on

Environmentally friendly

The high film strength, abrasion resistance, and excellent
adhesion of Elvanol™ T-Series permit their use at about onethird to one half of the add-on required with starch formulas. Since lower add-on and higher adhesion results in lessshedding on the loom, less frequent cleaning of drop wires,
heddles, and reeds is required. Reduced add-on also permits
greater warp yardage per beam, with consequently fewer
doffs at the slasher and fewer tie-ins at the looms. This inturn means increased production at lower labor costs. “Tight”
constructions are easier to weave at low size add-on, as there
is more air space in the reed. Finally, the lower weight of size
present reduces freight costs on shipments of greige cloth tofinishing mills.

Elvanol™ T-Series have low Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
compared to many other sizes. Combined with the ability to
weave efficiently with low add-on,this results in a low BOD
and COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) in the desize stream
to a finishing mill’s waste water treatment plant or Publicly
Owned Treatment Works (POTW). Elvanol™ copolymers aredegradable in properly designed and operated activatedsludge waste water treatment systems. When a size recovery
system is installed at the desize stage, virtually all Elvanol™ iseliminated from the waste water.

High weaving efficiency
Yarns sized with Elvanol™ T-Series show excellent weaving
performance with few loom stops. Good hairiness reduction
results in low warp-related filling stops on air jet looms.

Low Weave-room humidity
Weaving efficiency remains high over a wide range of humidities as Elvanol™ T-Series remain flexible at low humidity, andis not softened at higher humidities. High humidity is not required for good weaving performance. Consequently, a more
comfortable working atmosphere can be maintained without
sacrificing efficiency. Lower humidity also prolongs the lifeof loom parts that are subject to corrosion in moist atmospheres.

Excellent size bath stability
Solutions of Elvanol™ T-Series are noncorrosive and are notsubject to spoilage. Unlike starch sizing materials, they canbe held at elevated temperatures for days without viscosity
degradation. There is no need to heat pipelines to prevent gelling of the size solution.

Ease of Desizing
Elvanol™ T-Series dissolve readily in hot water, without theneed for costly enzymes. They are easily removed,even fromheat-set polyester/cotton fabrics. Film dissolution studies
show Elvanol™ Grade T-66 to exhibit better dissolving characteristics than medium or high viscosity partially hydrolyzed
grades at 140-160ºF (60-71ºC), particularly in the presenceof mild caustic (often added in cloth preparation).

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Economically recoverable and reusable
The unique molecular structure of the Elvanol™ T-Series
copolymers is extremely chemically stable, and is not hydrolyzed or otherwise chemically altered in the heat and stressesof a size recovery system. The T-Series are easily recovered
and reused in any type of commercially available ultrafiltration system. Reuse is straightforward, as there is no viscosity
change during desizing, ultrafiltration, or storage. Higher concentrations can be achieved, reducing transportation costs
and providing maximum flexibility in reuse of the reclaimed
solutions.

Favorable cost/performance
The foregoing advantages make the overall cost performanceof warp sizes based of Elvanol™ attractive, particularly forpolyester blend yarns where starch based sizes do not perform well at the low add-on required to achieve fabric quality.

Resin Characteristics
Elvanol™ T-Series are unique copolymer polyvinyl alcohols
designed specifically for use as a warp size for spun yarns.
Supplied as white, granular solids, they slurry easily in cold
water without lumping and dissolve readily on heating.

Figure 1: Effects of Concentration on
Viscosity of Elvanol™ at 71 °C
T-25

T-66

T-25LR

Shipping & Storage
Elvanol™ polyvinyl alcohol is packaged in 25 kg net multiwall
paper bags. Bag shipments are available on request in 1000kg unitized loads on nonreturnable pallets. In addition, Supersack shipments of 500 kg on nonreturnable pallets are alsoavailable. The bulk density of Elvanol™ is somewhat lower thanthat of starch (7.05 kg/m3 for Elvanol™ vs about 400 – 432 kg/
m3 for starch). Bulk storage and handling facilities designed
for starch can generally be used with little or no modification
for handling Elvanol™.
Elvanol™ as supplied can be stored indefinitely without lumping or deteriorating. Since solutions of Elvanol™ T-Series do
not gel, they can be stored over weekends and shutdown periods without impairing their usefulness. Solutions of Elvanol™
are stable, noncorrosive, and nontoxic.

Viscosity mPa•s (cP)(Brookfield LVF Viscometer at 60 RPM)

10000

1000

100

10

1
4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Elvanol™ in solution (%)

4

18

20

Size Bath Formulas
Elvanol™ T-Series of polyvinyl alcohol can be used alone orin combination with starches and additives, depending on
the yarn and weave and on individual mill preference. Its applications range from a 100% PVA single component size forpolyester, to 50-75% PVA/starch blends for polyester/ cotton blends, to 50% PVA/starch blends for cotton to use as abinder in 10-15% PVA/starch blends for denim and towel pileformulations. As a single-component size, polyvinyl alcohol
is effective at low add-on for use with the entire spectrumof spun yarns being woven today, including natural, synthetic,
and blend yarns such as polyester/cotton spun blends. The
low add-on at which Elvanol™ can be applied as a single component size is particularly advantageous for tight fabric constructions that are difficult to weave. In combinations withstarch, Elvanol™ improves the strength of the size film andprovides the required adhesion to synthetic yarns.
Table I suggests concentration ranges for initial trial in applying Elvanol™ alone to typical spun yarns. Wet size pickup
will generally be in the range from 100-130% for polyester/
cotton blends, but will vary from mill to mill depending on
equipment and operating conditions used, e.g., squeeze rollpressure, squeeze roll hardness, and slashing speed.
Because of the wide variation in fiber combinations, yarncount and twist, fabric construction, and slasher conditions,the formulas in Table I are useful only as a general guide. Your
specific yarn may require different formulas. For kettle formulas suitable for your specific yarn and fabric constructions
and mill conditions, consult your Kuraray Elvanol™ representative or write the nearest office listed on the back cover.

Table 1: Guide for Sizing Spun Yarns withElvanol™ T-Series
Yarn
Polyester/Cotton Fine count40/1 to 50/1
Medium count20/1 to 30/1
Polyester/rayon Medium count20/1 to 30/1
Polyester/wool
Cotton Fine count40/1 to 50/1
Medium count20/1 to 30/1

Size Solution Solids (%)
8-10

6-8

6-8
6-8
8-10

6-9

Viscose® rayon

3-5

Acrylic Medium count8-11

Nomex® nylon

9-11Tencel®

7-9

The addition of 5-8% (on weight of Elvanol™) of a low melting point, emulsifiable
wax is generally recommended.

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Preparing Size Solutions
Elvanol™ polyvinyl alcohol disperses smoothly in cold waterand dissolves readily on heating. Size baths based on Elvanol™
alone or in combination with starch are easily prepared in all
types of equipment now being used for size preparation.

Cleaning of Equipment
Clean the dissolving equipment,pumps, pipelines, and size
boxes thoroughly with hot water before dissolving and applying size formulas based on Elvanol™. Inorganic salts, soaps,
alkalies, and cleaning powders may increase solution viscosity and precipitate the Elvanol™. Borax, an ingredient of manysoaps and cleaning powders, is especially harmful since it
causes gelation of polyvinyl alcohol solutions if present evenin low concentrations.

Size Preparation✓ Add cold water (less than 30°C) to cooking
kettle. All of the water should be added before
adding solid materials.
✓ Start the agitator and circulating pump.
✓ Add the proper amount of Elvanol™.
✓ Add the proper amount of starch and other dry
ingredients. If starch is present, temperature shouldbe 85-99°C. Stir for 30 to 45 minutes.
✓ Add any liquid binders as appropriate.
✓ Stir for 2-3 minutes.
✓ Check final solids and viscosity, and add
water to adjust as needed.

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Slasher Operation
Established slasher practices can be followed in applying sizes based on Elvanol™ T-Series.

Size Box Temperature

StretchTemperatures of 66-79°C give best results with size formulations based on Elvanol™ alone. This range is high enoughto give satisfactory penetration. At the same time, it is low
enough to prevent skinning or film formation on the bathsurface during “creep” speed operation of the slasher. Spunyarn sizing formulations containing combinations of Elvanol™
T-Series with modified starches have higher solids contents
and higher viscosities. As with other starch formulas, size
box temperatures around 80-94°C are necessary to maintainworkable viscosities and obtain satisfactory penetration.

Stretch should be controlled for the yarn being sized. Most
cotton and polyester/cotton blends will be 0.8-2.0% total
stretch. Other yarn types will vary. An even tension should bemaintained from section beam to section beam.

Squeeze Roll Preasure
Normal squeeze roll pressures are usually satisfactory. The
amount of size pickup can be varied by changing the squeeze
roll pressure.

Drying cans
For spun yarns, the first drying can should be operated at
104°C or perhaps higher to prevent can sticking and film formation. Yarn temperatures above 138°C should be avoided.
In general, the drying can temperatures should be set at theminimum required to dry the yarns to the final moisture content desired for the particular yarn being sized. Automatic
moisturecontrol instruments work very satisfactorily withwarps sized with Elvanol™ polyvinyl alcohol. If a double sizebox is used, it is desirable to dry the sheds separately over at
least three or four drying cans. This dries the yarn sufficiently
to prevent cementing together when the sheds are joined. Adequate preliminary drying of each shed ensures an easy separation (or break of the yarns at the bust bar and lease rods). It
is recommended that the dry cans be coated with Teflon® TFE
fluorocarbon resin to prevent can sticking.

Figure 2: Size Box Warp Density vs. Yarn Count

80%

75%

20

40

67%

60%

50%

33%

120

140

60

Yarn Count

50

40

20

10

60

80

100

Ends/Inch (in Box or Dry Cans)

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Warp density
Proper spacing between individual warp yarns in the sizebox is important for optimum pickup of size. Adjacent ends
should be separated by a space approximately equal to theyarn diameter. On the dry cans, a minimum of 75% open spaceis recommended for Air-Jet weaving. It is preferable to use a
multiple size box or wet split if available to permit maximum
separation (Refer to Fig. 2).

Slasher Operation

Elvanol™ T-25 polyvinyl alcohol (570X)

Modified Pearl Starch (510X)

Space between ends
% Open Space

Number of Yarn Diameters

33

1/2

50

1

60

1 1/2

67

2

72

2 1/2

75

3

78

3 1/2

80

4

Elvanol™ T-series adhere
without flaking to both polyester and cotton fibers.
The fiber bundle is cemented together and encapsulated with size to achieve
the abrasion resistance required in the loom.

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Weaving Sized Yarns
Warps sized with Elvanol™ T-Series of polyvinyl alcohol show excellent weaving performance and are especially advantageous for “tight”, difficult to weave constructions. Normal loom settings and regular weave
room procedures can be followed.

Weave Room Humidity
Warps sized with Elvanol™ do not require the high weave room
humidities necessary for handling starch sized yarns. Humidity may be reduced to 60-75% R.H. or even lower if desired,to provide more comfortable working conditions and reduce
maintenance costs on loom parts that are sensitive to humidity. Since high humidity does not affect the performanceof Elvanol™, customary settings can be maintained duringchangeover and the humidity reduced after conversion toyarn sized with Elvanol™.

Sized Yarn Properties
The superior adhesion of Elvanol™ as compared with starch isapparent from the stereo-scan electron micrographs on theprevious page. The adhesion, toughness, and film strengthof Elvanol™ are reflected in improved physical propertiesof the sized yarn. Table II shows the effect of size on a typical polyester/cotton blend yarn to be woven into a 128 sleybroadcloth. Elvanol™, at half the total add-on required withstarch, produces a stronger yarn with 25% greater elongationand lower stiffness (modulus). The improved toughness of theyarn sized with Elvanol™ is indicative of good flex life, abrasion
resistance, and shock absorbency on the loom.

9Desizing
Elvanol™ T-Series are readily removed in hot water at flow rates that effectively remove starch. No
enzymes are required unless starch is also present. Even after polyester/ cotton fabric have beenheat-set in the greige, Elvanol™ T-Series of polyvinyl alcohol are readily removed.

Wash Conditions

Typical Desizing Examples

Cloth sized with Elvanol™ T-Series is readily desized in standard open-width or rope washers. Water temperature, thenumber of washes, and the ratio of wash liquor to goods are allimportant in obtaining complete size removal. The higher thetemperature, the more rapidly and completely any polyvinyl
alcohol size is removed. Wash box temperatures of 71-100ºC
are suitable for removing Elvanol™ T-Series, depending on
fabric construction and equipment limitations. The more washboxes and the higher temperatures used, the more rapidly andcompletely the size is removed.Generally, a greater numberof wash boxes will be required when operating at lower temperatures.

100% Polyvinyl Alochol Size

Wetting agents and chemical agents such as soda ash or hydrogen peroxide may be added to the wash liquor if desired
to increase the rate of solution of polyvinyl alcohol sizes. Liquors containing 8% or more caustic are not recommended fordesizing since the polyvinyl alcohol, although dislodged fromthe fabric, remains suspended as a gelatinous mass which stillrequires a hot wash for removal. After a fabric has been desized with water, it can be given a conventional caustic scour
before bleaching.

Polyvinyl alcohol/Starch blends

Enzymes
The enzymes used in removing starch sizes, and also
Elvanol™ polyvinyl alcohol/starch combinations, have no effect on polyvinyl alcohol. They neither facilitate nor interferewith removal.

Pad on solution 71-82ºC containing:• Surfactant• Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) if desired(up to 5% concentration)or Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) if desired(0.25 to 1.0% concentration)
Hold in steamer or J-Box: 2 to 5 minutes
Several washers at 160-210° F(the hotter, the better)

Oxidative Desize• Pad on solution (71-82°C) containing:• Detergent (0.3%)• Sequestrant (0.1%)• Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)(0.7-2.0% concentration)• Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2)(0.2-0.4% concentration)• Salt (0.04%)• Emulsifiers as needed
Hold in steamer or J-Box: 2 to 5 minutes
Several washers at 71-100°C (the hotter,the better)

Steaming

Enzyme Desize

Steaming the cloth before it enters the washer softens the
polyvinyl alcohol size film so that it is more easily penetrated
and dissolved by water. The cloth needs to remain in thesteamer only long enough to reach equilibrium with the temperature in the chamber.

Pad on solution (49-71°C) containing:• Amylase Enzyme (1-2%)• Detergent (0.3%)• Salt (1-2%)
Dwell time in steamer or J-Box: 2 to 5 minutes;
cold 30 minutes (minimum)
Several washers at 71-100°C (the hotter,the better)
Due to the variety of fabrics and desizing equipment,these conditions are to be considered general in nature. Specific discussions with Elvanol™ representatives or your finishing chemical supplier are always
recommended.

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Waste Disposal
Elvanol™ polyvinyl alcohol in solution or granular form can be disposed of by incineration or landfill. Any disposal procedure however, must comply with national and local regulations. When exposed to nonacclimateddomestic sludge microorganisms, Elvanol™ has a low biochemical oxygen demand for periods up to thirty
days.

Recent work has shown
Domestic and textile mill activated sludge microorganisms can acclimate to Elvanol™ polyvinyl alcohol
under conditions attainable in conventional waste
treatment systems.
Greater than 90% removal of Elvanol™ from textile
mill wastes can be achieved in activated sludge
waste treatment systems that contain acclimatedmicroorganisms. For more detailed informationon the biodegradation of Elvanol™, contact your
Kuraray representative.

Safe Handling
Elvanol™ polyvinyl alcohol can be safely handled in a properly
designed bulk silo.
Elvanol™ polyvinyl alcohol is a safe material when properly
handled. Polyvinyl alcohol is not a primary skin irritant anddoes not produce skin sensitization. Extensive tests madewith Elvanol™ indicate a very low order of toxicity when administered orally to laboratory animals. When polyvinyl alcohol is injected under the skin or into the lungs, it is not broken
down by the tissues but remains as a foreign body. Undercertain conditions of use, dust may be formed from Elvanol™
polyvinyl alcohol.
Kuraray recommends that dust from Elvanol™ be treated as a
nuisance dust.
If excessive concentrations of dust are encountered, a maskor respirator, or goggles shall be worn, complying with Section
1910.134 of the OSHA regulations, should be worn. Goggles
should comply with Section 1910.133.

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Adding value toyour products –worldwide
Kuraray Poval™, Exceval™, Elvanol™ and Mowiflex™ are the trademarks for polyvinyl alcohols
made by Kuraray. Their key characteristics — outstanding film-forming properties and high binding strength — add real value to your products. Our polymers are water-soluble, highly reactive,
crosslinkable and foamable. They have high pigment binding capacity, protective colloid characteristics and thickening effects. The physical and chemical properties of Kuraray Poval™ makeit ideal for a wide variety of applications, ranging from adhesives through paper and ceramics
to packaging films. Many of our polymers are food contact-approved and thus suitable for foodapplications. Ecologically Kuraray Poval™ is advantageous due to its biodegradability and the factthat combustion does not generate residues. It is available in various particle sizes from granules
to fine powders.
Kuraray produces its wide range of Kuraray Poval™ grades in Japan, Singapore, Germany and theUSA. Kuraray’s global production and service network make us your partner of choice for innovative high-quality PVOH resins.
Kuraray – Here to Innovate.

Headquarters
Kuraray Co., Ltd.
Tokiwabashi Tower
2-6-4, Otemachi
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo, Japan 100-0004
Phone: +81 3 67 01 1000
infopoval.jp@kuraray.com

Kuraray Poval™
product portfolio
Please contact your local
Kuraray office to discuss theright Kuraray product foryour needs.

Kuraray America, Inc.
2625 Bay Area Blvd.,
Suite 600 Houston, TX77058
United States of America
Phone: +1 800 423 9762

Kuraray Asia Pacific Pte., Ltd.
250 North Bridge Road
#10-01/02 Raffles City Tower
Singapore 179101
Phone: +65 6337 4123

info.kuraray-poval@kuraray.com

infopoval.sg@kuraray.com

Kuraray Europe GmbH
Philipp-Reis-Str. 465795 Hattersheim am Main,
Germany
Phone: +49 69 305 85 351

Kuraray China Co., Ltd.
Unit 2207, 2 Grand Gateway
3 Hongqiao Road, Xuhui District,
Shanghai 200030, China
Phone: +86 21 6119 8111

info.eu-poval@kuraray.com

infopoval.cn@kuraray.com

05_2022