Based on reliability analysis, this paper describes a new approach for optimizing the cutting process using the Taguchi method. This approach uses optimized cutting parameters, such as the cutting speed, the cutting volume, and the cutting load for cutting glass fibres, with the application of the Weibull modulus to the blade wear. The minimum blade wear, using the Taguchi method, was found to be the lowest cutting speed and the medium cutting load. The cutting volume had little effect on blade wear. An analysis of the variance of the blade wear indicated that the cutting speed (49.17 per cent) and load (20.33 per cent) were the most significant parameters in the cutting process of glass fibres. The optimum cutting conditions for the Weibull modulus were found to be as follows: speed, 5.7 m/s; volume, 150 pieces; load, 27 kgf/cm2. Comparing the wear with the Weibull modulus, the most optimal cutting parameter is A1 B3 C3. The experimental results reveal that the Taguchi method provides the optimum parameters for the cutting of glass fibres.

This study synthesized the water-permeable and hydrophobic property of water-based polyurethane (WPU) and applied it to nylon fiber-based functional textiles. Specifically, poly-stearyl acrylate (PSA) homopolymers with different molecular weights were used as end-capping agents in the WPU to form water-based polyurethane with acrylate terminal (WPUA). In the WPUA process, dimethylacetamide was adopted as a neutralizing agent to form a stable WPUA emulsion. The effects of the design parameters, such as the hydrophilic ionic group dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA), the PSA molecular weight and content, were set as the control factors and are analyzed by the Taguchi method and gray relational analysis (GRA). The water-repellent characteristic, water vapor permeability (WVP) and fabric flexural rigidity were considered as performance parameters as multi-qualities. The Taguchi method was based on the analysis of variance and implemented orthogonal arrays for experimental design. Each performance parameter was optimized independently. Then, the performance parameters were optimized together with GRA. According to the experimental results, the most important factor for the water-repellent characteristic, WVP and fabric flexural rigidity is the DMPA content, followed by the PSA molecular weight and content. The corresponding results showed that in the optimal parameter combination, the content of DMPA was 30.8 phm (parts per hundred monomer by weight), the PSA molecular weight was 3000 g/mol and the PSA content was 4 phm. After WPUA padding, the water contact angle of the water-repellent nylon was 135.3°, the WVP was 2271.7 g/m2/day and the flexural rigidity was 2.7 cm.

This study synthesized water-based polyurethane with acrylate terminal group (WPUA) using the long carbon chain of stearyl acrylate to synthesize hydrophobic poly-stearyl acrylate (PSA). The proposed process could minimize environmental pollution caused by fluorine-containing monomers. As a water-based polyurethane (WPU) end-capping agent, the hydrophobic PSA and the hydrophilic and water vapor permeable WPU are copolymerized to form a WPUA functional resin with simultaneous water vapor permeability (WVP) and water repellency. Here, 2-mercaptoethanol was used to control the molecular weight of PSA to prepare the acrylate end-capping agent. PSA was then employed in WPU to form WPUA, which is characterized by the moisture permeability of WPU and water repellency of acrylic resin simultaneously. During the WPUA process, dimethylacetamide was used as a neutralizer to replace the traditional toxic chemical control drug triethylamine. This study set up the material and chemical structure to replace the toxic chemical-controlled drugs and organofluoride in the traditional preparation of moisture permeable and water repellent materials. The proposed process was proven to reduce the consumption of organic solvent, achieve WPUA copolymer stability, and provided moisture permeable and water repellent functions. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to determine the structure of WPUA, while thermogravimetry analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were performed to establish the thermal properties of WPUA. After the WPUA was padded on nylon fabric, its water drop contact angle was observed through a scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the contact angle of nylon fabric increased significantly, water repellency was reached, and WVP rises by 23.75%.

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