Galactomanans - New Sizing Agents

Abstract

Galactomanans are natural polysaccharides, by chemical composition complex molecules of galactoze and manoze monosaccharides, the name being given following the composition. Manoze makes an uninterrupted chain with side galaktoze groups separated by two to five manoze units. They are obtained from the seeds of Leguminoza plants, and they were first used as sizing agents some fifteen years ago. They produce a strong and smooth film on the warp yarns treated, making the yarns highly suitable for weaving. Galactomanans can be used in sizing all types of staple yarns. Sizing liquor made from them is easy to prepare, and equally easy to wash out after weaving. They are biodegradable, meaning environmentally safe, so a more widespread use of these agents can be expected in the future.