Synthesis and characterization of potato starch as a feasible alternative to the commercial yarn sizing materials

In Bangladesh, surplus potatoes pose challenges, leading to substantial wastage and losses. To mitigate this issue, exploring diverse applications for excess potatoes is crucial. This study focuses on using locally produced potato starch as an alternative sizing material. The potato starch was extracted and employed to size 100% cotton yarns of 12, 20, and 30 Ne counts. Comparative analyses were conducted with commonly used commercial sizing agents, including tapioca starch, one-shot, and Amatrolid 8923. Technical parameters such as size solution viscosity, yarn pick-up percentage, coating quality, hairiness reduction, tensile strength, elongation percentage, abrasion resistance, and coefficient of variation (CV%) were investigated for the different sizing agents. Potato starch exhibited performance on par with commercial agents, yielding favorable results. Particularly for coarser yarns (12 and 20 Ne counts), potato starch outperformed the alternatives, showcasing its efficacy. While one-shot proved most effective for the 30 Ne yarn, potato starch displayed slightly diminished performance due to its higher viscosity. Overall, potato starch emerged as a promising alternative to conventional sizing agents. It surpassed tapioca starch and Amatrolid 8923 across various parameters, reaffirming its potential as a feasible substitute in yarn sizing applications. This study underscores the viability of potato starch in enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of textile production processes. • Potato upcycled to minimize the challenges of Bangladesh's potato industry. • The extraction and characterization of potato starch as a sustainable sizing material. • The properties of potato starch-sized yarns with diverse categories were evaluated. • The technical feasibility of potato starch was compared with commercial sizing materials.