4
S. Raja Balasaraswathi and R. Rathinamoorthy
characteristics on synthetic textile microfiber shedding or releasing ability in different
situations. Especially, the major focus is provided on the laundry process as most
of the release occurs during consumer washing. This becomes essential as most of
the recent researchers are alarmed about the microfiber contamination of the aquatic
system.
2 Microfiber Shedding Mechanism
The disengagement of loose or damaged or broken fibers from the surface of textile
materials is often referred to as the microfiber shedding of textile materials. Generally,
when the textile materials are subjected to mechanical stress, the abrasion on the
surface of the materials leads to fiber damage or breakage [18].
Even the handling of materials while using can also lead to fiber breakage as
the fibers can be broken down by the application of repeated small or moderate
loading rather than a single excessive force. Tensile fatigue and flex fatigue can
lead to fiber failure. Not only breakage, but fiber failure can also be in the form
of splitting and peeling. The reason for fiber breakage or damage is not limited to
mechanical actions but the fibers can also get degraded due to chemical actions [19].
This can often happen during wet processing where fabrics are subjected to a wide
variety of chemicals [20] and also during domestic laundering where detergents [21]
and other laundry additives are used. This fiber damage or breakage leads to fiber
shedding as these short fibers can get disengaged from the surface of the textile
materials. Moreover, during the yarn production process, the fibers will be subjected
to various mechanical stresses. As a result of this, fibers can be cut or broken down
and the small fragments of fibers will get embedded in the yarn structure without
any strong binding. These fibers can be released from the structure in the later stage
while wearing or washing the garments [22]. The microfiber shedding can also be
compared with the pilling nature of the fabric. The fiber shedding can be considered
as the next stage of pill formation which is pill wear-off [23]. The process of pill
formation can be simplified into 3 steps [24]:
i. Formation of fuzz
ii. Entanglement of fuzz to form pills
iii. Pill wear-off
In the fuzz formation step, the fibers get protruded from the yarn structure and it
mostly happens in the dry state when the material is subjected to wear and use [25].
Figure 2 represents fiber protrusion on the fabric surface. These protruded fibers
can get entangled to form pills on the surface of the fabrics which is held due to
the tenacity of the fibers and then they wear-off from the surface [26]. Those pills
which are very small in size can be added on to the category of microfibers. Figure 3
represents the predicted shedding mechanism of microfibers from synthetic textiles.
S. Raja Balasaraswathi and R. Rathinamoorthy
characteristics on synthetic textile microfiber shedding or releasing ability in different
situations. Especially, the major focus is provided on the laundry process as most
of the release occurs during consumer washing. This becomes essential as most of
the recent researchers are alarmed about the microfiber contamination of the aquatic
system.
2 Microfiber Shedding Mechanism
The disengagement of loose or damaged or broken fibers from the surface of textile
materials is often referred to as the microfiber shedding of textile materials. Generally,
when the textile materials are subjected to mechanical stress, the abrasion on the
surface of the materials leads to fiber damage or breakage [18].
Even the handling of materials while using can also lead to fiber breakage as
the fibers can be broken down by the application of repeated small or moderate
loading rather than a single excessive force. Tensile fatigue and flex fatigue can
lead to fiber failure. Not only breakage, but fiber failure can also be in the form
of splitting and peeling. The reason for fiber breakage or damage is not limited to
mechanical actions but the fibers can also get degraded due to chemical actions [19].
This can often happen during wet processing where fabrics are subjected to a wide
variety of chemicals [20] and also during domestic laundering where detergents [21]
and other laundry additives are used. This fiber damage or breakage leads to fiber
shedding as these short fibers can get disengaged from the surface of the textile
materials. Moreover, during the yarn production process, the fibers will be subjected
to various mechanical stresses. As a result of this, fibers can be cut or broken down
and the small fragments of fibers will get embedded in the yarn structure without
any strong binding. These fibers can be released from the structure in the later stage
while wearing or washing the garments [22]. The microfiber shedding can also be
compared with the pilling nature of the fabric. The fiber shedding can be considered
as the next stage of pill formation which is pill wear-off [23]. The process of pill
formation can be simplified into 3 steps [24]:
i. Formation of fuzz
ii. Entanglement of fuzz to form pills
iii. Pill wear-off
In the fuzz formation step, the fibers get protruded from the yarn structure and it
mostly happens in the dry state when the material is subjected to wear and use [25].
Figure 2 represents fiber protrusion on the fabric surface. These protruded fibers
can get entangled to form pills on the surface of the fabrics which is held due to
the tenacity of the fibers and then they wear-off from the surface [26]. Those pills
which are very small in size can be added on to the category of microfibers. Figure 3
represents the predicted shedding mechanism of microfibers from synthetic textiles.