130
R. Rathinamoorthy and S. Raja Balasaraswathi
particle scanners, they have concluded that roughly 4% of the analyzed atmospheric
particles are synthetic. In particular, most of the particles found in the wet and dry
samples are microfibers of bright colors mainly originated from clothing but not from
the commercial personal care product [16]. These findings were more threatening,
further to add, the researchers reported that the current deposit rate of microplastic
is 132 plastics per square meter per day and that adds more than 1000 metric tons
of plastics in the western protected lands of the US annually. It is estimated to
accumulate approximately 11 billion metric tons of plastics in the environment by
2025. A detailed analysis of the breathtaking disaster can be found in the reference
for further knowledge [17].
2 Microfiber Shedding and Laundry
Microfiber shedding from textile material is a mechanical phenomenon, where due
to the application of external force, the loose fiber or damaged fiber disengages and
sheds from the cloth. Any physical process like manufacturing, handling, usage,
and disposal creates mechanical force and motivates the shedding of microfiber.
The shedding of microfiber can be directly related to the textile properties of fabric
like tensile strength, pill formation, and abrasion resistance nature of the fabrics
[18]. The fiber breakage in textile material may happen in two different aspects.
Firstly, due to mechanical forces like tensile fatigue and flex fatigue are the two
reasons for the fiber damage. Hearle et al. mentioned that during usage of clothing,
repeated applications of small force and loading will break the textile material rather
than an excessive force. The fiber damage also happens in textile materials due to
surface abrasion while wearing and using the textile material [19]. Secondly, the
major disengagement of fibers from the structure of the fabric occurs during the
washing, in the presence of the chemicals. The washing chemicals like detergent,
bleach, and other components chemically react with material during the dirt removal
process. Hence at this stage, the weak fiber will get damaged and removed from the
surface of the textiles. Irrespective of the type of fibers used, both the natural and
synthetic textiles usually shed at every stage of its life. 90% of the mechanical and
chemical damages to the clothing occur in the laundry phase and so the maximum
microfiber shedding is expected in the laundry phase. In specific, research reports
mentioned that a garment can shed approximately 1900–11,000 fibers per wash in
a normal domestic washing process. Where the natural fibers are ignored due to its
biodegradability but in the case of synthetic textiles, the effect is adverse in multiple
areas including environmental and health care impact [20].
The first analysis and estimation of microfiber shedding from synthetic textile
material were performed by Brown et al. The researchers initially analyzed the water
samples of the ocean at different locations of the globe. As their results pointed more
microplastic emission from synthetic textiles, the research performed a laundry trial.
On analysis of polyester blanket, fleece, and shirt, they identified that each garment
can shed more than 1900 microfibers per laundry. Further, they noted more than
R. Rathinamoorthy and S. Raja Balasaraswathi
particle scanners, they have concluded that roughly 4% of the analyzed atmospheric
particles are synthetic. In particular, most of the particles found in the wet and dry
samples are microfibers of bright colors mainly originated from clothing but not from
the commercial personal care product [16]. These findings were more threatening,
further to add, the researchers reported that the current deposit rate of microplastic
is 132 plastics per square meter per day and that adds more than 1000 metric tons
of plastics in the western protected lands of the US annually. It is estimated to
accumulate approximately 11 billion metric tons of plastics in the environment by
2025. A detailed analysis of the breathtaking disaster can be found in the reference
for further knowledge [17].
2 Microfiber Shedding and Laundry
Microfiber shedding from textile material is a mechanical phenomenon, where due
to the application of external force, the loose fiber or damaged fiber disengages and
sheds from the cloth. Any physical process like manufacturing, handling, usage,
and disposal creates mechanical force and motivates the shedding of microfiber.
The shedding of microfiber can be directly related to the textile properties of fabric
like tensile strength, pill formation, and abrasion resistance nature of the fabrics
[18]. The fiber breakage in textile material may happen in two different aspects.
Firstly, due to mechanical forces like tensile fatigue and flex fatigue are the two
reasons for the fiber damage. Hearle et al. mentioned that during usage of clothing,
repeated applications of small force and loading will break the textile material rather
than an excessive force. The fiber damage also happens in textile materials due to
surface abrasion while wearing and using the textile material [19]. Secondly, the
major disengagement of fibers from the structure of the fabric occurs during the
washing, in the presence of the chemicals. The washing chemicals like detergent,
bleach, and other components chemically react with material during the dirt removal
process. Hence at this stage, the weak fiber will get damaged and removed from the
surface of the textiles. Irrespective of the type of fibers used, both the natural and
synthetic textiles usually shed at every stage of its life. 90% of the mechanical and
chemical damages to the clothing occur in the laundry phase and so the maximum
microfiber shedding is expected in the laundry phase. In specific, research reports
mentioned that a garment can shed approximately 1900–11,000 fibers per wash in
a normal domestic washing process. Where the natural fibers are ignored due to its
biodegradability but in the case of synthetic textiles, the effect is adverse in multiple
areas including environmental and health care impact [20].
The first analysis and estimation of microfiber shedding from synthetic textile
material were performed by Brown et al. The researchers initially analyzed the water
samples of the ocean at different locations of the globe. As their results pointed more
microplastic emission from synthetic textiles, the research performed a laundry trial.
On analysis of polyester blanket, fleece, and shirt, they identified that each garment
can shed more than 1900 microfibers per laundry. Further, they noted more than