Effect of Textile Parameters on Microfiber Shedding …
11
Zambrano et al. studied the impact of fiber type by varying the fiber type without
changing the fabric structure so that the effect of fiber type on shedding can be
analyzed effectively. They have studied the shedding behavior of 100% cotton, 100%
rayon, 100% polyester, and 50/50 polyester/cotton blend fabrics with common fabric
structures (Interlock). They have reported a significant level of shedding in all fiber
types and a higher level of shedding is noted with cotton, rayon, and P/C blends
than the polyester fibers. They have concluded that the cellulose-based fibers shed
more fibers than synthetic fibers. They have added that the varied fuzz formation
(protrusion of fibers) nature of fibers could be the reason for the variation in the
shedding property. It should be noted that the fuzz forming ability of the fiber again
depends on the shape, thickness, stiffness of the fibers [23]. LibiaoYang et al. studied
the shedding behavior of most commonly used synthetic fabrics—polyester and
polyamide and a man-made fiber—acetate. Among these, higher shedding is noted
in the case of acetate fibers even though all the fibers shed significantly higher [29].
This again confirms the higher shedding nature of cellulose-based fibers. A similar
pattern of the result was obtained in a study that analyzed the shedding behavior of
denim fabrics made of 100% cotton, 100% polyester, and P/C blend where higher
shedding is noted for cotton followed by P/C blend and then by 100% polyester [39].
A study made to analyze the real-time washing load as the domestic laundry plays
a dominant role in microfiber emission has reported the presence of natural fibers at a
higher level in the collected fibers from a wash load of mixed fabrics. The dominance
of natural fibers (cotton, wool, and viscose) was extremely high as it accounts for 96%
whereas the synthetic fibers were only 4%. This supports the finding of researchers
who reported higher shedding with natural fibers in the real-time situation [40].
Cesa et al. who studied the 100% cotton, 100% polyester, 100% acrylic, and 100%
polyamide materials in garment form for microfiber shedding behavior have noticed
higher shedding in the cotton followed by acrylic and a similar level of shedding for
polyester and polyamide. They have concluded that fiber length can contribute to the
shedding and cotton being shorter fibers shed more than other fibers. The hydrophilic
nature of cotton could also be the potential reason for increased shedding and also
its lower tenacity when compared to polyester and polyamide increases the shedding
[26]. Next to cotton, a higher level of shedding is noted in acrylic among all the
synthetic fibers. The lower tenacity of acrylic fibers accounts for the higher shedding.
Here, it has to be noted that when cotton and acrylic are compared, acrylic has the
least tenacity yet shedding is more in the case of cotton. It is attributed to the shorter
fiber length of cotton. Hence, it is clear that the factor affecting the shedding is not
limited to an individual characteristic of fiber rather it depends on the combination
of characteristics [26].
The emerging dominance of recycled fibers due to their environmental and
economic benefits urged the study of shedding property of recycled fibers. The recycled fibers can be easily broken down due to the reduced molecular weight and molecular chain length and they exhibit poor mechanical properties. Their poor mechanical properties due to the structural changes resulted from the recycling process.
The thermal exposure and shear degradation of the polymers during the recycling
11
Zambrano et al. studied the impact of fiber type by varying the fiber type without
changing the fabric structure so that the effect of fiber type on shedding can be
analyzed effectively. They have studied the shedding behavior of 100% cotton, 100%
rayon, 100% polyester, and 50/50 polyester/cotton blend fabrics with common fabric
structures (Interlock). They have reported a significant level of shedding in all fiber
types and a higher level of shedding is noted with cotton, rayon, and P/C blends
than the polyester fibers. They have concluded that the cellulose-based fibers shed
more fibers than synthetic fibers. They have added that the varied fuzz formation
(protrusion of fibers) nature of fibers could be the reason for the variation in the
shedding property. It should be noted that the fuzz forming ability of the fiber again
depends on the shape, thickness, stiffness of the fibers [23]. LibiaoYang et al. studied
the shedding behavior of most commonly used synthetic fabrics—polyester and
polyamide and a man-made fiber—acetate. Among these, higher shedding is noted
in the case of acetate fibers even though all the fibers shed significantly higher [29].
This again confirms the higher shedding nature of cellulose-based fibers. A similar
pattern of the result was obtained in a study that analyzed the shedding behavior of
denim fabrics made of 100% cotton, 100% polyester, and P/C blend where higher
shedding is noted for cotton followed by P/C blend and then by 100% polyester [39].
A study made to analyze the real-time washing load as the domestic laundry plays
a dominant role in microfiber emission has reported the presence of natural fibers at a
higher level in the collected fibers from a wash load of mixed fabrics. The dominance
of natural fibers (cotton, wool, and viscose) was extremely high as it accounts for 96%
whereas the synthetic fibers were only 4%. This supports the finding of researchers
who reported higher shedding with natural fibers in the real-time situation [40].
Cesa et al. who studied the 100% cotton, 100% polyester, 100% acrylic, and 100%
polyamide materials in garment form for microfiber shedding behavior have noticed
higher shedding in the cotton followed by acrylic and a similar level of shedding for
polyester and polyamide. They have concluded that fiber length can contribute to the
shedding and cotton being shorter fibers shed more than other fibers. The hydrophilic
nature of cotton could also be the potential reason for increased shedding and also
its lower tenacity when compared to polyester and polyamide increases the shedding
[26]. Next to cotton, a higher level of shedding is noted in acrylic among all the
synthetic fibers. The lower tenacity of acrylic fibers accounts for the higher shedding.
Here, it has to be noted that when cotton and acrylic are compared, acrylic has the
least tenacity yet shedding is more in the case of cotton. It is attributed to the shorter
fiber length of cotton. Hence, it is clear that the factor affecting the shedding is not
limited to an individual characteristic of fiber rather it depends on the combination
of characteristics [26].
The emerging dominance of recycled fibers due to their environmental and
economic benefits urged the study of shedding property of recycled fibers. The recycled fibers can be easily broken down due to the reduced molecular weight and molecular chain length and they exhibit poor mechanical properties. Their poor mechanical properties due to the structural changes resulted from the recycling process.
The thermal exposure and shear degradation of the polymers during the recycling