The objective of this work was to review the properties of selected specialty protein fiber knit fabrics suitable for everyday wear. Selected properties (dimensional stability to laundering, mass, thickness, and stitches per centimeter) of three commercially available fabrics were measured when new and after each laundering cycle (1—6). The silk and silk-blend fabrics achieved dimensional stability by six laundering cycles. Fabric properties differed with the number of laundering cycles, fabric color, and fabric type. Although water temperature affected the pattern of change of some properties, it had no overall effect on properties of the stabilized fabrics. However, examination of new and washed fabric using scanning electron microscopy suggested fibrillation and degradation of silk fibers may be affected by laundering.
Powderly, D.D. , Dimensional changes in fabric and apparel related to home laundering practices, Textile Chem. Color., 10(8), 27-31 (1978).
2.
Kadolph, S.J., Langford, A.L., Hollen, N., and Saddler, J., Textiles, 7th edn, Macmillan Publishing Co, New York, 1993.
3.
Quaynor, L., Takahashi, M., and Nakajima, M., Effects of laundering on the surface properties and dimensional stability of plain knitted fabrics, Textile Res. J., 70(1), 28-35 (2000).
4.
Mehta, P.V., and Bhardwaj, S.K., Managing Quality in the Apparel Industry, New Age International Publishers, Bangalore, 1998.
5.
Suh, M.W. , A study of the shrinkage of plain knitted cotton fabric, based on the structural changes of the loop geometry due to yarn swelling and deswelling, Textile Res. J., 37(5), 417- 431 (1967).
6.
Gore, S.E., Laing, R.M., Wilson, C.A., Carr, D.J., and Niven, B.E., Standardizing a pre-treatment cleaning procedure and effects of application on apparel fabrics, Textile Res. J., 76(6), 455-464 (2006).
7.
Higgins, L., Anand, S.C., Holmes, D.A., Hall, M.E., and Underly, K., Effects of various home laundering practices on the dimensional stability, wrinkling, and other properties of plain woven cotton fabrics. Part 1: Experimental overview, reproducibility of results, and effect of detergent, Textile Res. J., 73(4), 357-366 ( 2003).
8.
Quaynor, L., Takahashi, M., and Nakajima, M., Dimensional changes in knitted silk and cotton fabrics with laundering, Textile Res. J., 69(4), 285-291 ( 1999).
9.
Morris, M.A. , Laundering cotton fabric: Part II: Effect of detergent type and water temperature on appearance, hand, strength and cost , Textile Res. J., 40(7), 644-649 (1970), http://trj.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/40/7/644 .
10.
Powderly, D.D. , Effect of water temperature of dimensional change in laundering, Textile Chem. Color., 12(10), 260-261 (1980).
11.
Goynes, W.R., and Rollins, M.L., A Scanning Electron-Microscope Study of Washer-Dryer Abrasion in Cotton Fibers, Textile Res. J., 41(3), 226-231 ( 1971), http://trj.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/41/3/226 .
12.
Freddi, G., Mossotti, F., and Innocenti, R., Degumming of silk fabric with several proteases, J. Biotechnol. , 106, 101-112 (2003).
13.
Handu, J.L. , Sreenivas, K., and Ranganathan , S.R., Chemical and Mechanical Damage in Service Wear of Cotton Apparel Fabrics, Textile Res. J., 37(11), 997-999 (1967).
14.
Rollins ML, Degruy IV, Hensarling TP, and Carra JHAbrasion Phenomena in Durable-Press Cotton Fabrics: A Microscopical View. Textile Res. J., 40(10), 903-916 ( 1970), http://trj.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/40/10/903 .
15.
British Standards Institution.BS EN 12127:1998 Determination of mass per unit area using small samples. British Standards Institution, London, 1998.
16.
International Organization for Standardization.ISO 5084: 1996(E) Textiles-Determination of thickness of textiles and textile products. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, 1996 .
17.
International Organization for Standardization.ISO 5077: 2007(E) Textiles-Determination of dimensional change in washing and drying. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, 2007 .
18.
British Standards Institution.BS 5441: British Standard Methods of test for Knitted Fabrics. British Standards Institution, London, 1988.
19.
International Organization for Standardization.ISO 3759: 2007 (E) Textiles-Preparation, marking and measuring of fabric specimens and garments in test for determination of dimensional change. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva , 2007.
20.
International Organization for Standardization.EN ISO 6330:2000 Textiles-Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing. International Organization for Standardization , Geneva, 2000.
21.
International Organization for Standardization.EN ISO 139:2005 Textiles-Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing . International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, 2005.
SPSS Inc.SPSS version 16.0.2 for Windows . SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, 2008.
24.
Higgins, L. , Anand, S.C., Hall, M.E., and Holmes, D.A., Factors during tumble drying that influence dimensional stability and distortion of cotton knitted fabrics, Int. J. Cloth. Sci. Technol., 15(2), 126-139 (2003).
25.
Zhang, W., Okubayashi, S., and Bechtold, T., Modification of fibrillation by textile chemical processing, Lenzinger Berichte, 82, 58-63 (2003).
26.
Okubayashi, S., and Bechtold, T., A pilling mechanism of man-made cellulosic fabrics-effects of fibrillation, Textile Res. J., 75(4), 288-292 (2005).
27.
Mishra, S.P., A Textbook of Fibre Science and Technology, New Age International Publishers, New Delhi, 2000.
28.
Rudkin, A., ‘Care labelling’, http://www.intertek-labtest.com/brochures/CareLabelling (2006, accessed 13 May 2008).
