Effect of Repeated Laundering on the Properties of Air-Jet Textured Cotton/Filament Composite Fabrics

Abstract

We describe laundering and wrinkling trials on woven grey and dyed fabrics made from air-jet textured cotton/filament composite yams as weft. The tensile and bursting strength properties of the fabrics are not affected much by the laundering treatments. The textured yarn grey fabrics in general show higher relaxation with laundering, resulting in increased thickness, thermal insulation, and abrasion resistance, and re duced air permeability and tear strength. The greater strain relief due to laundering of the bulkier textured yam structure also helps to improve the crease recovery and wrinkling properties of these fabrics. Fabrics made with textured yams show higher wrinkle recovery than the parent yarn fabrics at various strain levels. The extent of whiteness gain in grey fabrics and color loss in dyed fabrics is almost the same in both the parent and textured yarn fabrics as a consequence of laundering treatments. The textured yarn fabrics, however, show higher color value than those from the parent yarn.