A Study of Abrasion and Heat Damage during Drying of Cotton Fabrics

摘要

Damage to cotton fabric from abrasion and heat during drying in a household tumble dryer was studied. The extent of the damage was evaluated with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and physical tests such as tensile strength. Wet fabric that was dried with applied heat showed the most severe fiber damage. Damage to dry fabric that was tumbled at high temperature, a treatment equivalent to over-drying in the dryer, was serious but different from the damage done to the wet fabric. The inside and outside surfaces of garment models were examined by SEM to learn whether there were differences in wear. The results suggest that observable damage would be reduced considerably by turning the garments inside out during drying. These results should be interesting to the public. Patterns of moisture loss during drying as a function of time and temperature were also investigated. We have found that the typical use of the dryer results in substantial over-drying that wastes 10-15 % of the energy and increases wear on the clothes and dryer.