The effects of environmental elements on the color retention and durability of 65/35 polyester/cotton blend fabric with disperse-reactive dyes and durable press and soil release finishes

摘要

This investigation was designed to determine the effects of environmental elements on the color retention and durability of 65/35 polyester/cotton blend fabric with disperse-reactive dyes and durable press and soil release finishes. The colors of fabric used were intense shades of red, blue, and yellow. Data were collected from unlaundered and from laundered and line-dried fabric samples. Fabric samples were exposed to zero, approximately 1,349, 2,836, 5,551, and 11,627 langley units of solar radiation and to varying amounts of other environmental elements. The tear strength, weight, and color retention of the fabric were studied. As the number of langley units to which the fabric samples were exposed increased, the color retention of the fabric tendd to decrease. The combined effects of the other environmental elements appeared to be secondary to solar radiation in reducing the color retention of the fabric. There was also a decrease in the tear strength of the fabric. This appeared to be due to the combined effects of all of the environmental elements on the fabric. The tear strength, weight, and color retention were lower in the laundered fabric samples than in the unlaundered fabric samples.