Effects of Laundering on the Sensory and Mechanical Properties of 1 X 1 Rib Knitwear Fabrics

Acrylic, cotton, and wool 1 × 1 rib knitwear fabrics have been subjected to up to 50 laundering cycles using a variety of washing and drying conditions. The dimensional, mechanical, and tactile properties of new and washed fabrics are determined and evaluated using standard test procedures. In Part I, we establish the techniques for predicting the final, fully relaxed dimensions of knitted fabrics. We determine fully relaxed k-constant values and the influence of fiber type and washing and drying methods on these values. In Part II, we will discuss the changes in mechanical and tactile properties that occur in these fabrics with repeated washing.