Effect of Tumble-drying on Selected Properties of Knitted and Woven Cotton Fabrics: Part I: Experimental Overview and the Relationship between Temperature Setting, Time in the Dryer and Moisture Content

Abstract

Specimens of a plain-woven cotton fabric and a plain single-jersey weft-knitted fabric were washed and then tumble-dried for predetermined periods of time under three different temperature settings. Length and width shrinkage, wrinkling, mass of whole specimen, and warp and weft yarn diameters were determined by using the appropriate standard test methods. Tbe interdependence of moisture content, temperature setting and time in tbe tumble dryer is reported in Part I of tis series of papers. Their effects on the dimensional stability and appearance of both knitted and woven cotton fabrics are reported in Part II of tis series. It is demonstrated that temperature setting in the tumble dryer had no effect on shrinkage. The increased exposure to agitation that occurred in tumble-drying under a low temperature setting had no effect on shrinkage. Low temperature setting and prolonged exposure to agitation were, however, slightly beneficial to tbe appearance of tbe plain-woven cotton fabric used.