Tensile, Shear, and Recovery Properties of Cotton Fibers and Fabrics Treated to Impart Differences in Wet and Dry Wrinkle Recoveries

Abstract

Tensile, shear, and recovery properties of single cotton fibers chemically modified by pad-dry-cure with and without potyethytene glycol additive and by the Form W (formaldehyde) process have been compared with wrinkle recovery and shear properties of similarly modified fabrics. Fiber recovery from twisting was more reliable than recovery from longi tudinal strain in predicting the fabric recovery. The high recovery from twisting the wet fiber given the Form W treat ment was consistent with the high wrinkle recovery of the wet fabric. The mechanical properties from longitudinal straining failed to indicate the low crease recovery of wet fabric of pad-dry-cure with additive. The glycol had no effect on dry wrinkle recovery of pad-dry-cure fabric. Mechanical properties of fibers were related to wrinkle recoveries of wet and dry fabrics. Water decreased the shear angle for fabrics, when swelling exceeded the luhrication effects of liquid at the interstices. Moisture was principally a lubricant for mercerized fabric. A relationship of fabric wrinkle recovery to symmetrical arrangement and separation of fibers in yarns of treated fabric was photographically illustrated.