Abstract
Acrylic, cotton, and wool 1 × 1 rib knitwear fabrics are subjected to up to fifty laundering cycles in a variety of washing and drying conditions. Tactile and mechanical properties of the new and washed fabrics are quantified using subjective and objective evaluation methods. Principal components analysis (PCA) identifies the most important property changes in the three fabric types, and indicates correlations between individ ual, subjectively assessed fabric attributes and objectively measured mechanical param eters. Causes of major fabric changes are discussed in terms of the wash process vari ables (agitation level, detergent product, and drying method) and the different physicochemical properties of the three fiber types. The PCA is believed to provide a means of defining fabric "total hand values" for I X I rib knitwear fabrics without recourse to regression equations based on "once-and-for-all" expert judgements.