Investigations on the Interactive Effect of Laundry Parameters on Microfiber Release from Polyester Knitted Fabric

Domestic laundering of textiles and apparel has been found as the major source of microfiber pollution in the environment. This research aims to understand the interactive effect of water volume (fabric to liquid ratio), temperature, laundry duration, and mechanical action on the microfiber release of textiles during laundry. Taguchi's experimental design (L9 orthogonal array) was adapted to measure the interactive effect of the selected parameters. All the parameters have a positive and direct relation with the microfiber release. Out of all the parameters evaluated, water volume was noted as the major influencing factor in microfiber release from the household laundry. When the interactive effects of selected laundry parameters were measured statistically, a higher contribution of (70.66 %) water volume was noted followed by washing temperature (23.27 %). The order of influence was noted as follows: Water volume>Temperature>Washing duration> Mechanical agitation. Though the effect of water volume is similar (63.75 %) in the case of microfiber mass released, the effect of laundry duration (13.78 %) was noted higher than temperature (10.78 %) which is attributed to the length of the fibers shed from the fabric under varied conditions. Since the washing duration affects the length of the fibers (increased length with increased duration) than the temperature (no significant difference), The order of influence is found as: Water volume>Washing duration>Mechanical agitation>Temperature. The combined action of hydrostatic force and the viscous drag force which got increased with water volume restricts the free movement of the fabrics inside the liquid and can pluck the fibers from the surface of the fabric leading to higher shedding. Maintaining a lower fabric to liquid ratio, lower laundry temperature, duration, and mechanical agitation with more attention to water volume should be preferred to effectively control the microfiber shedding from laundry. The practice of washing with a full load can maintain the water to fabric ratio at a minimum level, thereby, reduces microfiber shedding.