The Influence of Changes in Moisture Content on the Wrinkle Recovery of Fabrics, Part I

Abstract

A study has been made of the effect of rate of drying, and of alternate wetting and drying, on the wrinkle recovery of fabrics of wool, wool blends, and cotton, when wrinkled in the wet state. Recovery is independent of the rate of drying, but a second-stage rapid recovery occurs at a stage in drying corresponding to loss of water from the internal fiber structure, as distinct from surface evaporation. Repeated, alternate increase and de crease of regain leads to progressive, step-wise recovery from wet wrinkling. It is probable that the energy required to give these effects originates from the swelling-deswelling associated with changes in regain.