The Nature of Tenaciously Bound Soil on Cotton

Abstract

A serious problem in drycleaning and laundering is the progressive deterioration in the appearance of fabrics caused by the gradual accumulation of unremoved and re deposited soil. Electron micrographs of natural soil in situ were taken to determine the identity and particle size of this material. These electron micrographs suggest that clay minerals 0.02-1μ in diameter are the major particulate material causing soil build-up on cotton fibers. Properties of clay minerals which contribute to their form ing strong bonds with cotton fibers are discussed.