Understanding and Improving the Durability of Textiles

The ability of a fabric to resist wear is an essential aspect of its performance. Understanding and improving the durability of textiles provides a comprehensive guide to the factors affecting the durability of a range of different textiles.Part one addresses the different factors that affect textile durability, including the influence of fabric construction and fibre type, as well as properties affecting strength and dimensional stability. Colour fastness and the effects of light are discussed, along with methods for testing and improving wrinkle-resistance and textile durability. Part two goes on to explore the durability of particular types of textile including antimicrobial textiles, protective clothing, historic textiles, silk and geotextiles.With its distinguished editor and international team of expert contributors, Understanding and improving the durability of textiles is an indispensable book for textile scientists, technologists, engineers and those designing, testing and manufacturing textiles. It also provides a comprehensive guide to textile durability for researchers and academics of all levels in this sector. - Provides a comprehensive guide to the factors affecting the durability of a range of different textiles - Discusses colour fastness and the effects of light, and methods for testing and improving wrinkle-resistance and textile durability - Explores the durability of particular types of textile

Contributor contact details Woodhead Publishing Series in Textiles Introduction Part I: Aspects of textile durability Chapter 1: The influence of fabric construction and fibre type on textile durability: woven, knitted and nonwoven fabrics Abstract: 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Woven, knitted and nonwoven fabric structures 1.3 Fibre and yarn properties that affect fabric durability 1.4 Durability of woven, knitted and nonwoven fabric structures 1.5 Durability of technical textiles: medical and breathable textiles 1.6 Future trends 1.7 Sources of further information and advice 1.8 Acknowledgement Chapter 2: Strength properties of fabrics: understanding, testing and enhancing fabric strength Abstract: 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Principles of fabric strength and its influence on durability 2.3 Methods for testing fabric strength 2.4 Factors affecting fabric strength 2.5 Approaches to enhance fabric strength 2.6 Examples of durable textiles 2.7 Future trends Chapter 3: Dimensional stability of fabrics: resistance to shrinkage and other dimensional changes Abstract: 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Types of shrinkage 3.3 Treatments to maximise dimensional stability in fabrics 3.4 Case study: minimising shrinkage in knitted fabrics 3.5 Future trends Chapter 4: Durable press treatments to improve the durability and wrinkle resistance of cotton and other fabrics Abstract: 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Development of durable press reagents 4.3 Properties affected by durable press treatments and other methods to improve durability 4.4 Recent developments and future trends Chapter 5: Colour fastness Abstract: 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Principles of colour fastness 5.3 Colour fastness and dye-fibre system mechanism 5.4 Testing colour fastness 5.5 Applications and examples of colour fastness tests 5.6 Future trends 5.7 Sources of further information and advice Chapter 6: Effects of light exposure on textile durability Abstract: 6.1 Introduction 6.2 The influence of sunlight on natural fibres 6.3 The influence of sunlight on synthetic and high performance textiles 6.4 The process of photochemical destruction of textile materials 6.5 Assessing the durability of textiles to light exposure 6.6 Methods for improving the durability of textiles exposed to light 6.7 Future trends Chapter 7: Testing textile durability Abstract: 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Durability in textiles 7.3 Textile test methods 7.4 Testing strength and abrasion resistance 7.5 Testing for color loss in use 7.6 Testing the effects of laundering on fabric properties 7.7 Conclusions Part II: Durability of particular types of textiles Chapter 8: Durable antimicrobial textiles: types, finishes and applications Abstract: 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Microbial degradation of natural fibers 8.3 Microbial degradation of synthetic fibers 8.4 Antimicrobial treatments for textiles 8.5 Applications of antimicrobial finishes: the example of medical textiles 8.6 Future trends and conclusions 8.7 Sources of further information and advice Chapter 9: Durability of protective clothing Abstract: 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Testing the durability of protective clothing 9.3 Other factors that can affect the durability of protective clothing 9.4 Future trends and conclusions Chapter 10: Durability of historic textiles Abstract: 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Main durability issues that affect historic textiles 10.3 Durability of different fibres and fabrics 10.4 Physical context, environment and storage conditions 10.5 Conservation of historic textiles 10.6 Case studies of historic textiles 10.7 Conclusion Chapter 11: Silk durability and degradation Abstract: 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Key issues for silk durability 11.3 Deterioration of silk 11.4 Methods to improve the durability of silk 11.5 The impact of treatments to improve the durability of silk 11.6 Future trends 11.7 Sources of further information and advice Chapter 12: Durable geotextiles Abstract: 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Durability of nonwoven geotextiles in chemical and waste leachate solutions 12.