| Abstract: | The soiling behaviour of nylon 6, nylon 6.6, Terylene, polypropylene, Tricel, Dicel, Courtelle, cotton, cuprammonium rayon and Terylene-cotton and Terylene-Vincel blends in aqueous and ‘dry-cleaning’ media containing fatty and particulate soils is described. In aqueous media hydrophobic fibres generally soil more than hydrophilic fibres; in ‘dry-cleaning’ media the opposite is true. The individual contributions to the soiling of textiles by fatty soil, air-borne particulate soil and the organic components of air-borne soil are assessed. The water-soluble components of air-borne soil are largely responsible for the yellowing of nylon fibres in aqueous media. The soiling-test methods developed are thought to represent realistically the behaviour of textiles that are repeatedly worn and washed. |
