Characterization of microfibers released from chemically modified polyester fabrics - A step towards mitigation

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Textile Engineering

Background:

• Synthetic textiles are a major source of microfiber pollution, a persistent environmental issue.
• Existing mitigation strategies focus on filters or laundry aids, with less exploration of material modification.
• The relationship between textile moisture properties and microfiber release remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of altering polyester fabric hydrophilicity to reduce microfiber release.
• To test the hypothesis that increased hydrophilicity leads to decreased microfiber shedding.
• To evaluate the impact of alkali treatment on polyester fabric properties and microfiber release.

Main Methods:

• Polyester fabrics (woven and knitted) were chemically treated with varying concentrations of sodium hydroxide solution.
• Microfiber release was quantified for treated and untreated fabric samples.
• Moisture properties (contact angle, absorbency time, regain, wicking) and physical properties (abrasion resistance) were assessed.

Main Results:

• Alkali treatment significantly reduced microfiber release, with up to 89.6% reduction in woven fabrics.
• Increased alkali concentration showed a strong negative correlation with microfiber shedding.
• Hydrophilicity, particularly water contact angle and absorbency time, correlated with reduced microfiber release.

Conclusions:

• Altering polyester fabric hydrophilicity through alkali treatment is an effective method to mitigate microfiber release.
• Fabric structure (woven vs. knitted) and hydrophilicity are key factors influencing microfiber shedding.
• This approach offers a promising avenue for developing more sustainable synthetic textiles.