Investigation on microfiber release from elastane blended fabrics and its environmental significance

Area of Science:

• Textile Science
• Environmental Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Elastane blended apparel offers comfort and fit, but its environmental impact via microfiber release is often overlooked.
• Microfiber pollution from textiles is a growing environmental concern, affecting aquatic ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify and characterize microfiber release from cotton/elastane knitted fabrics with varying elastane proportions.
• To investigate the correlation between elastane content and microfiber emission rates.
• To analyze the impact of repeated laundering on microfiber release and fiber characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Cotton/elastane knitted fabrics with 2%, 5%, and 8% elastane were prepared.
• Microfiber release was quantified after standardized laundry cycles.
• Fiber analysis included characterization of microfiber type, quantity, and length.

Main Results:

• Microfiber emission increased with higher elastane content; 92/8 fabric released 46.56 ± 6.21 microfibers/sq.cm compared to 21.04 ± 12.46 for 98/2 fabric.
• Elastane fibers constituted a higher percentage of total microfibers released, increasing from 13.40% (98/2) to 19.60% (92/8).
• Elastane microfibers were shorter than cotton microfibers and their length decreased with increased washing cycles.

Conclusions:

• Increasing elastane proportion in cotton fabrics significantly elevates microfiber pollution.
• Elastane fibers pose a greater environmental risk due to higher emission rates and shorter lengths.
• Further research and attention are needed for elastane blended fabrics due to potential chemical leachate risks.