Abrasion kinetics of wool and blended fabrics

The abrasion resistance of different wool and blended fabrics is measured with the Martindale wear and abrasion tester, the abrasion kinetics is identified by the shape of the mass loss curve versus abrasion cycles up to yam breakage. A concave kinetic curve shows a low initial weight loss rate, which continues to increase throughout the process up to the end. A convex kinetic curve begins with a high initial weight loss rate, which continues to decrease throughout the process. The third kinetic curve shows an almost linear relationship between mass loss and abrasion cycles up to yarn breakage. Due to the long time required for the abrasion test to yam breakage, a simplified method is used based on the determination of mass loss up to 5000 abrasion cycles. The initial mass loss rate and the mean value of this rate throughout the 5000 abrasion cycles (i.e., the mean abrasion;gradient) seem to be good estimates of the surface and structural abrasion degradation of the fabrics, and they show a strong relationship with the structural parameters of the fabrics.