A Theoretical Analysis of the Effect of External Polymers on the Wrinkle Recovery of Fabrics

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Abstract
The improvement observed in the wrinkle recovery of wool fabrics treated with certain external elastomeric polymers has previously been attributed to the presence of interfiber bonds, which considerably reduce the frictional component of wrinkling and provide an additional elastic restoring moment, aiding the return of the fabric to its undeformed state. These mechanisms are shown to be quantitatively consistent with the additional experimental evidence now available, including the effects of polymer treatment on a series of wool/polyester blend fabrics and the observation that washing of a polymer-treated fabric can sometimes improve its wrinkle recovery. The theory is used to separate the effects due to energy stored in the elastomer and those due to increased fiber strains.