ABRASION AND LINT LOSS PROPERTIES OF FABRICS CONTAINING CROSS-LINKED POLYETHYLENE-GLYCOL

The attrition and wear characteristics of woven cotton and cotton/polyester blend fabrics were substantially improved (relative to untreated and conventional durable press control fabrics) when they contained crosslinked polyethylene glycols. Nonwoven cellulosic (pulp)/polyester fabrics (normally used in biomedical clean room environments) also generated substantially fewer particles when they contained the crosslinked polyols. Attrition and particle measurements using previously described techniques indicated that nonwoven fabrics derived from treatment with PEG-1,000 had fewer particles released at higher RH (75%) than at lower RH (25%). Conversely, nonwoven fabrics derived from treatment with PEG-1,450 had fewer particles released at lower RH (20%) than at higher RH (75%). Reduced attrition and lint loss/particle generation of modified woven and nonwoven fabrics make them candidates for use in a variety of clean room environments.