ISSN: 1945-7553
CODEN: JTEVAB
Page Count: 6

Effects of Wash Temperature on Bacterial Survival and Strength Retention of Cotton Fabrics

Perenich, TA
Professor, University of Georgia, Athens, GA

Moore, MA
Associate professor, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FI

(Received 6 August 1992; accepted 10 November 1992)

Abstract

The influence of temperature, detergent type, and labric finish on bacterial survival and strength retention and clongation in fabrics were investigated in this study. Previous research has shown that temperature is a critical factor in the removal, redeposition, and destruction of microorganisms in the laundering process. The results showed that fabric finish did not have any significant effect on bacterial survival but did influence both strength retention and breaking clongation. Temperature significantly affected bacterial survival and breaking strength and clongation. The addition of a detergent, especially a phosphate detergent, in the laundering process is important in diminishing bacterial survival on fabrics.

Keywords:
bacterial survival, laundering temperature, detergent type, breaking strength and clongation

Paper ID: JTE11772J
DOI: 10.1520/JTE11772J
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