Usage of recycled cotton, r-PET and their blends in denim fabric production

In this study, yarns were produced from cotton fibers (CO), recycled cotton fibers obtained from yarn wastes (r-CO) and fibers produced from recycled PET bottles (r-PET). Tensile strength, elongation at break, unevenness, hairiness properties and IPI values of these yarns were measured. The fiber characteristics played a critical role in unblended yarns. However, blended yarns showed different results. This study obtained results which corroborate the findings of a considerable number of the previous work in CO/r-CO and CO/r-PET blends. However, there is no study about r-CO/r-PET binary blends. In addition to previous studies, this study was also given significant findings related to these blends. The results of this investigation showed that a significant reduction on CVm, IPI and hairiness values were found with the increase of r-PET content. Furthermore, the increase of r-PET provided a significant upgrade on yarn tensile strength and elongation at break. Denim fabrics were produced with mentioned yarns. Enzyme and stone washing processes were applied on these fabrics. Mass per unit area, breaking and tear strength, elongation at break, air permeability and circular bending rigidity of fabrics were measured. The relationships between three different fibers and the measurement results were evaluated using correlation analysis. Furthermore, the differences of fabrics after washing operations were evaluated with Post-Hoc techniques. r-CO fiber has negative effect on tear and breaking strength. Breaking strength, elongation at break and tear strength values of the fabrics increased with the increase in r-PET content. However, fabric handle was negatively affected due to the increase in stiffness. Mass per unit area, breaking strength, air permeability and circular bending rigidity values of fabrics decreased after the washing processes. The effect of fibers on washed fabrics was different according to finished fabrics.