JP7729227B2 - How to evaluate fabric - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for evaluating fabric.

In recent years, there has been concern about the adverse impact on ecosystems caused by plastic waste in oceans and rivers being ingested by living organisms. Of particular concern is plastic packaging that has been broken down into micro-sized pieces by exposure to ultraviolet light, but there is also discussion about the relevance of all plastic products to waste reduction and the microplastic problem.

Many textile products currently on the market, particularly functional textile products manufactured for sports and outdoor use, use synthetic fibers, which can shed as fiber debris during washing. For example, materials such as fleece, which have a brushed surface to make the fibers fluffy, can shed fiber debris from the brushed areas during washing, and tend to generate more fiber debris than non-brushed materials.

Meanwhile, standardized methods for evaluating washing, such as JIS L1096 (2010), JIS L0844, and ISO 7768 (2009), have been established. However, all of these test methods focus on the quality of the items being washed, such as their dimensional stability, wash fastness, and wrinkle characteristics. Furthermore, because fabrics can be damaged when exposed to high mechanical stresses such as washing, standardized tests have also been proposed to detect this mechanical stress (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Recently, however, concerns have been raised about the fiber debris generated during washing, and laundry bags with enhanced fiber debris collection capabilities have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Special Publication No. 2006-521475 Special table 2019-505351 publication

Fiber waste generated during laundry and other processes is generally removed from the washing liquid and wastewater and disposed of. Considering the potential for various problems, such as increased waste, the burden on wastewater treatment, and the maintenance burden on washing machines, the less fiber waste there is, the better. Fabrics that generate reduced amounts of fiber waste could solve these problems, but until now, no method has been proposed for evaluating fabrics that generate reduced amounts of fiber waste during washing. Despite the clear difference between fabrics that generate a lot of fiber waste and fabrics that generate little, the lack of a means to compare them is problematic.

For example, the above-mentioned JIS and ISO standards are evaluation methods that focus on the items being washed during laundry, and make no mention of the fiber debris generated from the items being washed. Furthermore, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 also evaluates equipment, and makes no mention of methods for evaluating fabrics or fiber debris. Meanwhile, Patent Document 2 does mention a focus on fiber debris, such as placing textile products in a laundry bag before washing, so that fiber debris generated from the textile products is not flushed down the drain. However, it makes no mention of a method for evaluating fiber debris generated from fabric. Previously, it was assumed that fiber debris would be generated from fabric, and this is thought to be because there was no consideration given to creating a quantitative evaluation method for fiber debris generated during laundry, and thereby creating fabrics that suppress fiber debris generation.

If fabrics could reduce the generation of fiber waste, it would be possible to reduce the generation of fiber waste in textile products. Therefore, a new challenge arose: creating a method for quantitatively and reproducibly evaluating the fiber waste generated by fabrics.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for evaluating fiber waste generated from fabrics during washing.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration.
(1) A process of washing a cloth whose edge has been treated to prevent fiber debris from falling off;
a step of collecting fiber waste generated by the washing step with a collector;
measuring the weight of the collected fiber waste;
A method for evaluating fabrics, including:
(2) The method for evaluating fabrics according to (1), wherein the washing step is performed using a washing machine, and in the step of collecting fiber debris generated by the washing step with a collector, the collector is attached to a drain outlet of the washing machine, and the fiber debris is collected from wastewater flowing from the drain outlet of the washing machine.
(3) The method for evaluating a fabric according to (1) or (2), wherein the treatment for preventing fiber dust shedding is any one of melt cutting, piping, overlocking, adhesive tape, and sealing tape.
(4) The method for evaluating a fabric according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the fiber dust shedding prevention treatment is a treatment of sandwiching and bonding the edges of the fabric with two pieces of sealing tape.
(5) The method for evaluating a cloth according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the fiber dust shedding prevention treatment is performed within an area of 5.0 cm or less from the edge of the cloth.
(6) The method for evaluating a cloth according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the effective evaluation area of the cloth is 30 to 70,000 cm ² .
(7) The method for evaluating a cloth according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the collector has an opening size of 5 to 20 μm.
(8) The method for evaluating a fabric according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the collector has a water drainage property of 300 seconds or less as measured in the following order:
Procedure for measuring water drainage property (a) A circular sheet having a diameter of 20 cm cut from the collector is folded in four and placed in a conical funnel having a diameter of 22 cm.
(b) 300 ml of distilled water is poured into the funnel, and the time from when the first drop falls from the funnel to when the last drop falls from the funnel is measured, and this is taken as the drainage property.
(c) The last drop is determined to be the last drop if the next drop does not fall for more than 5 minutes.
(9) The method for evaluating a fabric according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the washing step is performed using a washing machine and under washing conditions specified in ISO 6330 (2012).
(10) The method for evaluating a fabric according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein the washing step is performed using a type C standard washing machine and 4N method conditions specified in ISO 6330 (2012).

The present invention provides a method for evaluating fabrics that quantitatively and reproducibly evaluates the amount of fiber waste generated. This makes it easier to create fabrics with reduced fiber waste.

The fabric referred to in the present invention is not particularly limited and may be a woven fabric, a knitted fabric, or a nonwoven fabric. When the fabric is a woven fabric, the weave is not particularly limited, and examples include plain weave, twill weave, satin weave, varied plain weave, varied twill weave, varied satin weave, variegated weave, patterned weave, single-layer weave, double weave, multi-layer weave, warp pile weave, weft pile weave, and leno weave. When the fabric is a knitted fabric, the knit weave is not particularly limited, and examples include circular knit, weft knit, warp knit (including tricot knit and raschel knit), pile knit, plain knit, jersey knit, rib knit, smooth knit (double knit), rib knit, pearl knit, Denbigh knit, cord knit, atlas knit, chain knit, and insert knit. Examples of nonwoven fabrics include needle-punched nonwoven fabrics, chemically bonded nonwoven fabrics, thermally bonded nonwoven fabrics, spunlaced nonwoven fabrics, short fiber nonwoven fabrics such as papermaking, spunbonded nonwoven fabrics, and long fiber nonwoven fabrics such as meltblown nonwoven fabrics.

It is preferable that the fibers constituting the fabric contain at least a portion of synthetic fibers, as this is useful for evaluation using the evaluation method of the present invention. Synthetic fibers include filament yarns, spun yarns, and composite yarns. Filament yarns include drawn yarns and various twisted yarns. There are no particular limitations on the type of twisted yarn, and examples include false-twist textured yarns, false-twist fused yarns, and medium-twist yarns.

There are no particular restrictions on the material of the synthetic fibers. Examples include polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyolefin, polycarbonate, polyacrylate, polyamide, polylactic acid, polyurethane, and polyphenylene sulfide, as well as copolymers thereof. These materials may contain various additives, such as inorganic substances such as titanium oxide, silica, and barium oxide, colorants such as carbon black, dyes, and pigments, flame retardants, fluorescent brighteners, antioxidants, and ultraviolet absorbers.

The cross-sectional shape of the fiber is not particularly limited, and can be a variety of cross-sectional shapes, including a perfect circle, a flat cross-section, a polygonal cross-section such as a triangle, a square, a hexagon, or an octagon, a bell-shaped cross-section with some irregularities, a Y-shaped cross-section, or a star-shaped cross-section.

The fabric may be dyed. Evaluating dyed fabric is a preferred embodiment, as it is closer to the actual state of the textile product. The dyeing method is not particularly limited, and examples include scouring, relaxing, heat setting, dyeing, weight reduction, and functional finishing. Functional finishing may include water repellency, antistatic, flame retardancy, moisture absorption, antistatic, antibacterial, deodorizing, softening, and other known functional finishing, as needed.

The cloth evaluation method of the present invention involves collecting fiber debris generated from cloth during washing and evaluating its weight. Possible methods for measuring the weight of fiber debris include measuring the change in weight of the cloth before and after washing, or measuring the weight of the fiber debris generated during washing. However, since the cloth being washed may have water-soluble substances attached, the reproducibility of the weight is low, making it difficult to obtain a fair evaluation. In the present invention, evaluation accuracy can be improved by evaluating the weight of the fiber debris generated rather than evaluating the change in cloth weight. Specific methods are as follows:

In this invention, cloth whose edges have been treated to prevent fiber debris shedding is used. If the cloth is not treated to prevent fiber debris shedding and is simply cut with scissors, for example, fiber debris may be generated primarily from the cut area, making it difficult to accurately measure the amount of fiber debris inherent in the cloth. Accurate measurement is preferable, as the amount of fiber debris generated by the cloth can be used to estimate the amount of fiber debris generated in textile products such as sewn goods made from that cloth.

The fiber debris prevention treatment referred to in this invention is not particularly limited, as long as it can prevent the generation of fiber debris during washing in accordance with the present invention to an extent that does not impair the effects of the present invention. In terms of being able to more accurately measure the amount of fiber debris generated, a fiber debris prevention treatment of this invention is preferably one in which the weight of the fiber debris obtained by overlocking the edges of the fabric and using the same method for evaluating the fabric of this invention is no more than three times the weight of the fiber debris. The overlocking conditions in this case are to use polyester filament No. 40 sewing thread and No. 12 needles, with a stitch count of 26 stitches per 3.0 cm and a seam allowance of 0.3 cm.

Specific examples of suitable treatments include melt cutting, piping, overlocking, adhesive tape, and sealing tape, or a combination of these. Melt cutting involves cutting thermoplastic fibers while melting them, and includes melt cutting with a heated fusion cutter, laser, high-frequency, and ultrasonic melt cutting. Piping involves wrapping the edges of fabric with tape, such as the same fabric or tape made of a highly stretchable elastic material. Overlocking involves trimming the edges of the fabric and then stitching the edges with a looped seam. Adhesive tape involves sandwiching a sheet of adhesive between two pieces of fabric whose edges are folded back, and then bonding them together by heating, pressure, or other methods. While the adhesive material is not particularly limited, preferred options include a molten gel adhesive resin, a polyurethane resin sheet, or an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer sheet. A sheet-like member composed solely of the adhesive material is more preferred. The thickness of the welding material is preferably between 50 μm and 200 μm, particularly for general clothing materials, as this makes it easier to achieve the necessary balance between welding strength and softness. A thickness of 100 μm or more and 150 μm or less is more preferable. If it is difficult to obtain sufficient welding strength, double-layered welding material can be used.

The preferred method of bonding using a welding material involves applying pressure while heating. Examples of suitable methods include a heat iron, a flat-type heat press, a roller-type heat press, a high-frequency press, and an ultrasonic press. Flat-type presses are preferred, as they allow for easier temperature and pressure control. Furthermore, the sealing tape treatment referred to in this invention refers to the process of attaching a waterproof fabric to the fabric using a tape with an adhesive or pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to one side, such as a tape known as a seam sealer, seam tape, or waterproof tape. A hot-melt adhesive is preferred. The adhesive's flow initiation point is preferably between 50 and 130°C. By maintaining a flow initiation point below 130°C, the adhesive can be melted with a small amount of heat and time, allowing for a smooth bonding process. A small amount of heat is also preferred, as it minimizes damage to the fabric being evaluated and reduces the generation of fiber waste due to damage. Furthermore, maintaining a flow initiation point above 50°C is preferred, as it prevents the tape from peeling during washing. A method of applying pressure while heating can be used to attach the tape to the fabric. For example, a heat iron, a flat-type heat press, a roller-type heat press, a high-frequency press, or an ultrasonic press can be preferably used. Flat-type presses are more preferable, as they make it easier to control and adjust the temperature and pressure.

By applying one or more of these treatments, it is possible to prevent the cut edges of the fabric from becoming exposed during washing, and to suppress the generation of frayed fibers and fiber debris. A more preferred treatment for preventing fiber debris shedding is sealing tape treatment. Because fiber debris can fall off from the edge of the fabric from both the front and back, it is preferable to apply sealing tape so that it covers both the front and back of the edge of the fabric. While it is possible to cover the fabric by folding it over with a single piece of sealing tape, the repulsion of the folded sealing tape may prevent it from adhering, resulting in insufficient fiber debris prevention treatment, so it is more preferable to sandwich the fabric between two pieces of sealing tape. Furthermore, the method of sandwiching the fabric between two pieces of sealing tape is preferable because it is simple, easy to work with, and less prone to operator error.

Areas treated to prevent fiber litter shedding are harder than untreated areas, and physical damage may occur during evaluation due to the treated areas. For this reason, the treatment to prevent fiber litter shedding is preferably carried out within a range of 5.0 cm or less from the edge of the fabric, and more preferably within 2.5 cm or less. There is no particular lower limit; for example, with melt cutting treatment, fiber litter shedding from the edge of the fabric can be prevented even if it is less than 0.1 cm, but with other treatments, it is usually 0.1 cm or more.

In addition, cloth that has been treated to prevent fiber debris from falling off may be subjected to post-treatment, such as washing, air blowing, or air suction, depending on the purpose of evaluation. These post-treatments allow any adhering foreign matter to be removed in advance, allowing for more accurate measurements.

The effective evaluation area of a fabric in this invention refers to the area of either side of the fabric, excluding the area treated to prevent fiber shedding. If the areas on the front and back are different, the area refers to the smaller area. In order to measure the weight of fiber debris, the effective evaluation area is preferably 30 ^cm2 or more, more preferably 100 ^cm2 or more, from the perspective of measurement accuracy. Furthermore, in order to suppress errors in the actual amount of fiber debris generated due to re-adhesion of fiber debris, it is preferably 70,000 ^cm2 or less, more preferably 9,000 ^cm2 or less.

In the evaluation method of the present invention, the washing method is not particularly limited. A launder meter, such as those used in washing fastness tests (ISO 105-C06 (2006)), or a washing machine, such as one specified in ISO 6330 (2012), can be used. Here, a launder meter only rotates in one direction and can be used for simple evaluations, but it differs from actual washing. To more accurately evaluate the generation of fiber waste during washing, it is preferable to use a washing machine specified in ISO 6330 (2012). Washing machines come in a wide variety of styles and shapes, each of which exerts different physical effects (washing mechanical force) on the items being washed during washing. Among these, washing machines specified in ISO 6330 (2012) have the basic functions of the various washing machines used in ordinary households and are suitable for the fabric evaluation method of the present invention. ISO 6330 (2012) specifies type A, type B, and type C standard washing machines, and any of these can be used in the present invention. Among these, the A-type standard washing machine or the C-type standard washing machine, which are actually used in homes in many countries, are preferably used in the evaluation method of the present invention. Furthermore, the C-type standard washing machine is even more preferably used because it uses a large amount of water during washing and prevents fallen fiber debris from reattaching to the washed items, allowing for more accurate fiber debris measurement.

When using a washing machine specified in ISO 6330 (2012), it is preferable to wash the items under the conditions specified in ISO 6330 (2012). Several washing conditions are specified for each of the above washing machines, and any of these can be used in the present invention. For example, 13 washing methods are specified for the A-type standard washing machine, which is preferably used in the present invention, and 7 washing methods are specified for the C-type standard washing machine. Of these, the 4N, 4M, 3N, and 3M methods for the A-type standard washing machine and the 4N, 4M, 3N, and 3M methods for the C-type standard washing machine are preferred as washing conditions in the present invention, as they provide high reproducibility for the amount of fiber debris generated from fabrics and are suitable for evaluating the amount of fiber debris generated. The 4N method for the C-type standard washing machine is more preferred. Generally, if the washing machine or washing conditions are too weak, fiber debris is less likely to be generated, and the proportion of accidentally attached relatively large threads, etc. in the collected fiber debris is relatively high, making accurate evaluation difficult. Conversely, if the washing machine force is too strong, the fabric will be damaged, and debris other than fiber debris will be generated during washing, again making accurate evaluation difficult. The preferred washing machine and washing conditions of the present invention described above efficiently generate potential fiber debris that may be generated when washing fabric, making it easier to evaluate.

In the present invention, fiber debris generated during washing is collected using a collector, but the collection method using the collector is not particularly limited and can be changed as appropriate depending on the washing method used. In the case of a method using a washing machine, which is the preferred washing method of the present invention, it is preferable to attach the collector to the drain outlet of the washing machine's drain hose, etc. In this case, the wastewater generated during washing can be directly collected, allowing for simple and accurate measurement, and is a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The collector is preferably made of a material with a mesh size, such as an adsorbent or net. When using a washing machine, the mesh size is preferably 5 to 20 μm. By setting the mesh size to 5 μm or more, the drainage speed does not decrease when using a washing machine in the washing process, making it less likely for fiber debris to remain in the washing machine. This allows for the fiber debris to be collected and evaluated with better reproducibility. To capture fiber debris, the mesh size is preferably 20 μm or less. In terms of balancing these factors, a mesh size of 9 μm or more is more preferable. Furthermore, a mesh size of 15 μm or less is more preferable, and a mesh size of 12 μm or less is even more preferable. In this invention, the mesh size can be determined by measuring 10 locations in μm units using a 500x microscope and rounding the average value to the nearest whole number. For round holes, the maximum diameter is measured. For rectangular holes, the longer of the width and length is measured. If the washing machine has a built-in filter, remove it as this will affect the collection capacity.

The shape of the collector used in the present invention is not particularly limited and may be sheet-like, bag-like, box-like, etc., but a structure with openings as described above and allowing water to drain is preferred. Specific examples include metal mesh, perforated metal sheet, perforated film, nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, and knitted fabric, but woven fabric is more preferred due to its versatility, excellent water drainage, collection ability, and high reproducibility.

The collector may be made of either metal or plastic. There are no particular restrictions on the plastic. Examples include polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyolefin, polycarbonate, polyacrylate, polyamide, polylactic acid, polyurethane, and polyphenylene sulfide, as well as copolymers thereof.

The drainability of the collector used in the present invention is preferably 300 seconds or less. If it is 300 seconds or less, when attached to the drain outlet of a washing machine, for example, a decrease in the drainage rate from the washing machine is suppressed, and less fiber debris remains in the washing machine, allowing for more reproducible collection of fiber debris. It is more preferably 200 seconds or less, and even more preferably 100 seconds or less. There is no particular lower limit, but it is essentially 5 seconds or more. The drainability can be adjusted appropriately by the porosity, water absorbency, etc. of the collector. If the collector is a fibrous structure, the drainability can also be adjusted by the density, fineness, and structure.

In the present invention, the water drainage property is measured by the following evaluation method.
(a) A circular sheet with a diameter of 20 cm cut from the collector is folded in four and placed in a triangular funnel with a diameter of 22 cm. That is, the sheet is folded in half twice, and one side of the bag is opened into a cone shape and placed in the triangular funnel. This is a method similar to the method for folding filter paper in four, although there are some differences, such as the folding points and tearing.
(b) 300 ml of distilled water is poured into the funnel, and the time from when the first drop falls from the funnel to when the last drop falls from the funnel is measured, and this is taken as the drainage property.
(c) The last drop is determined to be the last drop if the next drop does not fall for more than 5 minutes.

Such collectors are not special and can be selected appropriately from commercially available sheets, etc. A specific example is "Nylon Screen" NY10-HC (purchased from Fluorocarbon Industries Co., Ltd.).

A preferred embodiment of the fabric evaluation method of the present invention is to use the above-mentioned washing machine, attach a collector to the outlet of the washing machine, place a piece of fabric with an edge treated to prevent fiber debris from falling off into the washing machine, and wash it under the washing conditions described above. After washing, measure the weight of the fiber debris adhering to the collector, for example, the above-mentioned "nylon screen" (purchased from Flon Industries Co., Ltd.).

Since detergent can affect the amount of fiber debris generated and reduce reproducibility, it is preferable to wash with no detergent added, preferably in amounts below those specified in JIS L1930 (2014) or ISO 6330 (2012), and more preferably without any detergent added. If detergent is added, the insoluble components of the detergent must be taken into consideration. Furthermore, since fiber debris is also generated from the load cloth, it is preferable not to use a load cloth.

Methods for measuring the weight of fiber debris captured by a collector include, but are not limited to, drying the collector and measuring its weight, or rinsing the fiber debris from the collector with pure water and then filtering it onto a filter with a mesh size of 0.1 to 20 μm. Drying the collector and measuring its weight is preferred because it is simple and less prone to operational errors. Filtering and recovery is also preferred because it eliminates errors caused by changes in the weight of the collector due to moisture absorption and desorption from the collector or the loss of collector material. In this case, the filter mesh size is smaller than that of the collector to recover the fibers captured by the collector. A specific example of a filtration and recovery method is as follows: Suction filtration is performed using a filter whose weight has been measured after being completely dried, such as a polycarbonate membrane ("K040A047A" manufactured by Advantec Toyo Co., Ltd.). The filtered filter and fiber debris are then dried at 105°C for 1 hour and weighed. The difference between the weight before and after filtration is the weight of the fiber debris. The weight was measured after drying, with the conditions being heating at 105°C for 1 hour, then adjusting the temperature and humidity to 20°C and 65% RH before measuring the weight.

The following examples will specifically explain how to evaluate the fabric of the present invention.

(1) Water Drainage (a) A circular sheet having a diameter of 20 cm cut from the collector was folded in four and placed in a triangular funnel having a diameter of 22 cm.
(b) 300 ml of distilled water was poured into the funnel, and the time from when the first drop fell from the funnel to when the last drop fell from the funnel was measured, and this was taken as the water drainage property.
(c) The last drop was determined to be the last drop if no further drops fell for more than 5 minutes.

(2) Mesh size Using a digital microscope "VHX-7000" (manufactured by Keyence Corporation), the surface of the collector was photographed at 500x magnification, and measurements were made in μm for 10 open holes. The average of the obtained values was rounded to one decimal place, and this was used as the mesh size value. When the holes were round, the maximum diameter was measured, and when they were square, the longer of either was measured.

(3) Measurement of Fiber Waste Weight The aqueous solution containing fiber waste was suction filtered using a polycarbonate membrane ("K040A047A" pore size 0.4 μm, manufactured by Advantec Toyo Co., Ltd.) whose weight had been measured in advance. The polycarbonate membrane and fiber waste after filtration were dried at 105°C for 1 hour and then weighed. The difference between the weight before and after filtration was taken as the weight of the fiber waste.

(4) Effective evaluation area The length of each side was calculated in centimeters by rounding off to the first decimal place. The width of the fiber shedding prevention treatment was calculated in the same way, and anything less than 0.05 cm was recorded as 0 cm. Excluding the area treated to prevent fiber shedding, the effective evaluation area of the fabric was calculated as a value rounded to an integer.

[Fabric Production Example 1]
A 1:1 mixed knitted grey fabric was produced in a jersey weave using acrylic/rayon spun yarn (metric count: 1/64) for the knitted loops made of inelastic fibers, and polyester fiber (84 dtex-72F) and polyurethane elastic fiber (33 dtex) for the knitted loops made of inelastic fibers and elastic fibers. The blend ratio of the materials was 28% acrylic/34% rayon, 33% polyester, and 5% polyurethane. The resulting grey fabric was processed according to the dyeing and processing conditions for normal circular knit fabrics to obtain a knitted fabric.

[Fabric Production Example 2]
Using a single circular knitting machine, a circular knitted fabric was produced in a jersey weave using polyester fiber (66 dtex-96F) as the inelastic fiber and polyurethane fiber (22 dtex) as the elastic fiber. The blend ratio of the materials was 90% polyester and 10% polyurethane. The obtained grey fabric was processed according to the dyeing and processing conditions for normal circular knitted fabrics to obtain a knitted fabric.

[Example 1]
The knitted fabric obtained in Production Example 1 was cut into a square measuring 32.0 cm in length and 32.0 cm in width, and a 2.0 cm wide sealing tape "E302" (manufactured by Toray Coatex Co., Ltd.) was temporarily bonded within a range of 1.0 cm from the edge of the fabric, with half of the sealing tape protruding. After temporarily bonding the four sides, a sealing tape was similarly bonded from the other side, and the edge of the fabric was sandwiched between two pieces of sealing tape. The adhesive portion between the sealing tape and the edge of the fabric was sewn with sewing thread using a lock-stitch sewing machine (polyester filament sewing thread, stitch count: 13 stitches/3.0 cm) to prevent peeling. Furthermore, the fabric was pressed for 5 seconds at 0.6 MPa and 130°C using an air-driven fully automatic transfer press "HP-4536A-12" (manufactured by Hashima Co., Ltd.) to perform permanent bonding, and a test specimen (effective evaluation area: 900 cm ² ) was prepared.

A standard C-type washing machine specified in ISO 6330 (2012) was used. First, the washing machine was washed according to the ISO 6330 (2012) C4N method using an "AQW-V700E 7 kg" (manufactured by Aqua Corporation). Rinsing and draining were performed twice without any laundry. Specifically, the cycle was set to the thorough cycle, with a water volume of 40 L, a wash time of 15 minutes, two rinses, and a 7-minute spin cycle. The wash water temperature was 40°C and the rinse water temperature was room temperature. Next, a "nylon screen" NY10-HC (manufactured by Fluoro Industries Co., Ltd.) with an 11.3 μm mesh size and a drainage time of 82 seconds was attached to the washing machine's drain hose. Two test pieces were then placed in the washing machine and washed according to the ISO 6330 C4N washing conditions. However, no detergent or load fabric was used. After washing, the fiber debris adhering to the nylon screen was filtered by suction using a polycarbonate membrane (K040A047A, manufactured by Advantec Toyo Co., Ltd.) whose weight had been measured in advance. The filtered polycarbonate membrane and fiber debris were dried at 105°C for 1 hour and weighed; the weight of the resulting fiber debris was 8.7 mg.

[Example 2]
The fabric obtained in Production Example 1 was melt-cut into a square measuring 30.0 cm lengthwise and 30.0 cm widthwise using a variable-arm ultrasonic sewing machine "LWU-3015-4" (manufactured by Quinlite Electronics Co., Ltd.) to prepare a test piece (effective evaluation area: 900 cm ² ), and the test was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1. The weight of the fiber waste was 26.0 mg.

[Example 3]
The fabric obtained in Production Example 1 was used to prepare a square test piece (effective evaluation area: 900 cm2) measuring 30.6 cm vertically and 30.6 cm horizontally using an overlock sewing machine " ^M852-16S2 " (manufactured by Pegasus Sewing Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.) with a polyester filament No. 40 sewing thread, a No. 12 needle, 26 stitches/3.0 cm stitch count, and a seam allowance of 0.3 cm, and the test was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1. The weight of the fiber waste was 10.2 mg.

[Example 4]
The fabric obtained in Production Example 1 was cut with scissors into a square measuring 32.0 cm in length and 32.0 cm in width, and a test piece (effective evaluation area: 900 cm ² ) was prepared by piping a 1.0 cm portion of the edge of the fabric using the same fabric, and the test was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1. The weight of the fiber waste was 25.6 mg.

[Example 5]
The fabric obtained in Production Example 1 was cut with scissors into a square measuring 34.0 cm in length and 34.0 cm in width, and adhesive tape "S23-100μ thick" (1.0 cm wide, manufactured by Toray Coatex Co., Ltd.) was temporarily attached to the edge of the fabric. After cutting the fabric evenly, the temporarily attached adhesive tape was folded inward and permanently attached to prepare a test specimen (effective evaluation area: 900 cm ² ). Testing was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the weight of the fiber waste was 6.1 mg. Note that the test specimens permanently attached as described above were treated to prevent fiber waste from falling off because the adhesive of the adhesive tape soaked into the fabric and fixed the fiber structure in the fabric at the adhesive joint.

[Comparative Example 1]
The test was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the fabric obtained in Production Example 1 was cut with scissors into a square measuring 30.0 cm in length and 30.0 cm in width to prepare a test piece (effective evaluation area: 900 cm ² ). The weight of the fiber waste was 42.4 mg.

[Examples 6 to 10]
Tests were carried out in the same manner as in Examples 1 to 5, except that the fabric obtained in Production Example 2 was used. The weights of the fiber waste were 5.6 mg in Example 6, 15.2 mg in Example 7, 7.8 mg in Example 8, 21.4 mg in Example 9, and 2.9 mg in Example 10.

[Comparative Example 2]
The test was carried out in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1, except that the fabric obtained in Production Example 2 was used. The weight of the fiber waste was 35.7 mg.

Claims (10)

A process of washing cloth whose edges have been treated to prevent fiber debris from falling off;
a step of collecting fiber waste generated by the washing step with a collector;
measuring the weight of the collected fiber waste;
A method for evaluating fabrics, including: The method for evaluating fabrics according to claim 1, wherein the washing step is performed using a washing machine, and the step of collecting fiber debris generated during the washing step with a collector involves attaching the collector to a drain outlet of the washing machine and collecting the fiber debris from wastewater flowing from the drain outlet of the washing machine. The method for evaluating fabric according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fiber debris shedding prevention treatment is one of melt cutting, piping, overlocking, adhesive tape, and sealing tape. A method for evaluating fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fiber debris prevention treatment is a process of sandwiching and bonding the edges of the fabric between two pieces of sealing tape. A method for evaluating fabrics according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fiber debris shedding prevention treatment is performed within an area of 5.0 cm or less from the edge of the fabric. The method for evaluating a cloth according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the effective evaluation area of the cloth is 30 to 70,000 ^cm2 . The method for evaluating fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the collector has a mesh size of 5 to 20 μm. The method for evaluating a fabric according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the collector has a water drainage property of 300 seconds or less as measured in the following order:
Procedure for measuring water drainage property (a) A circular sheet having a diameter of 20 cm cut from the collector is folded in four and placed in a conical funnel having a diameter of 22 cm.
(b) 300 ml of distilled water is poured into the funnel, and the time from when the first drop falls from the funnel to when the last drop falls from the funnel is measured, and this is taken as the drainage property.
(c) The last drop is determined to be the last drop if the next drop does not fall for more than 5 minutes. The method for evaluating fabrics described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the washing step is carried out using a washing machine and under washing conditions specified in ISO 6330 (2012). The method for evaluating fabrics described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the washing step is carried out using a standard C-type washing machine and 4N method conditions specified in ISO 6330 (2012).