Drying characteristics of fabrics in the falling rate period.

Effects of types of fibers and fabrics on the rate constant in the falling rate period in drying were investigated by the automatic measurement of drying process. It was found that the rate constant in the falling rate period (k2) could be converted to the decreasing coefficient of evaporation rate (k) by using the following equation: k=k2xd/kl where, xd and k1 were the dry fabric weight and the evaporation rate in the constant rate period, respectively. The light fabric showed the large k2 value when the same fiber was used. The k2 xd value increased in the following order; wool, silk, cotton, nylon, acrylic, and polyester, and they dried faster in that order.