Color, color fastness and abrasion properties of 50/50 bamboo/cotton blended plain knitted fabrics in three different stitch lengths

In this study, the color and color fastness properties of the dyed plain knitted fabrics made from 50/50 bamboo/cotton blended yarns with three different stitch lengths are investigated in comparison with those of the similar fabrics made from 50/50 conventional viscose/cotton and 50/50 modal/cotton blended yarns. Abrasion behaviors of the fabrics are assessed by measuring the weight loss and the color values after four different increasing abrasion cycles. The bamboo/cotton fabrics reveal the highest K/S and C* values, but the lowest L* values before abrasion. The lowest weight loss values are obtained for the bamboo/cotton fabrics. Regarding the color properties after abrasion, the bamboo/cotton fabrics show the highest K/S and C* values, but the lowest L* values as in the case of those obtained before abrasion. The highest color difference values (ΔE*) occurred between the beginning and the end of the abrasion test (20000 cycles) and are observed for the bamboo/cotton fabrics. The rubbing, wash and perspiration fastness results of the bamboo/cotton fabrics are found to be worse than those of the other fabrics having viscose/cotton and modal/cotton yarns. However, the highest light fastness results are obtained for the bamboo/cotton fabrics. From the color values after abrasion and the fastness results, it can be concluded that the bamboo/cotton fabrics having the better dyeing properties lose their color more easily than the other fabrics having the viscose/cotton and modal/cotton yarns. The results also indicate that stitch length affects the color values before abrasion and the weight loss and color values after abrasion.