Anti-Pilling and Resin Finishing of Rayon and Rayon/Cotton Fabrics using 2 ³ 3 ² Mixed Level Factorial Design

Pilling resistance characteristics of rayon and rayon/cotton fabrics was improved by combining anti-piling and resin finish using a statistical technique. A 2 ³ 3 ² -mixed level factorial design was chosen. Five factors were selected: anti-pilling agent and resin finish (at three levels), and fabric blend ratio, fabric weave, and curing method (at two levels). Two response variables— pilling before and after wash—were analyzed at the sixth level using contour and interaction plots. A high pilling grade (4.5) was achieved on plain rayon and rayon/cotton fabrics using one concentration range of anti-pilling agent and resin finish (normal or shock cure), and for satin fabric using a different concentration range of anti-pilling agent and resin finish. Normal curing gave good pilling grades compared to those using shock curing.