Mitigating elastane damage in denim stone washing: Effects on thermal comfort and low-stress mechanical performance

This study examines the effect of stone washing and elastane protectants on thermal and low-stress mechanical properties of denim fabric. Stone washing has a significant effect on fabric properties resulting in increased thermal conductivity, shear stiffness, and work of compression while decreasing air permeability and tensile strength and bending rigidity. Increased washing time from 30 to 60 minutes further enhances these effects. Notably, the addition of elastane protectants during stone washing mitigated various adverse effects of stone washing by maintaining fabric comfort properties while improving the mechanical properties. Specifically, these protectants limited the increase in thermal conductivity, preserving potential fabric comfort. Furthermore, while stone washing improved water vapor permeability, the introduction of elastane protectants showed negligible changes to this property. Overall, the findings highlight the key role of careful selection of washing time and elastane protectant in tailoring the denim fabric properties to achieve desired comfort and mechanical performance. This study is also addressing the Sustainable Development Goals, SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure) by exploring methods to reduce damage during denim production, potentially leading to resource efficiency.