Cleanability Improvement of Cotton Fabrics Through Their Topographical Changes Due to the Conditioning with Cellulase Enzyme

In this study, topographical changes of woven cotton fabrics conditioned with a cellulase enzyme during several wash–dry cycles are systematically studied. A recent study of cellulase enzyme effect on cellulose films has proven that this substance selectively attacks amorphous regions of cellulose, consisting of small hills in a matrix of flat crystalline regions. In another study, topographical changes caused by cotton treatment with cellulase by conditioning while washing were analysed on three different length scales in order to interpret their cooperation on water and oil absorption mechanisms and, hence, on the cleanability of cotton fabrics stained with liquid–solid, liquid and solid soils. In the present study, we emphasise the micro-topographical changes resulting from several wash–dry cycles by the application of mathematical methods to quantify the changes of yarn micro-surfaces. As a result, we present a conceptual model that describes how the topographical effect of washing and conditioning by cellulase enzyme improves the cleanability of woven plain cotton fabrics.