An evaluation of the removal of lubricants and softeners from fabrics woven from topically treated yarns spun from weather-damaged cottons has been made. Although laundering was accompanied by some fabric shrinkage, the removal of fiber lubricants appeared to result in an increase in breaking strength and especially tearing strength of the washed fabrics when compared to their unwashed counterparts. It is now feasible to treat weather damaged cotton fibers with topical lubricants, thereby improving the efficiency of their processability into yarns, to weave these yarns into fabrics, and, if desired, to finally wash the resulting fabric to remove the lubricating materials and increase fabric strength. This article reviews recent research on topical treatments of weather damaged cottons for improved processing, examines the effect of weaving these treated yarns into fabric and finally of subsequent lubricant removal through laundering.
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