Abstract
The applications of enzyme and washing treatments are widely used iota the heavy weight fabrics, such as denims to enhance their aesthetic and physical properties. However, in the case of medium to light weight fabrics, the applications of these treatments are limited due to the weight loss and the fabric strength reduction problems. Three different cotton fabrics were prepared using 20's, 40's, and 60's yarns, respectively. These fabrics were scoured, enzyme treated, and washed under same operation conditions. The results showed that the tensile strength reduction after the enzyme and washing treatments on the medium to light weight fabrics was not as significant as expected. In the cafe of heavy weight fabrics, the mechanical properties measured by the KES-F system shows a good agreement with other works. The bending rigidity and the shear properties are enhanced through the enzyme treatment, which is applicable for summer wear.
