Washing simulator rig to study the effect of abrasion on the removal of soils from fabrics

In addition to a chemical component in the washing of fabrics, mechanical actions play an important role that have scarcely being investigated in a systematic way. For this purpose, it is developed a washing simulator rig capable to stretch, bend, and abrade fabrics in a controllable and monitored environment. Important friction parameters between cotton fabrics are determined and compared with those obtained from a commercial tribometer. Using fluorescence microscopy and fluorescent hydrophobic dyes, the washing simulator rig can monitor in situ and in real time the removal of fats from fabrics undergoing abrasion inside a water bath, even in the presence of detergents.