Objective evaluation of the Tencel fabric after fibrillation

Abstract The low-stress mechanical properties of Tencel fabric were examined by means of the Kawabata Evaluation System for Fabrics (KES-F) before treatment and after each process of fibrillation, namely (1) desizing, (2) primary fibrillation, (3) enzyme treatment, (4) secondary fibrillation and (5) dehydratingandtumbledrying.Itwasfoundthatthesurface, tensile, shearing, bendingandcompression properties were altered after each processing step. The changes in these properties are related closely to the inter-fibre/inter-yarn frictional force.