Fabric Pilling
It is a fabric surface fault characterized by little pills of entangled fibers clinging to the cloth surface and giving the garments an unsightly appearance. They can be a bobble or lint ball that appears on clothes whose quality has degraded due to usage. Fabric pilling is caused by wear and tear and is a surface defect of fabric that is easily seen and damages the aesthetic function of clothing. The usage of clothes, the washing of clothes, its constant exposure to light, air, and water are some of the few reasons why fabric pilling happens. When the fibers loosen, they begin to push out threads to the surface, thereby breeding abrasion and causing fabric pilling. It is worth noting that the balls seen on the surface of the fabric are fibers that haven't broken, but protrude through the stretching and loosening of the material. The logical corollary here is that fabric pilling occurs on the part that receives the most abrasion; examples of these are the collars, the cuffs, the thighs, and, in most cases, the rear parts of trousers/pants.
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| Pilling of Fabric |
Causes of Pilling
- Due to wear and abrasion.
- Because of the rubbing action of fabric on specific parts of clothes and body.
- Due to the soft twisted yam.
- Due to excess shortage of fibers.
- By causing migration of fibers from the constituent yarn into the fabric.
- This is due to protruding fiber/ yarn hairiness.
- In the case of thermoplastic fibers, when heat is applied.
Machines for Testing Fabric Pilling
- Martindale abrasion tester.
- ICI Pillbox.
- H. A.T.R.A. method.
- Dupont Random Pilling Tester.
ICI Pilling Tester
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| ICI Pilling Tester |
Apparatus
- The tester.
- Sample. (5 inches x 5 inches).
- Scissors.
- Stop watch.
- PVC tape etc.
Working Procedure
- Four specimens, each measuring (5 inches × 5 inches), were cut out of the cloth for this test.
- Each square has a 12 mm seam allowance marked on the back. Two samples have the seam marked parallel to the warp direction, whereas the other two have the seam marked parallel to the weft direction.
- After that, a seam is sewn on the indicated line after the samples have been folded face to face.
- Then wash them with 0.5% soap solution for 15 minutes & dry them.
- Then the samples will be attached to the rubber tube with PVC tape.
- To eliminate any sewing distortion, each specimen is inverted and 6 mm taken off of each end.
- To ensure that the length of tube visible at each end is the same, the constructed fabric tubes are subsequently mounted on rubber tubes. Poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) tape is used to secure each loose end, leaving 6 mm of rubber tubing exposed.
- After that, each of the four specimens is put in a single pill box.
- The samples are thrown together in a box lined with cork.
- The test typically uses 18,000 revolutions, which takes five hours. The counters will be set at 60 rpm for 5 hours and turned on the switch.
- The pill box will start rotating.
- After 5 hours, the samples will be removed and compared with the following standard.
Results
- Standard-1: Become hairy but do not pill.
- Standard-2- Become hairy but slightly pilled.
- Standard-3: Become hairy and more curvy, pilled.
Precautions
- Samples need to be cut at ((5 in ×5 in) dimension.
- Must be washed with a 0.5% soap solution for 15 minutes.
- Counter should be set at 60 rpm for 5 hours.
- When comparing with the standard, we need to be careful.
Reducing or Minimizing Pilling
- By using high twisted yarn. (Twist ↑ Pill ↓)
- Brushing and cropping the fabric surface to extract loose fiber ends.
- By reducing the yarn hairiness with the singeing process.
- Using the anti-pill method.
- Viscosity agents can be used through special chemical treatment, such as adhesive and anti-rubbing agent.
- Through the Air Jet spinning process, which limits the migration of fibers.
- By increasing the count. (Count ↑ Length ↑ Twist ↑ Pill ↓)
- By increasing the synthetic fiber content in the blend.
- By using high staple length fibers.
- By doubling. (Short fibers will be covered by long fibers)
- By appropriate weave plans and other fabric properties. (Balance weave plan = Pill ↓)
- By increasing the fiber density per unit length.
FAQ About Fabric Pilling
1. What is fabric pilling, exactly?
Pilling is the formation of small fuzz balls of tangled loose fibers on the surfaces of fabric. The pills look like small bobbles on fabrics and other textiles from typical use and friction.
2. What kind of fabrics are more likely to pill?
Fibers such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic are the most likely to pill. Natural fibers such as cotton can also pill, but short fibers, such as merino wool and high-quality cotton, generally pill less than long, loose fibers.
3. How to avoid pilling clothes?
Wash on gentle, turn inside out, wear gently to avoid rough friction, and wash like fabrics together. Using fabric softener can also reduce friction between fibers.
4. Can we remove pills from clothing?
Yes, you can remove pills by way of fabric shavers, sweater stones, pill combs or even a regular razor applied carefully to flat surfaces. Mostly, electric fabric shavers are among the safest and most reliable choice.
5. Do expensive clothes pill less?
Not necessarily. Although higher-quality fabrics will resist pilling better, even high-end garments can pill if they’re made from pill-prone materials or if they’re not cared for properly.
6. Does pilling mean something is poor quality?
Not always. Pilling is a normal process that occurs with most fabrics through regular wear. However, getting clumps of little fuzz balls from day one is a sign of inferior materials or construction.
7. Does washing cause pilling?
Washing, too, can lead to pilling, especially if you have an aggressive washing machine or wash clothes with more abrasive objects. This can be mitigated through gentle cycles and washing similar materials together.
8. Can pilling be prevented permanently?
Pilling can never be entirely eliminated, but, if you take care of your garment, you can greatly minimize it. Some manufacturers also apply anti-pilling finishes to fabrics.
9. Do dryers make pilling worse?
Sure, tumbling and heat in dryers can exacerbate pilling. Air-drying items or using lower-heat settings can help prevent pills from forming.
10. Are the pills eventually going to stop forming?
Yes, pilling usually has a peak, and then it goes down as loose fibers are released. But that’s contingent on what type of fabric is used and how the garment is cared for and abused.