Study of the Dimensional Stability of Woven Polyester Fabric Under Repeated Laundering Conditions in Abuja

Dimensional stability of woven polyester fabrics is a critical quality attribute for garments and household textiles, determining whether products retain their specified dimensions and appearance through the laundering cycles expected during practical use. This study examines the dimensional stability of woven polyester fabrics collected from garment manufacturers operating in the Abuja metropolis, North Central Nigeria, evaluating shrinkage and growth behaviour under repeated home laundering conditions. Fabric samples of varying weave densities were subjected to 1, 5, 10, and 20 laundering cycles at 40 and 60 degrees Celsius wash temperatures following ISO 6330 procedure. Warp and weft dimensional change, fabric weight change, and visual assessment of fabric surface were recorded after each laundering interval. Tensile strength retention was measured after 20 laundering cycles relative to unlaundered controls. Results demonstrate that warp shrinkage was consistently higher than weft shrinkage across all fabric types, averaging 2.4 percent in warp compared to 1.1 percent in weft after 20 cycles at 40 degrees Celsius. Washing at 60 degrees Celsius increased warp shrinkage to 4.2 percent, exceeding the maximum permissible 3 percent limit recommended for apparel fabrics by ISO standards. Fabrics with higher warp cover factor exhibited lower dimensional change, attributable to greater thread interlacement constraint. Tensile strength retention exceeded 92 percent after 20 launderings. The study recommends that polyester fabric suppliers in Abuja clearly label maximum wash temperature and provides dimensional stability testing criteria for procurement specifications by garment manufacturers. Keywords: polyester fabric, dimensional stability, laundering, shrinkage, Abuja