Question

The term wash and wear is used in the case of polyester fiber due to its \(\underline{\hspace{2cm}}\)

• A. High amorphousity and high water absorption
• B. Low crystalline and low water absorption
• C. Poor water absorption and high crease recovery
• D. High water absorption and low crease recovery

Hint:

Wash and Wear = Quick to Dry + Doesn't Wrinkle. - Quick to Dry \(\rightarrow\) Low Water Absorption (Hydrophobic). - Doesn't Wrinkle \(\rightarrow\) High Crease Recovery (Resilience). Polyester excels at both. Cotton is the opposite (high water absorption, low crease recovery).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Define "wash and wear." This term implies that a garment can be washed, and then worn with little to no ironing. This requires two main properties: it must dry quickly after washing, and it must not wrinkle or crease easily.

Step 2: Relate these properties to the characteristics of polyester.
- Quick Drying: Polyester is a hydrophobic fiber, meaning it absorbs very little water. Its moisture regain is very low (around 0.4%). Because it doesn't hold much water, it dries very quickly. This corresponds to "poor water absorption."
- No Ironing: Polyester has high resilience and elastic recovery. When it is creased or wrinkled, the polymer chains tend to spring back to their original position. This property is called "high crease recovery."

Step 3: Evaluate the options based on this analysis.
- (A) Incorrect. Polyester has high crystallinity and low water absorption.
- (B) Incorrect. Polyester has high crystallinity.
- (C) Correct. Poor water absorption leads to quick drying, and high crease recovery means it resists wrinkling. These two properties together create the "wash and wear" characteristic.
- (D) Incorrect. Polyester has low water absorption and high crease recovery.