Abstract
The permanent pleat retention of the polyester fabrics can be achieved by the thermal finishing using a pressing machine. No optimal finishing conditions have been revealed to achieve the pleat retention without deteriorating the fabric hand. This article investigates the degree of the pleat retention, dimensional change of pleat set fabrics and the change of fabric hand by varying the temperature of a dry and steam pressing. The main results are summarized as follows:
(1) A fabric surface tester, KES-FB4, has been used to evaluate the degree of pleat retention.
(2) An effective pleat setting can be achieved at the temperature of 150-160°C in the dry pressing. However, in the steam pressing, an effective setting can be achieved even at the lower temperature of 105-130°C.
(3) The method of pressing and the temperature of pressing little affect the dimensional change of pressed fabrics.
(4) The pressing tends to deteriorate the fabric hand. A dry pressing more deteriorates the fabric hand than a steam pressing does.
