Investigation of the effect of denim washing on surface characteristics and deformation behavior using a novel instrument

Nazli Uren

doi:10.25367/cdatp.2025.6.p140-151

Authors

Nazli Uren Textile Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25367/cdatp.2025.6.p140-151

Keywords:

denim washing, surface characteristics, deformation behavior, comfort, Tactile Sensation Analyzer

Abstract

In the current study, the surface characteristics and deformation behavior of raw and washed denim fabrics were investigated using Tactile Sensation Analyzer (TSA) which measures surface variations through sound analysis and determines out-of-plane deformation behavior during the deformation test phase. A total of 30 denim fabrics with various raw materials and production parameters were examined. Two different denim washing processes were applied to the raw denim fabrics, one involving cellulase enzyme and the other combined with pumice stones. The effects of washing on structural properties, surface characteristics, deformation, elasticity, hysteresis, plasticity, and tactile comfort were analyzed. The results indicated that denim washing significantly increased the thickness and decreased the magnitude of micro-surface variations across all tested samples, and most fabrics exhibited a less rigid structure after washing. It was detected that enzyme washing has a moderate effect on fabric properties. Meanwhile, the combination of cellulase enzyme and pumice stones resulted in significant improvements in surface smoothness, fullness, unit mass, deformability, elasticity and total hand scores.

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