We have identified a few technical perspectives between the durability / longevity of your dress shirt in relation to the level of starch it receives. Have you ever witnessed a shirt that begins to break down or wear thin in areas of abrasion? Common sightings are
We have identified a few technical perspectives between the durability / longevity of your dress shirt in relation to the level of starch it receives. Have you ever witnessed a shirt that begins to break down or wear thin in areas of abrasion? Common sightings are elbows, forearms, cuffs, and collars. Basic knowledge tells us that areas of fabric that continuously rub another surface, such as your forearm/elbow area on your desk, wear down the fabric quicker, but now it is clear that your starch preference plays a role in this.
Starch and sizings are laundry additives that can increase the firmness of fabrics, particularly dress shirts. A study conducted by the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute, the Association of Professional Drycleaners showed starch and sizings can both protect and harm shirts at the same time.
Shirts undergo two types of abrasions. One type is called flat abrasion, and it refers to the abrasion that occurs when the shirt rubs against any other surface. The other type, flex abrasion, refers to the stretching of the fibers when the wearer bends an elbow, or otherwise stretches the material.
Starch adds protection to shirts, enabling them to withstand higher degrees of flat abrasion. However, since starch stiffens the fibers and makes them less flexible, it reduces the degree of flex abrasion a shirt can withstand.
Tensile strength is the measure of how well fabrics and fibers resist break