Nowadays, faded textile products have become very popular among the young customers all over the world [1] . For this reason, textile manufacturers are trying to develop numerous techniques to improve the visual outlook of the sewn garments [2] - [5] . Different denim washing techniques have been developed and used on different materials to create a large variety of designs for trendy denim garments and jeans [6] - [11] . Nowadays along with denim washing knit garments such as T-shirt, Polo shirt, and trouser, are also washed by using different techniques such as enzymes wash, softener wash, Silicone wash, tie dye wash, pigment wash, caustic wash, etc. are used to create or enhance the physical and mechanical property changes [12] [13] .

Acid washing in knitted garments is a new technique which is done by potassium permanganate and pumice stone or other substitutes [13] [14] .

Potassium permanganate is an inorganic chemical compound with the chemical formula KMnO₄ [15] . It is a strong oxidizing agent and used to make color fading effect on sewn garments [16] - [18] . Sometimes it is used at the point of hand sand area or without hand sand area. As it is a great oxidizing agent, after applying, it is necessary to neutralize the garments by any good neutralizing agent [19] .

Thermocol is a commercial name. In 1951, the researchers of a German company named BASF successfully restructured chemical bonding of polystyrene (a synthetic petroleum product) molecules and developed a substance named stretch polystyrene. This substance was named Thermocol, which nowadays is manufactured through a simple process. Thermoplastic granules are expanded through application of steam and air. Expanded granules become much larger in size but remain very light, formable, & rigid [20] - [23] .

Small thermocol balls (0.75 - 1 cm diameter) are being used as a substitute of pumice stone in garments finishing process [24] [25] .

Elias et al. (2015) studied the effect of change in concentration of KMnO₄ and processing time on physico-mechanical properties of denim jeans during acid washing. It was found that the tensile strength, seam strength, stiffness and fabric weight were decreased after application of potassium permanganate with increasing processing time during washing treatment while yarn count (Ne), EPI, PPI and dimensional change were increased [26] - [28] .

Solaiman et al. (2015) investigated the effect of three types of washing (enzyme, softener, Silicone) on Physical and Mechanical Properties on five types of following knitted garments: 100% cotton Single Jersey T-shirt, Slub Single Jersey T-shirt, Double Lacoste (5% Lycra) Polo shirt, Single jersey CVC (T-shirt) and PC single Jersey (T-shirt). The results showed that when enzyme wash was applied on the knit garments, it improved all the tested properties of knit garments, and it also reduced the hairy fibers from the fabric surface. Similar results were found in case of Silicone and softener wash as well [29] .

However, the effect of acid wash with thermocol balls and potassium permanganate on physico mechanical properties on knitted garments was not studied in the past research. In this present study, three knitted garments (Single Jersey 100% Cotton T-shirt, Single Jersey 95% Cotton 5% T-Shirt and 1 × 1 Rib100% Cotton T-Shirt) were washed with H₃PO₄, KMnO₄ along with thermocol balls and various properties were analyzed according to standard methods.

In this article, the change of physical and mechanical properties due to the washing treatment has been investigated. The overall results are shown in Table 1. From this table, it is seen that the weight of the fabric increases for each garments. This increase is high in case of 1 × 1 Rib garments (13.76%). Actually when the knitted garments are faced with frictional action due to the thermocol balls and rotating cylinder of the washing machine, a trace of solution of KMnO₄ and H₃PO₄ also get penetrated into the fiber structure causing change in internal

tension in the constituted molecules. The garments then tended to revert its more dimensions that results in the contraction of the yarns. This effect causes the reduction of the stitch length also increase stitch density for higher value of CPI and WPI. Thus weight of the garments, spirality and shrinkage increase after washing.

It is also found that the acid washing treatment of the knitted garments causes significant decrease in tensile strength (bursting strength). Maximum strength loss (6.31%) occurred in case of 100% cotton single jersey T shirt. At first thermocol balls with solution breaks the chemical bond of the primary wall of the cellulose molecules and after that it attacked slightly on secondary wall. The result of this reaction is that the primary wall of the cotton fiber is loosened and broken down quicker with the mechanical forces of washing machine and rough surface of thermocol balls. As a result, internal bonding force among the molecules of the cellulose gets reduced which causes lower tensile strength. No significant change was occurred in fabric pH as mild concentration of acid was used.

It is also found from the table that color fastness properties against washing, water and dry rubbing were unchanged while wet rubbing property is deteriorated a bit. After washing, absorbency reduced as the treatment changes the interfacial tension of the fiber molecules. The washed garments showed better pilling resistance.

Acid washing treatment with thermocol balls has greater effect on the physical and mechanical properties of knitted garments. In every case, it was found that the weight of the garments increased but bursting strength decreased after washing. This experiment will help the personnel related with the industrial washing process as well as researcher in this field. Although we conducted this experiment on single jersey and rib fabric only, similar results might be found for other knitted structure.

Elias Khalil,Masud Rana,Jewel Faria,Md. Al-Amin Islam,Md. Sohel Rana, (2016) Investigation on Effect of Acid Wash with Thermocol Ball on Physical Properties of Knitted Garments. Journal of Textile Science and Technology,02,16-21. doi: 10.4236/jtst.2016.22003