The Damage Caused by Micro-organisms to Cotton Fabrics

A study is reported in which the damage caused by micro-organisms to 100% cotton material under different conditions and the level of this damage when different finishing materials were used were investigated. The damage caused by Aspergillus niger, used as the experimental organism for 100% cotton material, was seen as a decrease in the tensile strength with time; the temperature, pH, and change in conditions of the medium are shown to affect the decrease in the tensile strength. The microbial growths were differentially inhibited by seven finishing materials which were imparted, but most of them were removed by washing.