Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Dyed and Printed Fabrics Containing Recycled Fibers

Textile recycling is becoming an increasingly important sustainable approach to minimizing environmental load in production processes, reducing chemical, energy, and water consumption. In this study, the effects of recycled fiber from different sources, different recycled fiber ratios, and the use of recycled fibers in blended fibers on the mechanical properties of woven fabrics were examined. In addition, reactive dyeing and different printing processes (reactive - pigment) were applied to the fabrics, and the effects of these processes were also examined. Tensile and tear strength, abrasion, and pilling resistance and strength properties after multi-cycle washing were performed. The results showed that using 15% recycled cotton fiber in the fabrics and recycled fabrics produced from weaving unit waste performed better in terms of mechanical properties. Furthermore, it has been shown that fabrics containing recycled cotton adequately retain their mechanical properties and that it is possible to increase the use of recycled fibers.