Shrinkage Knowledge of the Most Common Textile Fabrics!

Synthetic fibers and their blends exhibit the minimum shrinkage rate, followed by woolen fabrics and linen fabrics. Cotton fabrics fall in the middle range, silk fabrics have relatively high shrinkage, and the maximum shrinkage occurs in viscose fiber, spun rayon, and artificial wool fabrics.

Objectively speaking, all cotton fabrics are prone to some degree of shrinkage and fading, and the key lies in subsequent finishing processes. For this reason, fabrics used in home textiles are generally subjected to preshrinking treatment.
It is important to note that preshrinking treatment does not mean the fabric will not shrink at all; rather, it ensures the shrinkage rate is controlled within the national standard range of 3%–4%. Garment fabrics, especially those made of natural fibers, will still shrink. Therefore, when purchasing garment fabrics, in addition to evaluating fabric quality, color, and pattern, buyers should also take the fabric shrinkage rate into consideration.

I. Effects of Fiber Swelling and Weave Shrinkage

When fibers absorb water, they undergo a certain degree of swelling. This swelling is typically anisotropic (with the exception of nylon), meaning the fiber length decreases while the diameter increases. The shrinkage rate is usually defined as the percentage ratio of the length difference of a fabric before and after immersion to its original length. The stronger the water absorption capacity, the more severe the swelling, resulting in a higher shrinkage rate and poorer dimensional stability of the fabric.
The length of a finished fabric differs from the length of the yarn (or filament) used in its production. This difference is expressed by the weave shrinkage rate, calculated using the formula below:

Weave Shrinkage Rate (%) = [(Yarn/Filament Length − Fabric Length) / Fabric Length] × 100

When a fabric is immersed in water, fiber swelling causes a further reduction in fabric length, leading to shrinkage. The magnitude of the fabric shrinkage rate depends on its weave shrinkage rate, which is determined by the fabric’s structure and the tension applied during weaving. Lower weaving tension produces a denser, thicker fabric with higher weave shrinkage rate but lower final shrinkage rate. Conversely, higher weaving tension results in a looser, lighter fabric with lower weave shrinkage rate but higher final shrinkage rate. In dyeing and finishing processes, preshrinking is commonly employed to increase weft density and pre-raise the weave shrinkage rate, thereby reducing the final shrinkage rate of the fabric.

II. Causes of Shrinkage

  1. During spinning, weaving, dyeing, and finishing processes, yarn fibers in the fabric are stretched or deformed by external forces, creating internal stress within the fibers and fabric structure. When the fabric is in a state of static dry relaxation, static wet relaxation, dynamic wet relaxation, or full relaxation, this internal stress is released to varying degrees, causing the yarn fibers and fabric to revert to their initial state.
  2. Different fibers and their fabrics exhibit varying shrinkage levels, which depend primarily on fiber properties. Hydrophilic fibers such as cotton, linen, and viscose have relatively high shrinkage rates, whereas hydrophobic fibers such as synthetic fibers show minimal shrinkage.
  3. In a wet state, fibers swell under the action of the immersion liquid, increasing their diameter. On the fabric, this forces an increase in the radius of curvature of fibers at the interlacing points, leading to a reduction in fabric length. For example, cotton fibers swell when wet, with their cross-sectional area increasing by 40%–50% and length increasing by only 1%–2%. In contrast, synthetic fibers undergo thermal shrinkage (e.g., boiling water shrinkage), typically around 5%.
  4. When textile fibers are heated, their morphology and dimensions change and contract, and they cannot return to their original state upon cooling—a phenomenon known as fiber thermal shrinkage. The thermal shrinkage rate is the percentage ratio of the fiber length before and after shrinkage. It is commonly measured via boiling water shrinkage testing, which calculates the percentage length reduction of fibers immersed in boiling water at 100℃. Alternative methods include hot air shrinkage testing (conducted in hot air above 100℃) and steam shrinkage testing (conducted in steam above 100℃). Fiber thermal shrinkage behavior varies depending on its internal structure, heating temperature, and duration. For instance, the boiling water shrinkage rate of processed polyester staple fiber is 1%, that of vinylon is 5%, and the hot air shrinkage rate of polyvinyl chloride fiber is 50%. Fiber thermal shrinkage is closely related to the dimensional stability of yarns and fabrics during textile processing, providing a basis for subsequent process design.

III. Typical Shrinkage Rates of Common Fabrics

Fabric Type Shrinkage Rate
Cotton 4%–10%
Chemical Fiber 4%–8%
Polyester-Cotton Blend 3.5%–5.5%
Gray White Cotton Cloth 3%
Indigo Denim 3%–4%
Poplin 3%–4.5%
Printed Fabric 3%–3.5%
Twill Fabric 4%
Duck Canvas 10%
Spun Rayon 10%

IV. Factors Affecting Shrinkage Rate

  1. Raw Materials

    The shrinkage rate varies with the fabric’s raw material. Generally, fibers with high water absorption swell significantly when wet, increasing their diameter and shortening their length, resulting in a higher shrinkage rate. For example, some viscose fibers have a water absorption rate of up to 13%, while synthetic fiber fabrics, with low hygroscopicity, exhibit minimal shrinkage.

  2. Fabric Density

    Shrinkage rate is also influenced by fabric density. If the warp and weft densities are similar, the warp and weft shrinkage rates will be close. Fabrics with higher warp density experience greater warp shrinkage, whereas those with higher weft density show greater weft shrinkage.

  3. Yarn Count

    The thickness of the yarn affects the shrinkage rate. Fabrics woven with coarser yarns have higher shrinkage rates, while those woven with finer yarns have lower shrinkage rates.

  4. Production Processes

    Different production processes result in varying shrinkage rates. In general, fabrics subjected to repeated stretching, prolonged processing, and high tension during weaving and dyeing/finishing tend to have higher shrinkage rates, and vice versa.

  5. Fiber Composition

    Natural plant fibers (e.g., cotton, linen) and regenerated plant fibers (e.g., viscose) absorb moisture and swell easily compared to synthetic fibers (e.g., polyester, acrylic), leading to higher shrinkage rates. Wool, on the other hand, tends to felt due to its scaly surface structure, which compromises its dimensional stability.

  6. Fabric Structure

    Woven fabrics generally have better dimensional stability than knitted fabrics; high-density fabrics are more dimensionally stable than low-density ones. Among woven fabrics, plain weaves typically have lower shrinkage rates than flannel. Among knitted fabrics, plain jersey knits show lower shrinkage than rib knits.

  7. Manufacturing and Finishing Processes

    During dyeing, printing, and finishing, fabrics inevitably undergo stretching by machinery, which introduces residual tension. When the fabric comes into contact with water, this tension is released, resulting in the shrinkage observed after washing. In practical production, preshrinking is commonly used to address this issue.

  8. Washing and Care Processes

    Washing, drying, and ironing all impact fabric shrinkage. For example, hand-washed items generally have better dimensional stability than machine-washed ones, and washing temperature also affects stability—higher temperatures typically lead to poorer stability. The drying method also has a significant impact on shrinkage.

Common drying methods include drip drying, flat drying on a metal mesh, line drying, and tumble drying. Drip drying has the least impact on fabric dimensions, while tumble drying has the most significant effect; the other two methods fall in between.
In addition, selecting the appropriate ironing temperature based on fabric composition can help improve dimensional stability. For example, high-temperature ironing can reduce the shrinkage rate of cotton and linen fabrics. However, higher temperatures are not always better: for synthetic fibers, excessive ironing temperature not only fails to reduce shrinkage but also damages fabric properties, such as making the fabric stiff and brittle.

 

Post time: Nov-06-2025