Table of contents
Microfiber release from textiles has become an increasingly urgent environmental issue, not only because both synthetic and natural fibers contribute to microplastic accumulation in ecosystems, but also because the mechanisms that drive this release are deeply embedded in the material science of textile polymers themselves. For textile engineers, sustainability specialists, and R&D teams across the apparel industry, the central challenge lies in understanding why certain fabrics shed substantially more fibers than others, despite being manufactured from similar raw materials, and how to design textile systems that are inherently more resistant to fiber detachment throughout their operational lifetime. Thermal analysis, although widely used across polymer science, remains underexploited in textile development, yet it offers a level of precision and mechanistic insight that is uniquely suited to predicting shedding risk before fabrics ever reach the market.
Understanding the Materials Science Behind Shedding
Microfiber shedding arises from a combination of interconnected processes—namely localized mechanical damage, progressive fatigue under repeated stress cycles, and gradual thermal or chemical aging of the polymer structure—each of which reflects the textile’s response to the temperature and humidity fluctuations encountered during wear, laundering, tumble-drying, and storage (Wilkinson et al., 2025). These driving forces are not independent; rather, they reinforce each other in ways that can accelerate fiber breakage over time. Recent work has demonstrated that garments with seemingly similar fiber compositions can nonetheless show shedding rates that differ by an order of magnitude, depending on yarn construction, fabric density, finishing chemistry, and the microstructural integrity imparted during processing (De Falco et al., 2019). These variations, which are often invisible to the naked eye, ultimately trace back to differences in polymer transitions, thermal stability, and degradation pathways—properties that thermal analytical techniques can quantify with exceptional clarity.
Thermal Techniques as Predictive Tools
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA) each illuminate different aspects of polymer behavior, and when used together, they create a multidimensional portrait of a textile’s long-term stability. DSC, for example, provides detailed information on glass transition temperatures, melting transitions and crystallinity, enabling engineers to determine whether fibers will remain ductile or become brittle within the temperature range typical of domestic laundering. For polyester, polyamide, and other thermoplastic fibers, a glass transition temperature that lies close to washing or drying temperatures means the material oscillates between glassy and rubbery states with every laundering cycle, a fluctuation that accelerates fatigue and makes surface fibers more vulnerable to breakage (Wilkinson et al., 2025).
TGA offers insight into the multi-step degradation behavior of textiles by identifying the temperatures at which finishes, binders, elastane components, and other additives begin to decompose. Since these components contribute significantly to interfiber cohesion and abrasion resistance, premature thermal degradation can weaken the structure long before mechanical failure is visible. TMA, in turn, maps the temperature-dependent stiffness and damping behavior of the fibers, capturing the subtle softening or stiffening transitions that often precede fiber detachment. Together, these thermal techniques allow researchers to anticipate when a textile will become mechanically vulnerable, rather than discovering this only after shedding has occurred.
Practical Implementation in Textile R&D
For R&D teams, integrating thermal analysis into microfiber mitigation strategies enables more informed decisions across several stages of product development. Material selection can be improved by choosing polymer grades whose thermal transitions do not coincide with the stresses experienced during washing. TGA can confirm whether functional finishes degrade prematurely, helping ensure that protective coatings maintain their integrity throughout the garment’s life. Manufacturing processes, particularly drawing, heat-setting, and relaxation, can be optimized by tracking how these steps shift thermal transitions and linking these changes to abrasion and pilling behavior. Recycled and bio-based fibers, which often undergo substantial thermal stress during reprocessing, can be screened to avoid over-degraded lots that are more prone to fragmentation (Wilkinson et al., 2025). Furthermore, thermal analysis can serve as a quality-control tool that helps maintain shedding-relevant properties within defined limits across suppliers and batches.
Conclusion
Thermal analysis creates a crucial bridge between the internal structure of textile polymers and their long-term environmental performance. By offering detailed insight into how fibers respond to temperature, humidity, and time, techniques such as DSC, TGA, and TMA enable the textile industry to shift from reactive measurement of microfiber release toward proactive design of materials that are inherently less prone to shedding. While predictive models continue to evolve and must be calibrated for specific materials and test conditions, the accumulated evidence makes clear that combining thermal techniques with mechanical and laundering tests provides a robust framework for designing more durable, low-shedding textiles. In doing so, it supports both the industry’s performance objectives and its environmental commitments, ensuring that garments maintain their integrity while contributing less to the global burden of microplastic pollution.
References
De Falco, F., Di Pace, E., Cocca, M. and Avella, M. (2019) ‘The contribution of washing processes of synthetic clothes to microplastic pollution’, Scientific Reports, 9, 6633. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-43023-x
Hernandez, E., Nowack, B. and Mitrano, D.M. (2020) ‘Effect of age on microfibre release from polyester and cotton garments’, Environmental Pollution, 266, 115226.
Lant, N.J., Hayward, A.S., Peththawadu, M.M., Sheridan, K.J. and Dean, J.R. (2020) ‘Microfiber release from real soiled consumer laundry and the impact of fabric care products and washing conditions’, PLOS ONE, 15(6), e0233332. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0233332
Wilkinson, J., Willemse, M. and Silva, L. (2025) ‘Critical review on microfiber release from textiles: Sources, influencing factors, detection methods, and reduction strategies’, Chemosphere, 367, 143376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144394
