Many people prioritize comfort, appearance, or durability when selecting fabrics. However, dust capacity is a crucial component that is sometimes disregarded. Certain textiles are more likely than others to gather dust, which can affect the air quality in your home as well as the appearance of your clothing and other textiles.
You can choose fabrics for clothing or your home with greater knowledge if you know what dust capacity means. Dust capacity, put simply, is the ease with which dust particles are drawn to and retained by a fabric. Because of their texture, weave, or static characteristics, some materials naturally gather more dust than others.
For those with allergies, asthma, or dust sensitivity, it’s crucial to know which fabrics have a higher dust capacity. You can reduce dust accumulation and make your home a cleaner, cozier place for your family by selecting the appropriate materials.
What is dust permeability and dust capacity
Dust permeability and dust capacity, two significant characteristics of textile materials, are negative indicators. Both characteristics demonstrate how hygienic tissues are, which has an impact on user comfort and security.
The material’s capacity to allow dust particles to enter the subcoda layer is known as tensibility. Dustness is a measure of the dust’s susceptibility to accumulate. Fabric that is highly polluted in relation to these parameters.
Which fabrics are more resistant to dust
Smooth fibers are less sensitive to dust particles than loose or rough ones. They are simpler to wash and clean, and they are less polluted.
Dust permeability and polimity are dependent on various textile properties:
- the structure of the canvas and the method of weaving interweaving (pore dimensions);
- type of fibers;
- The thickness and density of textiles;
- Electrisability;
- Air conductivity of the material;
- Characteristics of the finish.
Draw and gather more natural fibers in the form of dust. The woolen thread is the most dusty because of its heterogeneous structure. Cotton’s fiber coating allows it to become contaminated. Materials made of silk and linen absorb and hold dust particles poorly. The silkiness of the threads explains this.
Artificial and mixed textiles with a smooth texture are the most resistant to dust and grime. Every type of pile fabric is an effective dust collector, regardless of the fiber content and manufacturing process.
The existence of through pores in the fabrics is what causes dust permeability. Particles of dirt are trapped and accumulated because of the unevenness of the fiber and its mechanical adherence.
Finishing, or the process of impregnating fabrics with different reagents to give them specific properties, is a component of fabric manufacturing technology used to reduce unfavorable factors. Dust resistance, for instance, is crucial when sewing workwear. The material acquires this characteristic when it is being processed with particular compounds. This prevents tiny particles of coal rock, cement dust, and other materials from penetrating the underlayer through work clothes.
It is important to consider the drawbacks of textiles when selecting curtains, upholstery, and clothing. For instance, because of the way they are constructed, bulky, heavy curtains composed of structural fabrics have a tendency to gather a lot of dust. The most popular "dust collectors" in the interior are velvet, lace tulle, and polyester (because of its high electrification). The drawbacks of trendy "French" and "Austrian" curtains are comparable.
We shall take into consideration the dust capacity (Pe) and dust permeability (Ppr) indicators for a few different fabric types as a comparative characteristic:
| Fabric | Density, g / m2 | Porosity, % | Air permeability, g / m3 | Ppr, % | Pe,% |
| Coat | 478 | 88.6 | 19.1 | 0.6 | 27.2 |
| Suit | 314 | 71.7 | 34.7 | 1.6 | 19.4 |
| Dress | 161 | 81.5 | 33.3 | 6.4 | 18.2 |
| Cotton non-woven material | 120 | 78.7 | 27.7 | 0 | 9.4 |
A non-woven canvas is a material that does not pass dust, as the provided table makes evident. Wool is highly electrified and efficiently retains heat due to its low thermal conductivity; however, because of the fiber structure, it also retains dust particles well.
High dustiness fabrics need to be cleaned frequently and could be harmful to people’s health if they trigger allergic reactions.
How to determine the fabric on dustiness and dust permeability
Formulas are used in a laboratory setting to calculate permeability (Pe) and dustproofness (PPR).
A vacuum cleaner is used to suction a specific amount of dust through a sample of fabric during the experiment (the size and composition of the particles have certain indicators). The coefficient is computed based on variations in the sample weight:
The dust amount is indicated by the Pe = 100 T2 / T0 indicators, denoted by the letter G. 1 – selected for the test;. 2, 3
The coefficient that describes dust resistance is computed as follows:
Ppr is equal to m1 /(S f).
M1: dust mass through which the material sample is passed, in grams;
· f — time, seconds; S — sample area, cm2.
To put it simply, the weight gain of the sample following forced contamination is used to calculate dust holding capacity and dust permeability.
| Fabric Type | Dust Capacity |
| Cotton | High due to its soft fibers and static cling, making it prone to holding dust. |
| Wool | Very high as its textured surface easily traps dust particles. |
| Velvet | High due to its dense pile that captures dust within its fibers. |
| Polyester | Moderate because of its synthetic nature, but static can attract dust. |
Knowing which fabrics are more likely to retain dust will help you choose items for your home and wardrobe more wisely. Denser, plusher fabrics—such as velvet, chenille, and other similar materials—attract and retain dust more readily than smoother materials. This occurs as a result of their texture giving dust particles more surface area to adhere to.
It’s worth taking into account materials like leather, silk, or tightly woven cotton that are less likely to collect dust if you have allergies or are sensitive to dust. Because they are less likely to gather dust and are simpler to clean, these materials contribute to the upkeep of a healthier atmosphere.
You can lessen dust accumulation and simplify cleaning in your living areas by choosing fabrics carefully. Considering dust capacity when choosing clothing for everyday use or upholstery for your couch can have a significant impact on cleanliness and comfort.
High dust capacity fabrics are more likely to draw and hold more airborne particles, which increases the likelihood of dust accumulation. Velvet, fleece, and wool are a few examples of materials whose surface and texture inherently attract more dust. The term "dust capacity" refers to a fabric’s ability to retain these particles, which is frequently impacted by factors such as weave, fiber type, and the existence of static electricity. Selecting the proper fabric for clothes or home textiles is made easier when one knows which textiles are more prone to gather dust, especially for individuals who are allergic to certain materials.
