Laser versus manual whiskering: A comparative study of the chromatic, physical and color fastness properties of denim fabrics

Abstract

Over time, denim fabrics have transformed from being used as hard‐wearing clothing items to being applied in numerous areas of the world as part of fashion, hence the need for environmentally friendly color fading methods. This research presents a comparative analysis of chromatic parameters and physical properties of denim fabric treated with manual and laser whiskering techniques. The key objective is to evaluate differences in surface appearance, color fading effects developed by both treatments. Chromatic parameters were assessed using CIE L *, a *, b * values, chromaticity ( C *), hue angle ( h °) and color strength ( K / S ). Physical properties included dimensional stability in warp and weft directions, and tensile strength. Color fastness was evaluated against washing, rubbing and perspiration. Significant differences were found for K / S , C * and R % values through statistical analysis with one‐way ANOVA, but no significant difference was found for hue angle, CIE L *, a *, b * values, tensile strength, areal density and dimensional stability ( p  > 0.05). The analytical findings revealed that the laser whiskering method produced higher color strength ( K / S ), chromaticity and reflectance values than the manual whiskering method, indicating better color retention and more vivid color characteristics. The laser‐treated fabrics also exhibited slightly higher tensile strength and lower shrinkage%, demonstrating improved dimensional stability. Regarding color fastness, the laser whiskering method showed comparable performance in washing, rubbing and perspiration tests to the manual process. The fabric's areal density remained almost unchanged between the two treatments. The laser whiskering process provided superior fabric performance while maintaining desirable color fading and physical properties.