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Trial Number 4

Client Number 527

Project Number 1

Trial Purpose:

To re-test the efficacy of the best performing reformulation (4% enzyme mix) in comparison to the efficacy of the baseline product on removing clay from polyester at 105-125F

Date Run:

05/05/2025

Experiment Procedure:

Prep:  20 total 5x5 inch blue polyester fabric swatches were used for testing (10 per cleaner).  Each fabric swatch was measured for reflectance, redness/greenness, and yellowness/blueness with a colorimeter 5 times in 3 separate areas (0.5x0.5) where the fabric would eventually be stained.  The three areas were treated as individual coupons.  The 5 measurements for each area were averaged together and used as the representative measurements of the specified area/coupon.  Each area was stained with the clay and left to air dry for 24 hours.  Colorimeter measurements of each stain were then recorded. 

Washing procedure:  The fabric swatches were washed in a washing machine with 45 mL of Liquid Laundry Detergent and 6.5 gallons of water on a normal washing cycle set for a medium load.  The water used has a water hardness level of 63 PPM mg/L.  The washing cycle consisted of a wash step (~12 mins), a rinse step (~14 mins), and a spin step (~5 mins).  The fabric swatches were washed heated with a temperature range of 105F-125F in their respective cleaners.  The fabric swatches were then left to air dry.  After drying, the colorimeter was used to re measure the 3 staining areas on each fabric swatch.

Analysis:

Detergency:  Unadjusted measure of the percentage the cleaned fabric was returned to its original state (uses only L values/measures of lightness)

% Detergency= 100X((Lclean-Ldirty)/(Linitial-Ldirty))

Where:

L=reflectance (0 black - 100 White)

Trial Results:

Cleaner L Initial L Dirty  L Clean % DET AVG % DET 
MS LLD 59.84 85.86 60.29 98.3 98.59%
59.72 85.74 60.05 98.73
59.78 85.1 60.1 98.74
59.97 85.4 60.29 98.74
60.12 85.92 60.43 98.8
59.99 85.78 60.34 98.64
59.87 83.08 60.18 98.66
60.22 84.16 60.47 98.96
59.68 85.96 60.14 98.25
59.9 85.98 60.4 98.1
Chemtrax 4% enzyme mix 59.92 85.97 60.3 98.54 98.63%
59.66 85.82 60.1 98.32
59.83 86.16 60.29 98.25
59.75 86.03 60.23 98.17
59.89 85.6 60.27 98.52
60.07 86.05 60.35 98.92
60.02 85.9 60.23 99.19
59.96 84.29 60.28 98.68
59.93 85.46 60.12 99.26
59.77 85.95 60.18 98.43

Success Rating:

Results successful using TACT (time, agitation, concentration, and temperature, as well as rinsing and drying) and/or other cleaning chemistries examined.

Conclusion:

On average the Chemtrax 4% enzyme mix performs better than the MS LLD in removing clay from polyester with the utilization of heat.

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