Dimensional Stability and 
Shrinkage

Dimensional stability describes the change of dimensions in textile products when they are washed or relaxed. Shrinkage is a type of dimensional change, which reduces the length and width of a fabric. As yarns and fabrics are put under a lot of tension during production, the major cause of shrinkages are the release of stresses and strains introduced in the manufacturing processes. The fabric relieves tension when it gets washed and dried, resulting in shrinkage. Furthermore, shrinkage can be further induced by conditioning, wetting, steaming, chemical treating or heat processing, as these can cause yarn fibres to swell, resulting in a contraction and shrinkage of the textile as a whole.