The main reasons for cotton socks pilling include the following aspects:
Material factors. The fabric of cotton socks is usually composed of a single fiber or multiple fibers (such as synthetic fibers). Natural cotton fibers are shorter and more prone to breakage, while synthetic fibers such as polyester are less prone to breakage. When cotton fibers break due to friction during wear, shorter fibers will form a spherical shape, known as pilling.
Wearing habits. Long term wear and repeated friction can cause wear on the surface of cotton sock fibers, resulting in the formation of spherical fibers.
Washing method. Incorrect washing methods, such as forceful scrubbing, may cause fiber breakage and pilling.
Fiber length and fineness. The shorter and finer the fiber, the easier it is for friction to cause pilling.
The characteristics of contact with objects. Contact with objects of different materials, such as the roughness of the inner wall of shoes, can also affect the degree of pilling.
In addition, the pilling degree of cotton socks is also related to the cotton content, and usually socks with higher cotton content are more prone to pilling.