Compression of Plain Knitted Fabrics Predicted from Yam Properties and Fabric Geometry

Abstract

This work proposes a simple theoretical model for plain knitted fabric compression. The work assumes that plain knit compression can be obtained from a combination of piled layer (PL) yarn compression and single layer (SL) yarn compression with a contribution factor depending on the fabric geometry. Experiments involve compression of plain knitted fabrics made from 2/19 and 2/29 tex cotton and 2/43 tex cashmere yams and their compression properties. The relation between compressional energy and cover factor is also investigated. A comparison of the experimental pressure-displacement curves of the fabrics and those calcu lated based on the theoretical model using the experimental compression data of the yarns shows that the model is acceptable for explaining plain knit compression. This model can be considered as a basic step toward improving the knowledge of knitted fabric compression as it relates to yarn compression and fabric geometry.