Effect of process parameters of viscose air–jet yarns on physical and mechanical properties of weft knitted fabrics

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of process parameters of viscose air-jet yarns produced by the Autoairo yarn spinning machine on the physical and mechanical properties of yarns and their influence on the properties of single jersey weft knitted fabrics. Design/methodology/approach The yarn count in this study was 19.68 tex and the gauge of single jersey weft knitting machine was 24. The process parameters were the spinning draft, delivery speed and nozzle air pressure. The yarn samples were evaluated based on yarn irregularity and imperfections, as well as hairiness and tensile properties. The pilling, bursting strength, drape coefficient, shrinkage, air permeability and dyeability of single jersey weft knitted samples were also evaluated. The Taguchi method was used to design of experiments. Moreover, the effect of independent variables on the physical properties of the yarn was tested statistically at a 95% level of confidence using analysis of variance method. Findings The properties of the yarns evaluated showed that spinning draft and delivery speed can be introduced as two effective parameters on different properties of yarns. Moreover, the pilling of weft-knitted fabrics was affected by yarn parameters i.e. spinning draft and delivery speed statistically at a 95% confidence level. Originality/value In this experimental study, the structural characteristics of air jet yarns produced by the Autoairo11(Saurer Group) machine and the physical and mechanical properties of weft-knitted fabrics were analyzed by the authors. The literature review did not reveal any experimental work that evaluates these process parameters of yarn spinning integrated and its effect on a wide range of properties of weft-knitted fabrics.