Effect of weave structure and yarn fineness on the coolness and thermal-wet comfort properties of woven fabric

Abstract

It is difficult to meet the needs of multi-functional comfortable fabric through the single functional fibers on the market. The aim of this work was to develop a kind of summer comfortable woven fabric with coolness through the combination of different functional fibers. Blended yarn of bamboo and polyester with grooves was chosen as the warp yarn, which was responsible for moisture absorption and transportation. Nylon filament with a cross-section and fine-denier polyester filament was chosen to twist reversely as a composite weft yarn to provide the coolness function and moisture conduction for fabric. As a comparative weft yarn, polyethylene was chosen as another type of weft yarn. Twelve samples were prepared containing three structures. The effects of fabric structure, weft yarn composition and fineness on the coolness and thermal-wet comfort were evaluated and investigated, including thermal-physiological comfort properties, moisture management properties, the wicking effect and the drying performance. The result showed that the weave structure, weft yarn composition and fineness had a significant influence on the coolness and thermal-wet comfort properties. Fabric woven with plain weave structure contributed to heat dissipation and dynamic coolness. The float yarn in the 2/1 twill and mesh structure was beneficial to promote water transportation vertically. The results also suggested that polyethylene yarn was preferred for coolness fabric, but the liquid moisture management and drying performance of polyethylene fabric should be further improved.