Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
Antibacterial efficacy and wearing comfort have recently become particular concerns in the activewear and sportswear market for consumers. Meryl skinlife, which is an antibacterial polyamide fiber due to the silver particles in its content, has been increasingly used in the textile industry, and it is mostly preferred for seamless garments that are especially used for activewear and sportswear. From this point of view, in this study fabrics made of Meryl skinlife fibers were investigated in terms of some water-related comfort properties by comparing their performance with that of their counterparts made of conventional polyamide fibers. Also, the effects of Lycra incorporation into the fabric structure and fiber type as well as antibacterial finishing treatments were examined on the wicking ability and comfort performance of the fabric samples. The vertical wicking capacity, transfer wicking, drying rate, and water vapor permeability tests were conducted on the fabric samples and the results of these tests were statistically analyzed using the Minitab and SPSS statistical package programs. The results showed that Lycra incorporation into the fabric structure was found to be the dominant factor for all of the investigated water-related comfort tests except for transfer wicking, while application of the finishing treatments was found to be the dominant factor for all of the investigated comfort-related tests. However, the fiber type was found influential on none of the comfort-related tests conducted in this study. Finally, the hybrid analytic hierarchy process-TOPSIS method was used to determine the best fabric alternative for activewear and sportswear, and it was found that SLN fabrics were the best choice.
Highlights
Fabric preference for clothing is an important parameter to achieve thermal comfort, since the fabric acts as an interface allowing perspiration and body heat transmission from the skin to the environment by controlling the body temperature regulation and change in the skin temperature
The vertical wicking capacity values of the fabric samples made of Meryl skinlife fiber were found to be slightly higher than those made of conventional polyamide fiber (see Figure 2(a))
The paired t-test showed that the difference between the vertical wicking capacity values of the fabric samples made of these fibers was not statistically significant (t = −3.556 sig. 0.786)
Summary
Fabric preference for clothing is an important parameter to achieve thermal comfort, since the fabric acts as an interface allowing perspiration and body heat transmission from the skin to the environment by controlling the body temperature regulation and change in the skin temperature. Sportswear has a significant influence on the performance of the wearer, fibers having the moisture management ability are preferred for clothing to eliminate the excessive wetness and carry the heat away from the body, which is very important for activewear and sportswear clothing.[1] With significant developments in the sportswear and activewear market, the awareness of consumers toward high level of comfort, easy-to-move, as well as easy-care has increased and immediate removal of sweat and water vapor from the body to the atmosphere has become the main point. Some novel fibers with modified structures, that is, hollow structures, modified cross-sections, and so on have been produced. Such types of properties can be provided with the chemicals, that is, different wicking finishing agents applied. Some scholars have been investigating the performance of the surface modifications and the wicking treatments on the mentioned properties.[2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
