Multi-response optimization of woven fabric tensile strength and breaking elongation using Taguchi method and grey relational analysis

Abstract

In this paper, tensile strength and breaking elongation of cotton woven fabric has been experimented in relation to certain loom parameters. In manufacturing process of fabric with plain weave structure, there are 5 parameters with 3 level each used. The sample fabrics are produced in the air jet loom machine. The parameters used as controllable factor are weft yarn count, weft density, air pressure, warp tension, and loom speed (rpm). The experiments are conducted according to Taguchi’s experimental design using L18 orthogonal array, combined with Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) to optimize the four responses. Considering signal to noise ratio, using analysis of variance (ANOVA) it is found that weft yarn count and weft density have significant effects toward the tensile strength and breaking elongation of cotton woven fabric in both warp-way and weft-way directions. Meanwhile, the warp tension factor only significantly affects the warp-way breaking elongation. The experimental results show that the optimized condition is found to be Ne 30 type of weft yarn count, 70 ppi of weft density, 5 bar of air pressure, 2.0 kN of warp tension, and 450 rpm of loom speed. The optimum value of the tensile strength (28.38 kg for warp-way and 24.06 kg for weft-way) and breaking elongation (18.27% for warp-way and 8.69% for weft-way) are all above the specified minimum requirements.