Pashmina Fiber Blended Woven Fabrics for High Functional Performances

Abstract

ABSTRACT A study was conducted to develop Pashmina blended woven fabrics to enhance their functional properties by chemical processing. The samples were prepared from Pashmina, wool and nylon fibers in five blends: T1 (60:0:40); T2 (45:15:40); T3 (30:30:40); T4 (15:45:40) and T5 (0:60:40). Each blend was subjected to spun yarns of three different linear densities 246, 164, and 123 dtex. These yarns were utilized as a filling thread to form 15 different fabric samples keeping warp linear density 168.6 dtex common among all samples. All fabric samples were gently treated with HCl to dissolve nylon fiber and keep only Pashmina and wool natural protein fibers. Different functional properties were tested, including moisture management potential, water vapor transmittance, ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), porosity, and luster. Among all samples, the linear yarn density significantly affected the UPF of fabric samples. The yarn evenness increases by increasing the wool content with pashmina fiber and increases by decreasing the yarn decitex. The Lusture index of fabric increases by increasing the pashmina fibre content. The porosity of the fabric sample increases by increasing the wool fibre content and yarn fineness (dtext). The fabric made of 246 dtex in weft exhibited a maximum UPF of 40. The highest value of the overall moisture management coefficient (OMMC) was attained by sample T148. The fabric samples made of 246 dtex exhibited better functionalities than 164 and 123 dtex. The water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) increases by increasing the wool content and weft yarn fineness.