Seam Performance of Nonwoven Apparel Fabrics

Abstract

Nonwoven fabrics have limited usage as durable apparel fabrics. Their relatively lower drape, mechanical properties and flexibility decrease their chance to be used as apparel fabrics. However, in the last decades, there are attempts to improve the nonwoven fabric properties in order to seize an opportunity for their use in durable apparel applications. At this point, usage of bicomponent fiber technology together with hydro-entanglement fixation method was found beneficial. In addition to the fabric properties, the suitability of nonwoven fabric for durable seams are quite important for their usability as apparel fabrics. Therefore, in this study, seam performance of nonwoven apparel fabrics made up of polyester: polyamide bicomponent fibers have been determined in order to reveal their usability for durable applications. For this purpose, nonwoven fabrics with 3 different unit masses were utilized. In order to mimic the seams of woven garments, nonwoven samples were sewn with lock stitch with 3 different stitch lengths. Results of the study showed that, unit mass was not a determinative factor for the seam performance of selected nonwoven samples. Also, it was inferred from the study that, sufficient seam strength and seam efficiency values could be obtained by using lower stitch lengths.