Moisture Management Properties Of Fabrics Research Articles

Moisture management properties of ring vis a vis rotor yarn plated knit structures

The present investigation aims at studying the moisture management properties of polyester-cotton plated fabrics of ring vis a vis rotor yarns. Ring yarn fabrics exhibit higher moisture vapour transmission rate, trans planar wicking, lower wetting time and higher one way transport capacity as compared to rotor yarn fabrics, making the former suitable where body needs to dissipate sweat both in vapour and liquid forms, with respect to fabrics using combination of rotor-spun cotton yarns, which show higher absorbent capacity and would be slow drying with poor one way transport capacity. The study helps us to conclude that yarn spinning system plays an important role in influencing moisture management properties of fabrics intended for next to skin applications.

Analysis of moisture management properties of cotton/milkweed blended rotor yarn fabrics

PurposeClothing must also assist the body’s thermal control function under changing physical loads in such a way that the body’s thermal and moisture management is balanced, and a microclimate is created next to the skin. One of the factors which affect moisture transport in a fabric is a fibre type. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to blend the natural hollow and low density fibre, milkweed, with cotton fibre at different proportions and to analyse and compare the influence of milkweed blend proportion on moisture management properties of rotor yarn fabrics with 100 per cent cotton fabric.Design/methodology/approachIn the present study, cotton/milkweed blended rotor yarns were produced by using S-4 cotton variety and milkweed fibres in three different blend proportions such as cotton/milkweed 80/20, 60/40 and 40/60 along with 100 per cent cotton yarn with yarn count of 20 Ne. The single jersey knitted fabrics were produced with similar constructional parameters and then the fabrics were then scoured, bleached and neutralised as per the standard procedure. The fabrics have been analysed for its various moisture management properties using moisture management tester (MMT) and are statistically analysed.FindingsThe results indicate that, all the C/M blended fabrics have been classified as “moisture management fabric” and 100 per cent cotton fabric has been classified as “Fast absorbing and Quick Drying Fabric”. The overall moisture management capacity of C/M 40/60 fabric is excellent and could be used for summer, active and summer wear applications. One-way ANOVA analysis carried out at 95 per cent confidence level showed that the results are statistically significant. The pair-wise strength and association between various moisture management indices was analysed using Pearson correlation coefficient and observed that OWTC and OMMC was found to be positively and linearly related to each other.Originality/valueThe authors are confident that the cotton/milkweed blended yarns can be used as an inner wear and sportswear applications owing to the higher moisture regain and hollowness of milkweed fibre combined with the low packing density of C/M blended yarns which leads to overall improvement in moisture management properties of fabrics.

Evaluation of thermal, moisture management and sensorial comfort properties of superabsorbent polyacrylate fabrics for the next-to-skin layer in firefighters’ protective clothing

This research investigated the transport properties (such as thermal resistance, water vapor resistance and air permeability), moisture management capacity and sensorial properties of some knitted structures of superabsorbent polyacrylate in order to explore their potential as next-to-skin layers in firefighters’ protective clothing in Australia. Test results using these fabrics were compared with the currently used next-to-skin woven fabric. Three different knitted structures (i.e. jersey, rib and interlock) were selected for the study in addition to the current woven fabric in use by Australian firefighters. It was observed that the knitted fabric samples of superabsorbent polyacrylate retained higher amounts of water compared to the fabric sample currently used in the firefighters’ clothing. However, the woven fabric sample dried at a faster rate. Hence, a blended fabric of polyacrylate with the current Nomex® fabric can help in higher sweat absorption and faster drying. The thermal and water vapor resistance of jersey fabric was the lowest, which may better facilitate the transfer of metabolic heat and vapor to the environment, resulting in better thermal comfort. Furthermore, all the fabric samples showed a low coefficient of friction (∼0.2), which indicated less tactile discomfort if the fabrics are worn as the next-to-skin layer in the firefighters’ clothing. The overall moisture management properties of the fabric samples were rated as fair to good. The findings of this research suggest that the superabsorbent material has the potential to be used in place of the existing next-to-skin layer of firefighters’ protective clothing, with better sweat absorption capacity and thermal comfort.

Investigation on permeability and moisture management properties of different denim fabrics after repeated laundering

The physiological comfort determined by air permeability and moisture management properties of fabrics is influenced by various constructional parameters of the fabric which give woven fabric a porous structure. Evaporation of sweat during wear has the potential to cool the body besides restricting the additional weight of sweat being absorbed by the fabric. In this study, comfort characteristics of denim fabrics with different weft yarn of cotton, polyester and core spun Lycra have been discussed. Effect of enzyme washing and repeated laundering on air permeability, moisture management and drying rate has also been discussed. It was observed that air permeability and water vapour permeability of unwashed denim fabrics with cotton weft yarn are significantly higher than the fabric with polyester and Lycra cotton weft yarns. The wetting time is higher for cotton and Lycra cotton yarn fabrics. One-way transport index is highest for Lycra cotton weft fabrics and lowest for fabrics with polyester weft. Fabrics with polyester weft yarns show highest spreading rate, spreading radius and drying rate due to better wicking and hydrophobic nature of polyester fibres.

Some Studies on the Moisture Management Properties of Cotton and Bamboo Yarn Knitted Fabrics

This paper reports on the moisture management properties of fabrics made from yarns of 100% cotton, 100% bamboo and combination of bamboo and cotton yarns. The fabrics were knitted on a circular knitting machine and scoured before measuring them for moisture management capability, air permeability and water vapour permeability. The results showed that all fabrics have good overall moisture management capability which classified them as water penetration fabric with small spreading area. The fabric consisting of the combination of bamboo and cotton yarns of 83/17 ratio gave the highest air and water vapour permeability.

Effect of blend proportion on moisture management characteristics of bamboo/cotton knitted fabrics

This study reports an investigation of the effect of the blend-ratio of bamboo and cotton fibres on the moisture management properties of single jersey knitted fabrics composed of them. The moisture management properties of the fabrics were measured in SDL-ATLAS moisture management tester. The liquid transport properties of textiles, such as wetting time, maximum moisture absorption rate, maximum wetted radii, spreading speeds, cumulative one-way transport capacity and overall moisture management capacity (OMMC), have been considered and correlated to the blend ratio of bamboo/cotton yarn single jersey knitted fabrics. It was observed that as the bamboo content increased, the wetting time decreased, maximum wetted radius decreased, rate of absorption increased, spreading speed decreased and OMMC decreased.

Moisture management properties of wool/ polyester and wool/bamboo knitted fabrics for the sportswear base layer

This research seeks to investigate liquid moisture management properties of knitted fabrics of different wool/polyester and wool/bamboo blends of different ratios suitable for the base layer of sportswear. The fabrics were knitted in single jersey construction and their moisture management properties were assessed by using the Moisture Management Tester. Blending wool with polyester or wool with bamboo has improved moisture management properties of the fabrics in comparison to 100% wool and 100% bamboo fabrics. Out of nine fabrics studied, five fabrics were classified as moisture management fabrics that are suitable for the base layer of active sportswear.

Moisture Management Tester: A Method to Characterize Fabric Liquid Moisture Management Properties

Fabric liquid moisture transport properties in multidimensions, called moisture management properties, significantly influence human perceptions of moisture sensations. A new method and instrument called the moisture management tester (MMT) is developed to evaluate textile moisture management properties. This new method can be used to quantitatively measure liquid moisture transfer in one step in a fabric in multidirections, where liquid moisture spreads on both surfaces of the fabric and transfers from one surface to the opposite. Ten indexes are introduced to characterize the liquid moisture management properties of fabrics. Eight sets of sportswear are tested with the MMT and the results show that liquid moisture management properties are significantly different for these fabrics. The objective measurements are compared with subjective perceptions of moisture sensations during exercise. A fabric’s one-way-transport capacity and its overall moisture management capacity are significantly correlated with perceptions of clammy and damp sensations with increased exercise time, indicating that subjective perceptions of moisture sensations in sweating such as clammy and damp can be predicted by the measurements of the MMT.