P. Senthilkumar

Analysis of comfort and moisture management properties of polyester/milkweed blended plated knitted fabrics for active wear applications:

The search for sustainable renewable source of fibre is the need of the hour for the textile industry. In this aspect, milkweed fibres are considered to be one of the potential fibre crops. Plated knit fabrics are designed and engineered with correct selection of fibre and yarn constituents in the distinct bottom and top layer (next to sin) can serve well for next-to-skin applications. In this research work, the potential application of milkweed/polyester plated knitted fabrics for next-to-skin end uses were analysed by changing the inner and outer layers of plated fabrics and with different polyester/milkweed blend proportion. From the results of various moisture management indices of plated knitted fabrics, it is observed that except polyester/polyester and polyester/60% milkweed samples, which are exhibited as water penetration fabric, all other samples are showed as moisture management fabric. The hydrophobic fibre (polyester) in the top layer and hydrophilic fibres (milkweed) in the bottom layer exhibits higher bottom absorption rate, bottom spreading speed and one-way liquid transport leading to higher overall moisture management index. By considering the moisture management indices and grades of various samples, it could be observed that the plated fabric made from 40% milkweed/polyester could be an efficient moisture management fabric when used in either-way compared with other fabrics. One-way analysis of variance carried out at 95% 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 one-way transport capacity and overall moisture management capacity was found to be positively and linearly related to each other.

Optimization of spinning parameters influencing the characteristics of structurally modified viscose yarn

Yarn structure influences the configuration of the constituent fibers in the yarn and the comfort properties of the fabrics to a great extent. The fiber arrangement in the yarn has a major influence on the comfort-related properties such as thermal conductivity, air permeability, wickability, and moisture vapor permeability. This study dealt with the influence of process and material variables namely, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) proportion, twist multiplier (TM), and spindle speed on microporous viscose yarn properties. Three-variable three-factor Box and Behnken method was used to investigate the individual and interaction effects of selected variables on yarn properties. The selected variables have a significant influence on all the yarn properties. The increase in PVA%, spindle speed, and TM reduces the specific volume and wickability of yarns and increases the tenacity and packing factor of yarns before dissolving the PVA fibers. With increase in spindle speed and TM, same trend was noticed after dissolving the PVA also. But the trend reverses with increase in PVA percentage after dissolution of PVA fiber. The increase in PVA percentage increases the specific volume and wickability of yarns and decreases the tenacity and packing factor of yarns after dissolution of PVA fiber. The optimized process parameters were obtained, and yarn was spun with the optimized parameters to validate the model.

Study on moisture management properties of Micro-Pore Ring-Spun Viscose Yarn-plated knitted fabrics

Abstract Moisture management properties decide the comfort level of the fabric. The most important characteristics of a knitted structure to be used in next to-skin applications are concerned with two different fabric layers namely the separation and absorption layers. The present study attempts to study the moisture management properties of plated knitted fabrics developed from structurally modified Micro-Pore Ring-Spun Viscose Yarn (hydrophilic) as the outer layer and polypropylene (hydrophobic) yarn as the inner layer of fabric. The structurally modified Micro-Pore Ring Spun Viscose Yarn (MPRSVY) was produced by blending Viscose (V)/PVA (Poly-Vinyl Alcohol) fiber in short staple spinning system. PVA is removed by treating the fabric in hot water at a temperature of 900C for 20–30 minutes, followed by cold wash. The study reveals that the fabric plated with Polypropylene (PP)/ Micro-Pore Ring Spun Viscose Yarn (MPRSVY) and Polypropylene (PP)/Viscose (V) exhibits excellent moisture management properties with a higher bottom spreading speed, one way transport index, and overall moisture management capacity. Moisture management properties of PP/MPRSVY and PP/V plated knitted fabrics prove that they can be used to produce active wear fabrics.

Development of tri-layer knitted fabrics for shuttle badminton players:

Thermo-physiological comfort of the fabric is attained through the ability of managing heat and transmission of sensible and insensible perspiration. An investigation on influence of tri-layer knitted structure on thermal comfort characteristics of layered knitted fabrics was carried out. Three tri-layer knitted structures were developed in which inner layer was made up of micro-fibre polyester and outer layer was made up of modal yarn. The yarn used in the middle layer was changed to either micro-fibre polyester or polyester or acrylic yarn. The thermal comfort characteristics such as thermal conductivity, air permeability, water vapour permeability, wicking, moisture absorbency, drying rate and moisture management properties have been analysed. Wear trial was conducted for shuttle badminton players and they were ranked using thermal environment subjective judgement scale. Tri-layer knitted structure with micro-fibre polyester in the inner and middle layer and modal in the outer layer showed better thermal comfort characteristics both by objective evaluation and wear trial method compared to polyester or acrylic in the middle layer and is preferable for shuttle badminton sportswear.

Moisture-management properties of bi-layer knitted fabrics for sportswear:

The comfort of the fabric is attained through transmission of sensible and insensible perspiration. This can be achieved by enhancing the moisture management properties of knitted fabrics. In this article, the moisture management properties of seven bi-layer knitted fabrics were analyzed for active sportswear. Liquid transfer property is the key factor in comfort to be considered in clothing design of sportswear. In support of this aim, bi-layer knitted fabrics with different yarn combinations in the inner layer and outer layer were used. The selected yarn combinations were viscose-polypropylene, modal-polypropylene, viscose-micro fibre polyester, modal-micro fibre polyester, viscose-polyester, modal-polyester and bamboo-polyester for outer and inner layers. The objective fabric test was carried out to find out the moisture management properties of bi-layer knitted fabrics. The results indicate that the micro-fibre polyester (inner layer) and modal (outer layer) bi-layer knitted fabric have better moisture management property because of better wetting time, high wetting radius, good absorption rate and good spreading speed of sweat, and hence provide high level of comfort and can be preferred for active sportswear.

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

Purpose Clothing 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/approach In 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. Findings The 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/value The 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.

Optimization of spinning parameters influencing the hairiness properties of polyester/cotton vortex yarn

The influence of vortex spinning parameters on the hairiness properties of polyester/cotton vortex yarn has been studied. Polyester/cotton yarn of 50:50 blend ratio has been produced in two different counts (Ne 20s and Ne 40s) each with four different spinning parameters (delivery speed, spindle size, feed ratio and nozzle pressure). Experiments are designed with the aid of response surface method. Accordingly, different samples are produced with three levels of each parameter. The hairiness index H and zweigle hairiness have been evaluated from the samples produced with these combinations. It is found that the hairiness index H of both coarser and medium count vortex yarns are influenced by all the spinning parameters considered for this study. Also, zweigle S3 values of both coarser and medium count vortex yarns are influenced by all the four parameters. The interactions of some of the spinning parameters have significant influence on the hairiness index, H of both coarser and medium count vortex yarn. Also, few of the interactions have significant influence on zweigle S3 values of both coarser and medium count vortex yarns.

Functional characteristics of textile fabrics by plasma-nano treatment

Purpose – Any change in physical performance of the fibre corresponds to a change in its molecular structure. Basically polyester is hydrophobic in nature due to the absence of attracting polar groups and the dense packing in its polymeric structure. Due to the dense packing in polymeric structure and lack of hydroxyl groups of polyester it does not absorb water hence breathability is poor. The possibility of using air and oxygen plasma treatments for fibre surface activation to facilitate the improvement of hydrophilicity is attempted and has been improved. The purpose of this paper is to study the possibility of engineering the multifunctional of fabrics. Design/methodology/approach – The treated fabric is evaluated through measuring the ultraviolet protection factor, thermal resistance, and antibacterial activity properties. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy graphs show deposition of nano particles (NPs) of Chitosan, TiO2 and ZnO onto the fibre after washing several time...