Design of polyester-elastane-cotton plated knitted components for hot and dry environment

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to optimize the linear densities of polyester yarn and filament for inner layer and elastane for middle layer with cotton yarn outer layer in plain knitted plated structure for hot and dry environment clothing.

Design/methodology/approach

Three levels of polyester yarn linear densities (11.1, 8.4 and 5.6 Tex), filament linear densities (0.8, 1.55 and 2.3 Decitex) and elastane (0, 4 and 8 percent) with 14.75 Tex cotton yarn have been used to knit 15 single jersey plated fabrics based on Box and Benhens experimental design with same loop length. Three cotton–elastane core-spun fabrics were also produced. All the fabrics were analyzed for moisture and ergonomic comfort properties and wet fabric coefficient of friction.

Findings

The increase in elastane content and yarn linear density decreases water vapor and air permeability; the increase in filament linear density decreases wicking rate and water absorbency. The optimum solution is 5.55 Tex polyester yarn of 0.8 Decitex filament as inner layer and 14.75 Tex cotton yarn as outer layer which gives good heat and moisture transfer without stickiness.

Research limitations/implications

The implication of this paper is to study thinner polyester, polypropylene and polyethylene fabrics with more micro pores as skin contact layer for quicker heat and moisture transfer.

Practical implications

Outward wickability of sweat from the skin is the prime requirement of all skin contact layer fabrics.

Social implications

It shifts the social attitude of most comfortable fabric to polyester–cotton plated for hot and dry climate.

Originality/value

This paper employs a more practical method for the selection of fabric.

Citation

Ramakrishnan, V. and Jagannathan, S. (2018), "Design of polyester-elastane-cotton plated knitted components for hot and dry environment", International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, Vol. 30 No. 5, pp. 657-667. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCST-10-2017-0155