Abstract
Newly designed knits of highly eco-friendly peat fibers and their combination with widely used cotton and wool fibers have been analyzed in this study. The present investigation is focused on the thermal and mechanical properties of weft knits made of peat fiber yarns and their combinations (in various percentages) with other natural fiber yarns, such as cotton and woolen yarns, as well as with elastomeric yarn, as newly developed knits are designed for clothing. It was found that newly developed knitted fabrics with peat fibers have an optimal structure for use. The renewable peat fiber yarns, spun from two kinds of natural cellulose fibers – decomposed Eriophorum vaginatum (cotton grass) sedge stems and cotton – have intermediate strength and elongation values between cotton and flax yarns, and thus are fit for knitting. All the newly designed knitted fabrics have high abrasion resistance and can be used for clothing manufacture. It was found that the nature of the yarn’s raw material and the number of different yarns in one stitch influence the heat transfer dynamic. The heat transfer dynamic through the peat fiber knit is slower than that through the cotton fabric, but it is faster than through the woolen fabric. When the heat transfer process through knitted fabric is faster, this structure may be recommended for warmer seasons.
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