Selection of Optimum Fiber Properties for Cotton Knits

Abstract

The effects of fiber fineness, strength, and length on the properties of cotton and cotton/polyester blend knitting yarns and knitted fabrics were determined. Five cottons ranging from 3.9 to 5.2 in Micronaire reading, 38.1 g/tex to 48.1 g/tex in strength, and 31/32-in. to 1 1/8-in. staple length were evaluated. Yarns spun from a fine, medium-staple-length cotton were the most uniform, had the fewest imperfections, and compared favorably strengthwise with those spun from the strongest cotton. Differences in fiber properties had no significant effect on fabric abrasion or shrinkage resistance. However, fabrics produced from the high-strength cotton were the strongest both in the grey state and after resin finishing. Blending of 20% to 40% regular-tenacity polyester fiber with cotton reduced yarn strength, whereas similar blends using high-tenacity polyester resulted in increased yarn strength. Fabrics produced from the cotton/polyester blends generally had better abrasion resistance, less shrinkage, and smaller strength losses after resin treatment than the all-cotton fabrics.

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References

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