Development and evaluation of 3D knitted fabrics to protect against mechanical risk

Abstract

In this research, eight different 3D weft-knitted fabrics were developed and evaluated. 3D fabrics have been knitted on circular weft-knitting machines with two different gauges: 20E gauge and 28E gauge. Three different raw materials were used for the fabric’s production: high molecular mass polyethylene (HPPE) yarn and 0.05 mm diameter steel wire in the outer layers (for the front and reverse) and polyamide yarn in the binding layer. The experiments were conducted on the developed 3D knitted fabrics to determine the fabric’s resistance to mechanical risks such as circular blade cut, puncture, abrasion, and also to evaluate the comfort parameter, such as air permeability. It was defined that 3D weft-knitted fabrics best results on tests: circular blade cut, puncture and abrasion resistant were achieved using HPPE yarn twisted with steel wire, higher mass per unit area with more significant amount of steel wire. According to the standard EN 388:2003, three samples of developed 3D weft-knitted fabrics had the highest 5th blade cut and the highest (4th) abrasion resistance level. All of them had the highest (4th) level of puncture resistance. 3D fabrics knitted on a circular weft-knitting machine of gauge 28E ensured 1.3–2.1 times greater blade cut and 4.9–12.1 times greater abrasion resistance result, than fabrics knitted on gauge 20E, due to a higher stitch density, higher mass per unit area, density and fabric’s thickness. But on the other hand, these parameters lowered air permeability by 20.2–43.0%.

Three-Dimensional (3D) Textiles in Architecture and Fashion Design: a Brief Overview of the Opportunities and Limits in Current Practice

“…Garments protecting against mechanical injuries are manufactured from yarn characterised by very high resistance to cuts but with low comfort in working conditions [20]. 3D knitted fabrics can combine high level of comfort and mechanical behaviour [21,22]. The research project developed by the German Institute for textile and fibre research Dekendorf (DIFT) is investigating the development of body protection systems also for everyday life or for leisure activities.…”

Cutting resistance of flexible armour using multiple layers of triaxial kevlar fabric

“…3 D fabrics, knitted on a circular weftknitting machine, ensure 1.3-2.1 times greater blade cut and 4.9-12.1 times greater abrasion resistance than the fabrics of the same composition that are knitted on a circular weft-knitting machine. This is due to a higher stitch density, higher mass per unit area, density, and thickness [16]. The yarns used may be pure highperformance fibers, special organic fibers such as para aramids, high molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE), and inorganic fibers like S2 glass for better effect on the material cut resistance behavior [17][18][19].…”

Effect of curing conditions on the cutting resistance of fabrics coated with inorganic-powder-reinforced epoxy composite

“…Advanced technologies for resisting knife stabs include metal ring meshes, exible rigid metal or ceramic element arrays, or thermoplastic-coated fabrics. 3 Several layers of conventional ballistic fabrics, fabrics that contain hardened metal wires, 4 high-performance bers, 4,5 or specially knitted fabrics, 5,6 can provide reasonable protection against slashing. The use of multiple layers of the above fabrics is well known as one of most effective ways to protect against slashing.…”

“…Slash protection can be achieved by using numerous textile structures through several appropriate methods, such as combining bers, 7 designing structures, 6 and nishing. 8 Highperformance bers, including ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene 4 and Kevlar, 4,5,8 are mainly utilized to manufacture fabrics through designing special dense structures, such as triaxial woven, 9 3D knitted 4,6 and 3D woven 10 structures, for cut protection. In contrast to the use of multiple layers of traditional fabrics, the use of the above fabrics can improve comfort characteristics, such as movement exibility and breathability.…”