Development, investigation and evaluation of smart multifunctional socks

Abstract

The use of a new generation chemical fibers with various functional additives offers new possibilities for the development of advanced (multi)functional textile products. Such compounds as phase change materials (PCMs), metals (like cooper, silver), also natural or chemical insect repellents, FIR emitting ceramic particles and etc. incorporated into fibres’ structure are essential for development of knitted fabrics directly contacting to the skin with effective thermoregulation and such protective properties as: antimicrobial, antistatic, repellence against blood sucking insects. The main parts of socks investigated were knitted in plain plated single jersey pattern. The 3-ply twisted yarns of new structures were used in the outer layer of socks. Yarns were made by using single yarns with PCMs, insect repellent permethrin, ceramic and silver additives containing fibres (Cell Solution® Clima, Cell Solution® Protection, Resistex® Silver). The inner layer of socks was made of polyester (PES) 3-ply twisted yarns with different number of filaments resulted in different structures of socks’ fabric. Based on all obtained thermoregulating and protective characteristics of investigated different knitted fabric structures of socks, the optimal knitted socks were selected. The obtained results of investigations are significant for the development of other knitted fabrics worn next to the skin.

Usage Durability and Comfort Properties of Socks Made from Differently Spun Modal and Micro Modal Yarns

“…In this study, the abrasion resistance was estimated from the number of abrasion rubs to the significant thinning of one component in all the untreated and pretreated sock plain knits tested, where the spun staple yarns wore out and the base of the polyamide multifilament plating yarns remained, as shown in Figure 11 . The polyamide filaments were more difficult to liberate from the fabric structure and were generally considered highly abrasion resistant, while the cotton and modal fibers were moderately abrasion resistant [ 2 , 44 ].…”

“…They consist of the top part, the part that covers the leg (leg part) and the part that covers the foot (foot part). More precisely, the main parts of socks ( Figure 1 ) are the cuff, leg, heel, sole, toe and foot [ 1 , 2 ].…”

“…It is well known that the air, moisture and heat transfer through the garment are the most important factors in clothing comfort [ 19 ]. Socks should provide more comfort than other garments as there is less air circulation in socks and in shoes [ 2 , 33 ]. Air permeability is an important comfort factor for transporting moisture or vapor from the skin.…”

“…The thermal resistance of socks has been measured under steady state conditions using the thermal foot model [ 3 , 16 , 36 ] and the sock-shaped hot plate [ 22 , 23 ]. The thermal resistance of the sock fabrics was measured by a standardized method according to EN ISO 11092:2014 using a sweating guarded hot plate [ 2 , 30 , 37 ]. Since this test requires rectangular seamless samples measuring 510 × 510 mm, the thermal resistance of the sock fabrics was also measured on the smaller knit samples using the Permetest or Alambeta tester (equivalent to ISO 8301:1991) [ 16 , 21 ] and calculated as the quotient of the fabric thickness and thermal conductivity parameters of the sample [ 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”

“…It has been found that the abrasion resistance of socks knitted in a single jersey structure can be increased by a number of measures: the use of yarns with a higher linear density, yarns with a higher twist coefficient and folded yarns, the addition of polyester fibers in blends and the addition of elastic yarns (polyamide or elastane filaments) to the structure [ 4 , 15 , 33 ]. In recent research, highly functional socks were knitted in the plain single jersey pattern in full plating using three-ply and two-ply twisted yarns composed of various high-performance fibers with PCMs, insect repellent, bio-ceramic, silver and carbon additives [ 2 , 37 ]. The use of spiral auxiliary yarns consisting of various combinations of high-performance para-aramid, elastomeric, polyamide, polyester and conventional cotton fibers has also been investigated for the development of abrasion-resistant socks [ 13 ].…”