Enhancing the Thermal Comfort of Woven Fabrics and Mechanical Properties of Fiber-Reinforced Composites Using Multiple Weave Structures

Abstract

In this study, the different effects of weave structure on the comfort properties of fabrics and the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced composites were investigated. Fabrics were developed using one type of material (flax spun yarn) in the warp direction and three different materials (flax, sisal and cotton spun yarn) in the weft directions. Four different types of weaves (plain, twill, matt and mock leno) were produced in each type of material. Twelve specimens were produced on a sample weaving machine. These fabrics with multiweave combinations give the wearer a comfort zone for sportswear and outdoor applications. These fabrics maintain the temperature of wearers in extreme weather conditions. But these weaves have different effects when interlaced with different types of weft yarns. Air permeability, overall moisture management, stiffness and thermal resistance were investigated for these fabric specimens. The hybrid fabric produced with pure flax warp and weft cotton/sisal exhibited the highest value of air permeability, overall moisture management capability and thermal resistance followed by flax–sisal and flax–flax. The hybrid fabric produced with the mock leno weave also presented a higher value of air permeability compared to the twill, mat and plain weaves. Bending stiffness was observed to be higher in those fabrics produced with flax/sisal compared to pure flax and flax–cotton. The outerwear fabric produced with a blend of flax yarn in the warp and cotton/sisal spun yarn in the weft exhibited improved properties when compared to the fabric produced with flax/sisal and pure flax yarns. In composites, flax/flax showed enhanced mechanical properties, i.e., tensile and flexural strength. In other combinations, the composites with longer weaves possessed prominent mechanical characteristics. The composites with enhanced mechanical properties can be used for window coverings, furniture upholstery and sports equipment. These composites have the potential to be used in automotive applications.

Optimized Cu-doping in ZnO electro-spun nanofibers for enhanced photovoltaic performance in perovskite solar cells and photocatalytic dye degradation

“…Cu-doped ZnO gives a leaching effect in bacterial activity not suitable for photocatalytic activity. 67,68 There is higher vicinity surrounding active material as a result of strong photocatalytic activity; hence bacterial growth was suppressed. As a result, Cu–ZnO showed a wider inhibition zone and a great ability to thwart microbial development.…”

Porous Aerogel Structures as Promising Materials for Photocatalysis, Thermal Insulation Textiles, and Technical Applications: A Review

“…Cellulosic or synthetic fibers are woven or non-woven together to assemble aerogel fabrics. Different synthetic or natural fibers were spun on an industrial scale by a compact melt spinning machine and subsequently processed into nonwoven fabrics on a laboratory-scale needling line, and sound absorption properties of blankets made of silica aerogel/polyester (PET) were examined [134]. The silica aerogel blankets were made by synthesizing silica aerogel on nonwoven fabrics in situ using a two-step tetraethoxysilane sol-gel technique and drying at ambient pressure.…”

Cyclic Thermomechanical Loading of Epoxy Polymer: Modeling with Consideration of Stress Accumulation and Experimental Verification

“…Polymer composites are very useful for making structures like chimneys, gas ducts, tanks, oil pipelines, and more [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. This is possible because of the good combination of strength and weight, the resistance to aggressive substances, and the capability to adjust properties by changing the structure [9][10][11][12][13][14][15].…”