Factors Affecting the Functional- and Comfort-related Properties of Reactive Dyed Cotton Knits

Abstract

In this study, three different reactive dyed single jersey cotton knits produced from different yarn counts, i.e., Ne 20/1, Ne 24/1, and Ne 30/1 were selected for studying the impact of functional finishes, i.e., soft, bio-antibacterial, and water-repellent, on their performance and comfort-properties. It was found that the variation in the evaluated properties is very much dependent on the yarn count as well as on the type and concentration of the finishing agent. An improvement in pilling levels and tactile properties, i.e., smoothness and softness, as well as in comfort properties, i.e., heat transmittance, air permeability as well as water-absorption, is achieved by the bio-treatment. An enhancement in dimensional stability, pilling levels, bursting strength, tactile properties along with a reasonable improvement in antibacterial efficiency is obtained by soft-finishing, taking in consideration its tendency to entrap heat and air inside the fabric structure. The same holds true for water-repellent treatment, in addition to its outstanding water-repellency the antibacterial finish imparts superior antibacterial activity to the fabrics with marginal or little effect on other properties.

Chitosan hydrogel‐coated cotton fabric: Antibacterial, pH‐responsiveness, and physical properties

“…Air permeability is the property of the fabric to allow the air to pass through under the effect of a difference in pressure. It is mainly dependent on several factors, such as, thickness and porosity …”

The Influences of Loop Length and Raw Material on Bursting Strength Air Permeability and Physical Characteristics of Single Jersey Knitted Fabrics

“…Today, the production of high performance knitted goods has been expanded by changing the fibers, yarns, and knitting parameters to create new fabric designs as well as by the appropriate selection of post-knitting finishes to produce multifunctional knitwear, e.g., sportswear, high-tech active-wear, casual-wear, swimwear, outerwear, etc., with outstanding features, such as soft and smooth handle, air permeability, strength etc. [1]. The revolution in the fashion knitwear industry has become inevitable due to the frequent changes in fashion trends, leading to the production of knitted apparels using different yarn types, fabric types, designs and style variations.…”

Evaluation of Functional and Comfort Properties of SA/TDI/PEG1000 Adduct Treated Cotton/ Polyester Blended Fabric

“…It is obvious that increasing the adduct concentration in the finishing bath is accompanied by: i) an increasing in fabric weight, tensile strength, stiffness, water vapor resistance and thermal resistance of treated fabric, ii) a reduction in resiliency, surface roughness and air permeability of treated fabric, and iii) an enhancement in the water repellency and antibacterial properties of treated fabric. The variation in extents of such properties is related to the formation of a hydrophobic film onto fabric structure that: i) lowers the surface energy and consequently the tendency of treated fabric to be wetted (2,33) , ii) increases the smoothness of treated fabric as a result of the inclusion of SA as well as PEG 1000 onto the fabric structure that impart lubrication to fibers and yarns of treated fabric (32) , iii) forms a barrier against the bacterial growth, and iv) resists air penetration as well as water vapor transmission through the fabric structure and thereby enhances the thermal insulation of treated fabric (2) ; the higher the adduct concentration, the higher the deposition and fixation of its ingredients onto the fabric structure and consequently the more is the alteration in extents of such properties of treated fabric. Furthermore, the enhancement in tensile strength along with the reduction in resiliency of finished fabric may be explained by the progressive consumption of some DMDHEU in binding the adduct ingredients to the cellulosic regions of treated fabric through the labile hydrogen of terminal hydroxyl groups or urethane groups as represented from the following equations (2,7,8,10) : (10) 13 (8) Fabric finishing conditions: The fabric is padded in finishing bath containing 60 g/l of DMDHEU, 6 g/l of ammonium sulphate, 40 g/l of adduct emulsion and 30 g/l of the nano particles stock solutions to a wet pick up of 100 %; drying temperature, 100 O C/3 min; curing temperature, 160 O C/3 min.…”