Abstract:
Moisture transportation through fabrics is one of the
important parameters which affect clothing comfort.
The combination of different factors which include
fiber, yarn and fabric structure will yield varying
degrees of clothing comfort. This research work
concentrated on the use of viscose fibers spun on the
vortex spinning system. Six knitted fabric samples
were produced and tested for moisture transportation
characteristics, which included air and water moisture
permeability.
better abrasion resistance of yarns aids better running
properties during knitting. While vortex spinning
produces yarn of favorable properties at competitive
cost, the selection of the fiber used to make the yarn
is important. Being among the oldest regenerated
cellulosic fibers, viscose fiber is more absorbent
when compared to cotton. Therefore it can be used
for the production of garments where absorption of
perspiration from the human skin is paramount.
Hydrophilic fibers like viscose can absorb liquids
into the fiber structure thus preventing the spread of
liquids, including sweat, along the fabrics. These
liquids can be wicked away from the skin through the
fabric to the outside where they evaporate, thereby
keeping the body cool. Therefore a combination of
viscose fiber, which is hydrophilic in nature, vortex
spinning, which can be used to manufacture yarn of
unique properties, and knitting, a fabric formation
system which produces fabric with unique porosity
and thickness properties, could produces fabrics with
unique moisture transportation properties.
The results indicate that all structures had high
wicking levels in the wale than in the course direction.
Similarly, all fabrics had poor drying abilities, but
good water vapor permeability. There was a good
correlation between air permeability and water vapor
permeability of the fabrics. This was attributed to the
fiber in the yarn not the fabric structure.
