Textile industry is one of the biggest polluters as it produces a great amount of waste. Therefore, we are looking for alternative sources that can replace conventional synthetic materials with various biodegradable ones. The industry is focused on increasing the use of biodegradable yarns, which are less dependent on non-renewable sources, produce lower CO2 emissions and have less impact on our ecosystem.
The purpose of this diploma thesis was to investigate permeability and absorbency properties of fabrics with cotton yarn in warp and different yarns in weft (bamboo viscose, PLA, SPF and cotton), and their influence on comfort properties. The tested specimens were woven in four different weaves (plain weave, basket weave, twill 1/3 and twill 2/2).
Based on the performed measurements, different yarns in weft and weaves used have a high impact on permeability properties. The fabrics with bamboo viscose have the highest and the fabrics with SPF have the lowest air permeability. The fabrics woven in basket weave have the highest and the fabrics in plain weave have the lowest air permeability. The fabrics made from cotton have the highest and the fabrics with PLA have the lowest thermal conductivity. The fabrics woven in twill 2/2 have the highest and the fabrics in plain weave have the lowest thermal conductivity. Permeability properties are also influenced by other parameters, such as the number and size of pores and the porosity of fabrics. Absorbency is greatly influenced by the material used, as the capillary rise measurements in weft direction vary considerably. The fabrics with SPF have the highest and the fabrics made from cotton have the lowest capillary rise in weft direction. The most absorbent fabrics are made in basket weave, followed by twill weaves, whereas plain weave has the lowest absorbency. According to the measurement results, the fabrics with bamboo yarn in weft are very air permeable and thermally conductive, the fabrics with PLA yarn have poor thermal conductivity and are more insulating, the fabrics with SPF yarn in weft have poor air permeability and good heat conductivity. They also absorb a lot of water.
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