The purpose of this diploma thesis is to explore the comfort and flame-retardant properties of knitted fabrics made from four different materials (cotton, tencel, micromodal, and a blend of polyacrylate, tencel and tairylan) in three different types of double jersey. Knitted fabrics made from conventional materials and knitted fabrics made from a blend of polyacrylate, tencel and tairylan were compared. The blend is a flame-retardant material and could be used to make underwear for firefighters. I compared its permeability properties (air permeability, thermal conductivity, water vapor permeability), wetting and flammability, which also influence the comfort of the clothing. When choosing underwear for firefighters, it is important that the knitted fabric is flame-retardant, has good absorption properties that allow excess moisture and sweat to evaporate, and good thermal conductivity properties that influence thermal comfort.
It has been found that the blend of polyacrylate, tencel and tairylan, which is a flame-retardant material, has low air permeability, the lowest thermal conductivity and low water permeability and that, compared to the other materials used in the experiment – tencel and micromodal – it takes longer to wet. The properties of the knitted fabrics also depend on the weave used. Knitted fabrics with a denser structure have lower permeability properties than knitted fabrics with a looser structure.
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