Investigation On Dimensional Stability And Comfort Peoperties Of Modal Knitted Fabric

As a green and renewable resource, Modal knitted fabric exhibits unique charm. It has not only moisture permeability of natural fiber, but also strength and elongation of synthetic fiber. By spinning and knitting, fabric shows smooth, breathable, good drapability and dyeing properties, luster like silk, and other advantages. However, Modal knitted fabric is extremely easy for pilling and deformation during the processing, due to influences of internal and external factors. This paper aims to study the dimensional stability of Modal knitted fabric, respectively from finishing and heat setting process, and spandex content, relaxation process, equilibrium time, thermal and moisture comfort, analyze the differences among the factors influencing the dimensional stability, and give others to reference.The effects of different finishing and related factors on the shrinking rate of Modal and blended knitted fabrics were explored by experiment and variance analysis.Heat setting was used to process three kinds of knitted fabrics including pure Modal and blended knitted fabrics through orthogonal experiment. The longitudinal and transverse shrinkage rates of the fabrics after washing were tested to optimize heat setting process.The interweaving of Modal fiber and spandex caused that the shrinkage rate was significantly improved, plating of spandex can reduce the fabric shrinkage. Fabric shrinkage change caused by different spandex content and interwoving with Modal fiber was measured.The experiment investigated the effect of relaxation process and equilibrium time on the shrinkage rate of Modal knitted fabrics, and T-test was used to analyze if there is a significant difference among different relaxation process of fabric. The relations between equilibrium time and shrinkage rate stability of the three kinds of knitted fabrics were analyzed.Finally, thermal and moisture comfort of Modal knitted fabrics and blended interwoven fabric were tested according to its hygroscopicity, moisture permeability, air permeability and capillary effect, and the comfort properties of fabric were evaluated to understand further wearing comfort of Modal knitted fabric.