Moisture and thermal management properties of woven and knitted tri-layer fabrics

Abstract

In this study, bamboo charcoal, lyocell, bamboo and micro polyester yarns have been used to enhance the moisture and thermal management properties of the functional fabrics. Two tri-layer fabrics are developed by using both knitted and woven structures. These fabrics are then evaluated for the comfort characteristics, such as water vapour permeability, thermal conductivity, water absorption, wicking, drying rate and spreading rate. The results reveal that the tri-layer weft knitted fabrics possess exceptionally good functional characteristics, such as air permeability, water vapour permeability, transverse wicking and drying rate, due to their structural factors as compared to the woven tri-layer fabrics.  The woven tri-layer fabric possesses higher thermal conductivity, water absorption and vertical wicking than the knitted structure. The effects of fibre content on the properties of tri-layer fabrics are also found to be significant. The tri-layer fabric made of bamboo charcoal/micro polyester/lyocell exhibits higher air permeability, water vapour permeability, thermal conductivity, wicking tendency and faster drying rate. In the case of tri-layer fabric made of bamboo/ micro polyester/lyocell combination, the water absorption, verticle wicking, transverse wicking and spreading areas are found to be high.