Fabric-evoked prickle of fabrics made from single fibres using axial fibre-compression-bending analyzer

Abstract

Fabrics made from cotton, cashmere, flax, hemp, ramie, jute, and wool fibres, have been used to investigate and analyze the prickle comfort properties of fabrics worn as garments. Physical properties include single-fibre critical load, compression and bending modules, which greatly affect the fabric physiological comfort. The fibres are tested using a ‘fibre axial compression-bending analyzer’. The behavior mechanisms of single-needle fibre are also analyzed, evaluated, and explained using fibres critical load, fineness, and protruding length. Physical and neuro-physiological basis for prickle sensation force from single-needle fibre depends on its bending modulus and axial compressive behavior. This experimental work shows that the bending modulus of ramie, jute, and wool fibre is significantly high as compared to other fibres. Thus, high prickle values of ramie, jute and wool fibres make them more uncomfortable due to the cross-section parameters and bending modulus of the single fibre needle. It is observed that the prickle feeling comes from the axial-compressive behavior and the number of effective fibre needles protruding from worn fabric surface. Therefore, prickle sensation aroused during skin–fabric contact is mostly related to the fibre and surface roughness characteristics of fabrics, and the effect of the fabric material on prickle is found to be more.