Physical Properties and Wear Comfort of Bio-Fiber-Embedded Yarns and their Knitted Fabrics According to Yarn Structures

Abstract This study examined the physical properties of polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT)/Tencel/cotton air vortex yarns and the wear comfort of their knitted fabrics for high emotional garments. In fine yarn count, the initial modulus of the air vortex yarn was similar to the ring yarn because of the elastic property of the PTT fibers in the yarns. In particular, the thermal shrinkage of the air vortex yarns was higher than that of the ring yarns because of the sensible thermal shrinkage of the PTT fibers, which resulted in higher relaxation shrinkage of the air vortex knitted fabric than those of ring and compact knitted fabrics. On the basis of the wear comfort, the air vortex yarns are compatible with winter textile goods. The pilling of the air vortex knitted fabric was superior to that of the ring and compact yarns. The tactile hand of the air vortex yarn knitted fabrics was stiffer than that of the ring and compact yarn knitted fabrics. However, the harsh tactile hand of the air vortex knitted fabric was estimated to improve in the thinner fabrics by the low elastic modulus of fine yarn because of the PTT fibers in the air vortex yarns.