The Effect of Stitch Length on Some Properties of the Cotton 1 X 1 Rib Knitted Fabric

Abstract

The effect of stitch length (lu) on the dimensional properties (Uc = Cu × lu, Uw = Wu × lu, Us= Cu × Wu×lu²Uc/Uw = Cu/Wu, and t/l, where lu is the total length in the SKC, Cu is courss/uint fabric length, Wu is wales /unit width the SKC is the smallest repeating unit of the structure, t is the fabric thickness, and l is the loop length), the porosity P (%), the air permeability V (cc/cm²/sec), the thermal retaining propertyH (%), the bending length L (mm), and the tensile breaking strength S (kgf) and elongation E (%) of the 1 X 1 rib fabric knitted from a cotton yarn (c30s/l) is investigated experimentally.
The results obtained are as follows :
(1) Us is approximately constant, but Uc, Uw, and Uc/Uw are dependent on 1/lu or the fabric tightness K (=n√T/lu, where n is the number of loops in the SKC and T is the yarn linear density in tex).
(2) t/l and the weight per unit area of fabric increase with the increase of 1/lu or K.
(3) The increase of lu increases P and V, but decreases H.
(4) L in each direction (the course (0°), bias (45°), and wale (90°) directions) decreases with the increase of lu. For all lu, L increases with the increase of the angle to the course direction.
(5) S in each direction (the course, 22.5°, 45°, 67.5°, and wale directions) decreases with the increase of lu. The strenght efficiency of fabric is about 40% in both the course and wale directions.
(6) The increase of lu increases E in the course, 22.5°, and 45° directions, but decreases E in the 67.5° and wale directions. For all lu, E decreases with the increase of the angle to the course direction.