The effects of mechanical properties of sewing thread and stitch length on seam stiffness and softness were investigated. Bleached sheetings were chosen as a sample assuming the seam sewing of Japanese national costume (Kimono). Mechanical and surface characteristics were obtained by KES system, using seamed samples prepared by various sewing methods, such as hand sewing, machine sewing and bonding with a adhesive tape. The seam stiffness was evaluated using the data obtained by mechanical and surface properties using the data obtained by mechanical and surface properties. Using these mechanical values, rigidity, softness, stiffness and drape coefficient of these seamed samples were quantitatively calculated. The machine sewed seams showed high stiffness in tensile, bending and shearing mode and lacked smoothness on the surface. Samples bonded by adhesive tape showed rigidity higher than that of machine seamed samples. The bending and shearing rigidity decreased with decreasing stitch length and diameter of threads. Softness of bonded samples showed the lowest softness and machine sewed samples the highest softness. Machine sewed seams have higher value of rigidity and, flatness and drape coefficient compared with those of hand sewed seams.

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A prediction method for calculating the tensile properties of weave fabrics in a lower load range was developed, where the yarn axes in the weave structure were assumed to be sinusoidal curves and the measured mechanical yarn properties and weave structure parameters were used as the input information for estimating the fabric tensile properties. The predicted tensile properties of fabrics were compared with those measured and also with those calculated values based on Kawabata's straight line model. The results obtained suggested that this method can give a more reliable means to predict the tensile characteristics of textile fabrics. The effects of the yarn properties and weave structures on the tensile properties of fabrics were also discussed.

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The effect of water and acrylonitrile (AN) on apparent melting temperature of acrylonitrile/methylacrylate copolymer (PAN) was investigated. Apparent melting temperature of PAN decreased with increasing water content and saturated at 150°C, at which water content was 25wt% to PAN. The water content corresponded to the molar ratio between water and the CN group in PAN was 1:1. When a mixture of water and AN (70/30 by weight) was added to PAN, apparent melting temperature continuously decreased. Monophase PAN melt was obtained at a molar ratio of the CN group in PAN/AN/water=2/1/2.

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The effect of home laundering on physical properties of recycled T-shirt cotton fabrics was compared with those of virgin cotton fabrics. T-shirt fabrics using recycled cotton in the weft showed the following properties (1) tended to shrink in course direction, (2) air permeability decreased and (3) the bending rigidity in wale direction showed a small change.

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