In order to clarify the frictional properties of fiber assemblies such as yarns and fabrics, the friction between a woven fabric and a rigid body is analyzed.
The results are as follows : The coefficient of friction μ can be devided into two components, μ_A and μ_B. μ_A is the component of friction between a fiber surface and a surface of a rigid body.μ_B is the component which comes from the other causes. The assumption is made that μ_B is related with loss energy caused.by the inter-fiber frictions during the compressional deformation when the fiber assembly is subjected to rubbing. [μ_B], theoretically calculated value of μ_B from the loss energy measured from the lateral compression test of a fabric, is compared with the experimentally measured value of μ_B. It has been concluded that values of [μ_B] are highly correlated with those of μ_B . However μ_B is about 25 times larger than [μ_B].
It is pointed out that the deformation of the fiber assemblies located near a front edge of the contactor is important for inducing the loss energy which causes μ_B, and that the inter-fiber friction mechanism at this part is different from the mechanism in the case when the fiber assembly is compressed by a plate.

View full abstract

Recently, the steam press machine is widely used in apparel industries for the purpose of setting a piece of fabric cut for making-up of apparels. As well known, the dimensional change occurs just after the steam pressing in the fabric piece and then the fabric recovers its dimensional change with absorbing the moisture in the surrounding air, however, some amount of offset in the dimension is observed in many cases. The prediction of these dimensional change behaviour is necessary for making-up of apparels at the factories of apparel manufacturer s. This behaviour of fabric depends strongly on the steam press conditions such as temperature of steam press, time interval of the press operation, mechanical pressure, etc. Moreover, the fiber assembly structure of fabric as well as its tensile properties causes considerable influences on this behaviour.
The author and his group have investigated this behaviour during past four years as a cooperative work with the Hand Evaluation and Standardization Committee. As a result, a testing method, HESC-FT-103A, has recently been established to estimate the dimensional stability.The author and his group have carried out the fundamental research for the establishment of this testing method to support this large scale cooperative research activities done by the members of the Hand Evaluation and Standardization Committee. This is a report of this fundamental research on the dimensional stability as well as an introductory description of the testing method.

View full abstract