Moisture management properties of plated knit structures with varying fiber types

Thermo-physiological comfort of clothing designed for next-to-skin applications is influenced by the clothing’s ability to manage heat and moisture transfer thereby maintaining dry skin microclimate. Plated knit structures designed and engineered with correct selection of fiber and yarn constituents in the distinct bottom (exposed to environment) and top (next to sin) layers can serve well for next-to-skin applications. In this study, plated fabrics with altering hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers in top and bottom layers and different types of hydrophobic fibers in top layers have been compared for the moisture management properties. Results show that fabrics knitted with hydrophobic fibers (polypropylene, polyester) in top layers seem suitable for next-to-skin applications as they were classified as moisture management fabrics owing to high values of accumulative one-way transport index and bottom spreading speed. Though both fabrics can be recommended for next-to-skin applications, however, polypropylene on account of superior moisture management properties in the top layer would be more effective in providing dry feel next to skin and hence, seems to be a preferred choice over polyester for such applications. Fabric knitted with nylon in top layer was classified as water penetration fabric due to poor liquid transfer properties. Fabrics knitted with cotton in top layer irrespective of the hydrophobic fiber in bottom layer were poor in moisture management properties. Univariate analysis of variance with a confidence level of 95% showed the results to be statistically significant. Pearson correlation coefficient was obtained for all the moisture management indices by bivariate correlation procedure to determine strength and direction of association between the different moisture management indices. Most of the indices were found to be significantly correlated also, OWTC and OMMC were found to be positively and linearly related to each other.