Packing of micro-porous yarns: Part I. Optimization of yarn characteristics

The present paper deals with the factors affecting the packing of a micro-porous yarn, namely proportion of PVA fibre content, yarn twist multiplier (TM) and spindle speed at ring frame, and with their combined effect on various properties of the yarn. The micro-pores within the structure of the yarn have been created by dissolving the PVA fibres using washing treatment in hot water. A three-variable factorial design technique proposed by Box and Behnken is used to investigate the combined interaction effect of the above variables on the properties of the yarn. The present experiment variables, namely proportion of PVA fibre, yarn twist multiplier (TM) and spindle speed, were found to have significant impact on various properties of yarns before and after wash. For yarns before wash, the specific volume reduces with the increase in the PVA content, yarn twist and spindle speed. In the case of yarns after wash, there is reduction in the yarn specific volume with the increase in TM and spindle speed, but with the increase in the PVA percentage the yarn specific volume increases. The tenacity of yarns before wash increases with the increase in the PVA content, but for yarns after wash, the proportion of PVA content has comparatively less influence. The compressibility of yarns before wash reduces with the increase in the PVA content, but a reverse trend is observed in the case of yarns after wash. The design variables were optimized for all the yarn properties by using the response surface equations.