Abstract:

Ready to wear end-products may be obtained by different assembling methods such as sewing, bonding, seam taping, welding and pressing fabrics. Currently, sewing is the most common method, but other techniques are improving day by day in accordance with the new application areas and new requirements from seamlines. Seam taping is an innovative alternative method that can improve the properties of seams. In this study, some essential properties such as the strength, elongation, thickness and air permeability of sealed samples with different constructions were compared. As taping constructions, ultrasonic bonding plus taping, sewing plus taping, and only taping methods were used. These methods were varied according to the taping temperature and speed. Also, only sewn and ultrasonically bonded samples were prepared as reference samples. In total, 20 different kinds of seam sealed samples were obtained as test materials. According to the results, taped samples were advantageous in terms of seam thickness and seam strength properties when compared to only sewn and ultrasonically bonded references. Especially, “only taped” samples were one step ahead among the all constructions. The air permeability of the taped seams decreased by a certain amount, but it is thought to be tolerable in a full garment.