Abstract:

The contribution deals with the influence of selected knitting parameters and the relaxation period on the structure and mechanical properties of plain jersey weft knitted fabrics made of cotton and elastane yarns. There are considerable differences in the behaviour of conventional knitted fabrics and fabrics with elastane yarns incorporated in the structure. Since one of the key factors in knitting is certainly the knitting yarn feeding load - it impacts the structure and properties of such knitted fabrics, the contribution presents the influence of the knitting yarn feeding load on the alteration in the mechanical properties of plain jersey weft knitted fabrics. The results of the investigation indicate that the horizontal and vertical density and the fabric weight grow with a prolonged relaxation period and increase in the knitting yarn feeding load. Increasing the knitting yarn feeding load reduces the length of yarn in the loop. If cotton yarn is platted with elastane yarn, the length of the yarn in the loop is reduced by about 2 to 5%, as compared with yarn in a course without elastane yarn. The most prominent dimensional changes in the course and wales direction occurred for samples knitted with the highest feeding load of yarns. The best results of measuring structural parameters and dimensional changes in knitted fabrics during relaxation were exhibited by knitted samples with the lowest feeding load. Therefore, the feeding load of yarns should be taken into account when constructing knitted fabrics as it considerably affects fabric properties.