Effect of Finishing Machine Parameters on Dimensional Stability of Single Lacoste Cotton Knitted Fabric

Abstract

The effect of finishing machine parameters on dimensional stability of single lacoste cotton knitted fabric was studied in this research. The dimensional properties of the single lacoste cotton knitted fabric such as shrinkage and spirality were investigated. All tests were carried out according to the ISO standards. In this research effect of dryer machine, stenter machine and compactor machine parameters on dimensional stability of single lacoste cotton knitted fabric were evaluated. The surface analysis of single lacoste cotton knitted fabrics were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the samples of after drying, stentering and compacting respectively. The surface analysis of single lacoste cotton knitted fabric was also investigated by SEM on the softener treated and softener untreated samples after compacting process. From the result it was observed that fabrics show lowest shrinkage in both length and width wise and spirality for drying process than the stentering process. It was also observed that length wise and width wise shrinkage and spirality of the fabrics become gradually better by increasing the overfeed % of both dryer and compactor machine. On the other hand length wise shrinkage of the fabrics become successively lower and width wise shrinkage of the fabrics become gradually higher by increasing the diameter of both dryer and compactor machine. But stretching of both dryer and compactor machine diameter has no significant influence on spirality. It was also noticed that width wise shrinkage of the fabric becomes gradually better and spirality becomes gradually higher by increasing the felt tension of the compactor machine.