A comparative study on wicking behavior of blended knitted fabrics and their relationship with structural parameters

Ability to wick moisture is a property of paramount importance for any fabric intended for apparel use. The present composition explains wicking performance of six different circular knitted fabrics blended by using mulberry silk waste and viscose fibre. Knitted fabrics were constructed on circular knitting machine by using yarns blended in three proportions vizz, 60% mulberry silk waste: 40% viscose, 50% mulberry silk waste: 50% viscose and 40% mulberry silk waste: 60% viscose, in two unlike yarn densities. Investigation was carried out for both wale-wise and course-wise directions. Variables like yarn count, fabric thickness, tightness factor and GSM were used for experimental design. Findings elucidate that these variables significantly influence the wicking nature of blended knitted fabrics. Fabric thickness, GSM and yarn count were found to have fair negative correlation (−0.4105, -0.7426 and -0.6176, respectively) with achieved wicking heights by different fabrics. Values for tightness factor were found to have minor divergence with no significant difference, however, reviews suggest that higher tightness factors are responsible for longer wicking heights. It was revealed that rise in values of yarn count, fabric thickness and GSM bring about a fall in wicking distance by the fabric. The draft of wicking behavior developed can be further utilized to study the significance of other variables of fabric construction.