This study revealed the effect of cam setting and number of yarn ply on air permeability and bursting strength of weft-knitted fabrics from glass yarn. Change in cam setting from loose to tight level increased fiber content, and stitch-density; while it decreased loop length. Fabrics with 3-ply yarn exhibited higher fiber content; lower stitch-density; and longer loop length than fabrics with 2-ply yarn. Cam setting showed more pronounced effect on physical properties of fabric than number of yarn ply. Fabrics knitted via tight cam setting level exhibited less air permeability, and higher bursting strength than fabrics knitted via loose cam setting. Fabrics from 3-ply yarn showed less air permeability and higher bursting strength than fabrics from 2-ply yarn. Loop length, wale density, and fiber content were determined as the most effective physical properties on permeability and bursting strength. A negative correlation was detected between air permeability and bursting strength.

In this study; the effects of loop, skip, and tuck stitch types, and weft-inlay yarn, on air permeability and bursting strength of weft-knitted fabrics from glass yarn were revealed. Due to clockwise rotation of wales and their arrangement being one on top of the other, besides the dramatic shortening of fabrics after their removal from the machine; fabrics with tuck stitches exhibited the highest stitch density, fiber content, and the shortest loop length. This caused the lowest air permeability and the highest bursting strength. Contrary to expectations, weft-inlay yarn did not contribute to bursting strength as much as tuck stitch did. An overall negative correlation between air permeability and bursting strength was disrupted by structures with tuck stitches. While tuck stitches from cotton yarn increased air permeability and decreased bursting strength in previous studies; this study indicated that tuck stitches from glass yarn decreased air permeability and increased bursting strength.

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