This paper has investigated the porosity of knitted fabrics using digital imaging techniques. A number of different methods have been proposed to determine the porosity of knitted fabrics, which include digital imaging, geometrical modeling, and air permeability. Digital imaging is an adequate technique to determine the porosity of high-porosity fabrics. In this work, eight types of knitted structures with eight different stitch lengths were produced on a flat-bed knitting machine. Porosity was determined using digital imaging techniques based on the method of threshold and pixel count, using a computer program developed for this work.

The present paper attempts to investigate the relationship between fabric porosity and light permeability of the knitted structures, namely, rib 1 × 1, rib 2 × 1, single jersey, and plain structure. The rationale is that pores (in a fabric) would allow light to pass through but at the same time provide a quantitative assessment of the UV light permeability of the knitted fabrics, an indication of the protective capacity of the fabrics against UV radiation. The porosity and corresponding light permeability of the knitted structures were measured after varying the following knitting parameters: stitch length, stitch density, and tension on the machine. Furthermore, this work has enabled the development of an apparatus that can measure the amount of light transmitted through the knitted fabrics. The results generated by the equipment were validated through the use of regression equations.

This paper is a study of the correlation of the thermal resistance (Rct ) and the evaporative resistance (Ret ) in vertically and horizontally oriented air gaps by using the portable Permetest skin model. Experiments were done in a climatic chamber; an isothermal condition for Ret tests and non-isothermal condition for Rct tests. Foamed polyethylene air gap distance rings were prepared with a thickness of 2, 4 and 5 mm and their combinations to simulate the air gap distance from 0 to 16 mm which is more than the expected average gap in clothing systems. Test samples were woven fabric of 100 percent cotton, 100 percent polyester and their blends plus 100 percent of polypropylene, all have similar weight and structure. Results showed that with the increasing thickness of the air gap, Rct increased in a polynomial trend and Ret in a linear proportional rate up to 12 mm then started to change due to the effect of free convection and the different properties of materials. The surprising positive observation is that results from the horizontally and vertically oriented air gaps are very similar, and most of the results from the vertical air gap are slightly lower than the results from the horizontal air gap in all materials.

Purpose The thermophysiological comfort of fabrics is prerequisite as customers covet adequate moisture, heat management-supported and UV protective clothing that measure up to their levels of activities and environmental conditions. Hitherto, scant tasks have been reported with the purpose of engineering both comfort and UV protection simultaneously. From that vantage point, the objective of this work is to develop a model for optimum UPF, air permeability, water-vapour resistance, thermal resistance, thermal absorptivity and areal density of knitted fabrics. Design/methodology/approach Weft knitted fabrics of various compositions were investigated. UPF was tested using the Labsphere UV transmittance analyser. The FX 3300 (Textest instruments) air permeability tester was used to test air permeability. Thermal comfort and water-vapour resistance were evaluated using the Alambeta and Permetest instruments, respectively. Based on image processing, the porosity was measured. Fabrics thickness and areal density were measured according to standard methods. Furthermore, parametric and non-parametric statistical test methods were applied to the data for analysis. Findings Linear regression was substantiated by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Then multiple linear regression of porosity and thickness together on UPF and comfort parameters were visually depicted by virtue of 3D linear plots. Residual analysis with quantile-quantile and probability plots, advocated the tests using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The result was validated by comparison with experimental data tested. The samples gave satisfactory relative errors and were supported by the z-test method. All tests indicated failure to reject the null hypothesis. Originality/value The predictive models were embedded into an interactive computer program. Fabric thickness and porosity are the inputs needed to run the program. It will predict the optimum UPF, areal density and thermophysiological comfort parameters. In a nutshell, knitters may use the program to determine optimum structural parameters for diverse permutations of UPF and thermophysiological comfort parameters; scilicet high UV protection together with low thermal insulation combined with low water-vapour resistance and high air permeability.

Fashion experts when designing new clothing firstly focus their attention on design, style, colours and fit of the product, and then they have to consider structure and materials of the developed garment. However, all these components of the garment design, namely the fabric structure, composition and finishing will influence the sensorial and thermal comfort of clothing. In the paper, selected parameters of clothing comfort, namely fabric drape, friction coefficient and thermal & evaporation resistance as well as special methods of their testing are shortly described, and the possible effect of these paramaters on clothing design is outlined.