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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors effecting ultrasonic seam tensile properties. Design/methodology/approach – In this study, 100 percent polypropylene and 100 percent polyester spunbond and meltblown nonwoven fabrics were sewn by using ultrasonic sewing machine with different rollers which have two, three and four rows. Seam tensile properties of the sewn nonwoven fabrics were investigated. Four-Level Nested Anova Design was applied to the data by using Minitab 15 software program. Findings – Higher seam strength values were obtained by using four rows roller, PP fiber, spunbond fabric and 50 g/m2 fabric area density for all nonwoven fabrics. Statistical significance was found between fabric area density, roller rows and seam tensile strength properties and between fabric type, roller rows and seam elongation at break values. Originality/value – When the authors look at the studies related to ultrasonic sewing, several researchers studied on welding parameters of ultrasonic sewing but very limited studies were performed on assembling of nonwoven fabrics with ultrasonic sewing. Therefore effect of production methods of nonwoven fabrics on the properties of ultrasonic sewing such as seam strength and elongation at break should be investigated.

There have been many reported applications of magnetorheological fluids but very few in combinations with the textile structures. Increasing the stiffness of magnetorheological fluid contained in a fabric by applying a magnetic field has considerable potential in engineering applications. In this work, we have used a spacer (three dimensional) fabric to contain the magnetorheological fluid and then investigated the changes in the stiffness value of the composite material by applying magnetic field using neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnets. Compression tests were performed at different temperatures with and without the application of a magnetic field. It was observed that the stiffness properties of the magnetorheological fluid–filled spacer fabric were increased significantly upon the application of the magnetic field at ambient temperature; however, a decrease in the stiffness value of the magnetorheological–spacer fabric composite was observed when the tests were carried out at higher temperatures. A considerable increase in the thermal conductivity of the magnetorheological fluid–containing spacer fabric was obtained under the influence of an applied magnetic field.