Applying Heat for Joining Textile Materials

Abstract

The middle of the last century presents the beginning of a wide use of heat technologies for joining of the textile materials. Up to now, adhesive bonding/fusing of textile materials by application of heat and pressure during the determinate time has become a wide-use technology for manufacturing numerous kinds of textile products, such as outdoor and sport garments, underwear, swimming suits, medical gowns, toys, and automotive seating fabrics. Fusing and welding technologies of textiles represent today a significant competition to traditional sewing, because the technological process is quick and energy efficient. The welding and fusing of textiles represent a great opportunity for providing a good performance as well as aesthetic appearance. New types of fusing/ welding machines with high technological solutions regarding the functions, low energy consumptions, and environmental-friendly effects are placed on the market. This chapter presents fusing, hot air and hot wedge welding techniques, suitable for joining of textile materials. The theoretical background and fundamental working principles of the equipment for each technology are presented in the first part of the chapter. Special attention is given to presentation of thermoplastic adhesives, textile substrates for fusible interlinings, and welding tapes. Next, the fusing/welding methods and their parameters are described, and the methods for quality evaluation of fused/welded panels are presented. The effect of fusing/welding parameters, selected methods depending on applied fabrics, fusible interlinings and welding tapes, and used fusing/welding machines are discussed separately. Factors effecting the quality of fused and hot air/ wedge welded panels are supported with latest scientific findings. The advantages and disadvantages of the presented techniques are discussed together with the applications areas of each of the presented techniques. The new application opportunities are also highlighted at the end of the chapter.

Evaluation and prediction of fused fabric composites properties – A review

“…The mechanical and physical properties such as tensile, extensibility, bending, shearing and surface properties of the shell fabric have a significant influence on the properties of the fused fabric composites [7,62]. The tensile properties and extensibility of the fabrics have a direct impact on the durability and performance of the fused fabric composites.…”

“…The trial and error method is adopted in commercial interlining selection [5]. The selection process followed presently is subjective as it depends on the knowledge and experience of experts [6,7]. There is also a difference in specifications used by interlining producers and garment designers.…”

Measured Current Characteristics of Powered E-Textile Transmission Lines With Respect to Welding Process Parameters

“…In our study, three different welding tapes were used as second thermoplastic layer of the e-textile structure shown in Figure 1. Welding tape is a textile material coated with an adhesive on one or two sides of a textile substrate and when subjected to heat, it sticks on top of the thermoplastic layer on which it stands over [22]. The welding tapes used in our study are correspondingly; WT1 is made from three layers (layer 1-warp knitted fabric, layer 2-waterproof film and layer 3-hot melt adhesive; polyurethane/polyurethane/ polyamide tricot), with a thickness of 368 µm and width of 20 mm, while tape WT2 is made from three layers (layer 1warp knitted fabric, layer 2-waterproof film and layer 3hot melt adhesive; polyurethane/polyurethane/polyester jersey) with a thickness of 579 µm and width of 20 mm and WT3 is made from two layers (layer 1-waterproof film and layer 2-hot melt adhesive film; polyurethane/polyurethane), with a thickness of 89 µm and width of 20 mm.…”

Predicting the Flexural Rigidity in Fused Shirt Components Using Design of Experiment

“…The fusing of the interlining to the garment components helps achieve a specific stiffness, volume, crease recovery and durability. [1][2][3] The neckbands can be either single fused or double fused. 4 In single fusing, a single layer of interlining is fused to the neckband cut component.…”