http://www.hindawi.com The latest articles from Hindawi Publishing Corporation © 2013 , Hindawi Publishing Corporation . All rights reserved. Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:03:17 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/textiles/2013/157034/ Many previous studies showed that seam appearance as well as performance depends on the interrelationship of fabrics, threads, and the stitch/seam selection and lastly on the sewing conditions, which include the needle size, needle thread tension, stitch density, and the appropriate operation and maintenance of the sewing machine. Present investigation elucidates the effect of blend composition, sewing thread size, and sewing needle parameters on garment seam characteristics (i.e., seam strength, seam strength efficiency, seam puckering, seam stiffness, and drape coefficient). The seam quality characterization is studied through the L9 orthogonal design methodology. In good quality apparels, compatibility of the seams with the functional requirement is very important for serviceability and life of the apparel. Reversibility as well as repairing of seams in the apparel is very limited in the condition of seam failure. Seam strength efficiency is higher for the uniform fiber matrix in the structure of fabrics. The polyester dominated suiting fabrics give minimum seam stiffness because polyester component has low flexural rigidity. The cotton dominated suiting fabrics have less seam puckering due to increase in fabric stiffness. A. K. Choudhary and Amit Goel Copyright © 2013 A. K. Choudhary and Amit Goel. All rights reserved. Thu, 02 May 2013 10:06:46 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/textiles/2013/423842/ Natural dyes from Eucalyptus leaf extract, quercetin, rutin, and tannin were applied to silk fabric by pad-batch and pad-dry techniques under different conditions. Ferrous sulfate was used as a mordant. The dyeing properties were evaluated by measuring K/S and CIELAB values. In addition, the different fastness properties were evaluated. The effect of dyes at different concentration levels with respect to their colour strength was also studied. Rattanaphol Mongkholrattanasit, Charoon Klaichoi, Nattadon Rungruangkitkrai, Nattaya Punrattanasin, Kamolkan Sriharuksa, and Monthon Nakpathom Copyright © 2013 Rattanaphol Mongkholrattanasit et al. All rights reserved. Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:00:06 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/textiles/2013/757319/ The purpose of this research work is to investigate the influence of phase-change materials (PCMs) on thermo-physiological comfort of different male business clothing systems evaluated in warm environment. The impact of particular business clothing on the thermo-physiological comfort of the wearer during different physical activity and environmental conditions (between 25°C and 10°C with step of 5°C), artificially created in a climate chamber, was determined experimentally, as a change of three physiological parameters of a human being: mean skin temperature, heart rate, and the amount of evaporated and condensed sweat. A questionnaire and an assessment scale were also used before, during, and after each experiment in order to evaluate the wearer’s subjective feeling of comfort. The results of the performed research work show that male business clothing systems in combination with PCMs do not affect the thermal-physiological comfort of the wearer in warm environment significantly, except at an ambient temperature of 15°C, where clothing systems in combination with PCMs produce a small heating effect. Furthermore, it was concluded that clothing systems in combination with PCMs indicate a small temporary thermal effect that is reflected in a slight rising or lowering of mean skin temperature during activity changes. Damjana Celcar Copyright © 2013 Damjana Celcar. All rights reserved. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:48:20 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/textiles/2013/579129/ Background. The increasing emission of greenhouse gases has evoked the human being to save the ozone layer and minimize the risk of ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Various fabric structures have been explored to achieve desired ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) in various situations. Objective. In this study, the effect of various filament configurations like twisted, flat, intermingled, and textured in multifilament yarns on fabric in different combinations is assessed in order to engineer a fabric of better ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). Methods. In order to engineer a fabric having optimum UV protection with sufficient comfort level in multifilament woven fabrics, four different yarn configurations, intermingled, textured, twisted, and flat, were used to develop twelve different fabric samples. The most UV absorbing and most demanding fibre polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was considered in different filament configuration. Results. The combinations of intermingled warp with flat, intermingled, and textured weft provided excellent UVR protection comparatively at about 22.5 mg/cm2 fabric areal density. The presence of twisted yarn reduced the UV protection due to enhanced openness in fabric structure. Conclusion. The appropriate combination of warp and weft threads of different configuration should be selected judiciously in order to extract maximum UV protection and wear comfort attributes in multifilament woven PET fabrics. Mukesh Kumar Singh and Annika Singh Copyright © 2013 Mukesh Kumar Singh and Annika Singh. All rights reserved. Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:51:13 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/textiles/2013/962751/ Artificial neural network (ANN) model was used for predicting colour properties of 100% cotton denim fabrics, including colour yield (in terms of K/S value) and CIE L*, a*, b*, C*, and h° values, under the influence of cellulase treatment with various combinations of cellulase processing parameters. Variables examined in the ANN model included treatment temperature, treatment time, pH, mechanical agitation, and fabric yarn twist level. The ANN model was compared with a linear regression model where the ANN model produced superior results in the prediction of colour properties of cellulase-treated 100% cotton denim fabrics. The relative importance of the examined factors influencing colour properties was also investigated. The analysis revealed that cellulase treatment processing parameters played an important role in affecting the colour properties of the treated 100% denim cotton fabrics. C. W. Kan, W. Y. Wong, L. J. Song, and M. C. Law Copyright © 2013 C. W. Kan et al. All rights reserved. Wed, 13 Mar 2013 08:38:18 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/textiles/2013/262635/ Use of nylon/cotton blend yarn in military uniform is common and due to advantages in its fabric in comparison to 100% cotton fabrics, capabilities of military uniforms have been improved. In this study the effects of navel type on properties of (50%-50%) nylon/cotton blend yarn and wrapper formation were investigated and compared with similar ring spun yarn. Rotor spun yarn was produced on a single head laboratory rotor spinning machine with four navels (smooth, spiral, 3 grooved, and 4 grooved) and ring yarn was produced on a zinser 319 ring spinning machine. Test result showed that navel type has a significant effect on yarn strength and strength of smooth navel yarn was maximum. Elongation of a 100% cotton rotor spun yarn is more than similar ring yarn, but it was not observed in cotton/nylon blend. Yarn irregularity and imperfections varied significantly with navel type and for rotor yarns were more than the ring yarn. Navel type had significant effect on yarn hairiness but it didnot have an effect on yarn abrasion significantly. Babak Yadollah Roudbari and Safdar Eskandarnejad Copyright © 2013 Babak Yadollah Roudbari and Safdar Eskandarnejad. All rights reserved. Sun, 03 Mar 2013 15:15:41 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/textiles/2013/216293/ The role of water in protective fabrics is critical to comfort and material performance. Excessive perspiration in clothing causes discomfort, and bound water can adversely affect the ability of carbon to adsorb chemicals. Yet the presence of water can also improve the moisture vapor transport of protective polymer films, and is essential for the hydrolytic destruction of nerve agents. Reported here are the findings of wicking and drying experiments conducted on various hydrophilic and hydrophobic cover fabrics that demonstrate the influence of wetting on permeation through fabrics. The influence of water content on reactive polymers capable of degrading nerve agent simulant is also discussed, and the importance of a novel “delivery system” for water to the reactive components through the use of a wicking fabric is introduced. Phillip Gibson, Heidi Schreuder-Gibson, Pearl Yip, Brendan Denker, Hamid Benaddi, Sa Wang, Lev Bromberg, and T. Alan Hatton Copyright © 2013 Phillip Gibson et al. All rights reserved. Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:59:41 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/textiles/2013/565382/ Zirconium oxychloride, a well-known flame retardant, is introduced as a novel mordant for wool dyeing. This has been indicated by mordanting of wool yarns with zirconium oxychloride in different conditions and then dyeing with madder as a famous natural dye. The tenacity, color coordinates, washing, and light fastnesses of the dyed wool confirmed the positive influence of zirconium oxychloride as a useful mordant for wool dyeing with a low impact on the color coordinates. Further, an appropriate washing and light fastness were obtained for the zirconium-oxychloride-mordanted wool yarns. The central composite design (CCD) was used to design the experiments with four variables on the results of tensile strength. Statistical analysis confirmed the optimum conditions obtained through the experimental results. M. Forouharshad, M. Montazer, and B. Yadollah Roudbari Copyright © 2013 M. Forouharshad et al. All rights reserved. Wed, 09 Jan 2013 09:27:06 +0000 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/textiles/2013/214706/ Colour fading of a reactive dye (C.I. Reactive Blue 19) dyed textile fabric was performed by atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) treatment with the use of plasma jet. Under the APP treatment condition of treatment time = 5 sec/mm; ignition power = 160 W; oxygen concentration = 1%; jet distance = 3 mm, significant colour-fading effect was achieved. For comparison purpose, the reactive dye dyed textile fabric was subjected to conventional enzymatic colour-fading process. Experimental results revealed that the APP-induced colour-fading effect was comparable with conventional enzymatic colour-fading process. H. F. Cheung, C. W. Kan, C. W. M. Yuen, J. Yip, and M. C. Law Copyright © 2013 H. F. Cheung et al. All rights reserved.