Influence of tuck stitch in wale direction on thermal comfort characteristics of layered knitted fabrics

Abstract

Thermo-physiological comfort of the clothing has been studied considering the ability to manage heat and to transfersensible and insensible perspiration to the environment. Four bi-layer knitted fabrics are developed by changing the tuckstitch placement in four different points on wale, such as tuck on 4th, 8th, 12th and 16th wale with same course. It isobserved that the bi-layer knitted fabric with tuck on 12th wale exhibits better air, heat and moisture transfer as comparedto those with tuck on 4th, 8th, and 16th wales. The lower thickness and low mass per unit area exhibit better thermalconductivity, air permeability, water vapour permeability, wicking, moisture absorbency, drying rate and moisturemanagement properties. The less number of tuck stitch shows better thermal comfort characteristics considering bothobjective and wear trial method. The results are discussed with 95% significant level with ANOVA analysis andFriedman one-way analysis of variance.