Prediction of air permeability and GSM of a knitted fabric using response surface methodology

Abstract

The usage of knitted fabrics in textile industry has expanded worldwide and the producers and wearers are becoming more sensitive to their comfort performance in addition to the aesthetic demands. The end use and the fulfillment of customer expectations are important concerns in the Textile industry nowadays. Knitted structures should possess good air permeability property for comfort of wearers. Air permeability and is are important factors in comfort of a fabric as they play a role in transporting moisture vapors from the skin to the outside atmosphere. Knitted fabrics are preferred structures in applications which demand comfort as a key requirement but this comfort can be varied with different fabric parameters. Therefore, there is need to control knitting and yarn parameters which affect air permeability and GSM so that to obtain knitted fabrics with required comfort. Several studies using statistical package programs as an alternative approach to predict problems in knitted fabrics have been undertaken for example the use computational and Taguchi techniques among others. Response surface methodology can be used as an alternative technique for modeling the relationship between process inputs and output factors to predict responses and to optimize the process input factors. The precise assessment of air permeability and GSM during design stages of textiles is of great importance as it reduces the cost in the development of new structures. In this project performance specifications for both industrial and consumer use will be prepared on the basis of air permeability and GSM which can be used in the production and purchase of fabrics where air permeability and GSM are of interest.