Experimental Analysis of Air Permeability of Terry Fabrics with Hemp and Linen Pile

Abstract

The study deals with experimental investigation to determine the air permeability of terry fabrics using different pile height, yarn types, and finishing applied. Terry fabrics were manufactured using hemp and linen warp yarns. It was determined the important effect of water/heat/mechanical impacts as well as finishing processes, i. e. industrial washing, tumbling, on air permeability of the fabrics. The air permeability of grey terry fabric with hemp pile was found to be the highest, i. e. 478 dm3/(m2s). Due to swelling phenomena of fibre and decreasing in pore sizes the fabrics are less permeable after wetting. The drop in air permeability after wetting of all tested fabrics was within the range of 1.1 – 2.0 times if to compare with the grey fabrics. Washing with detergent or without it changes fabric’s structure. It was found that the air permeability of fabrics washed with detergent decreased down to 153 dm3/(m2s), i. e. in 3.1 times for the investigated hemp/cotton fabrics and down to (106 – 242) dm3/(m2s), i. e. in 1.4 – 2.3 times for the investigated linen/cotton fabrics. The influence of tumbling also the duration of process on air permeability was determined.