THE INFLUENCE OF THE QUANTITY OF ELASTANE AND SILICONE SOFTENER ON THE PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENTLY FINISHED COTTON AND COTTON/ELASTANE KNITS

Abstract

The effects of the quantity of elastane and silicone softener on the properties of the single jersey knitted fabrics were studied. Knitted fabrics of 100% cotton, and cotton/elastane, having elastane yarns in alternating courses (half plating) and elastane yarns in every course (full plating) were prepared and bleached or dyed with reactive dyes and softened with silicone softener. Structural and mechanical properties on differently pretreated and softened fabrics were studied. There are considerable differences in properties between fabrics of various fiber compositions. The increase of the quantity of elastane increased the fabric weight, thickness, stiffness and elongation and decreased bursting strength. Silicone softener increased fabric weight of all knitted fabrics, stiffness of bleached and elongation of dyed knitted fabrics and decreased stiffness of dyed fabrics.