Effects of intermingling pressure level on properties of polyester knitted fabrics

The texturing process is a method to imparts the look and feel of synthetic yarns to yarns made from natural fibers and give it even more superior properties. Texturing process provides bulkiness, extra stretch, porosity, better handle, air permeability and comfort properties to flat continuous filament yarns. Intermingling is an optional process which is made to hold together filaments in the structure of textured yarns. Intermingling pressure level is one of the most significant factors that affect properties of yarns and fabrics produced from these yarns. This study examined the effects of intermingling pressure level (not intermingled, 0.2 bar, 0.5 bar, 0.8 bar and 1.0 bar) on properties of fabrics made of multifilament yarns. For this purpose, physical, visual, surface and comfort properties of polyester knitted fabrics were measured. Within the context of the study, porosity and visual properties were analyzed with image analysis techniques. Results showed that, intermingling pressure level has statistically significant effects on the properties of fabrics such as unit weight, thickness, air permeability and porosity. However, intermingling pressure level has no effect on fabric roughness and overall moisture management capability (OMMC). Although all structural parameters are the same for the yarns and the fabrics, intermingling pressure level has also crucial effect on fabric surface appearances.