Moisture management in knit fabrics from cotton and cattail blends using SDL-ATLAS MMT
A recent study published in the AATCC Journal of Research by Rajesh Kumar and Adity Saxena investigates the moisture management properties of knitted fabrics made from blends of cotton and cattail fibers. The study aims to enhance fabric performance for sportswear applications, focusing on moisture transport, absorption, and spreading.
The moisture management behavior of the developed fabric samples was evaluated using the SDL-ATLAS Moisture Management Tester (MMT), in accordance with the AATCC 195-2009 standard. Nine fabric samples were created using three different blend ratios of cotton to cattail (90:10, 80:20, and 70:30) and three knitting structures: interlock, loop knit (fleece), and rib. The fabrics were tested for several moisture management parameters, including wetting time, absorption rate, spreading speed, and overall moisture management capacity (OMMC).
The results highlighted that rib-knit fabrics generally performed best across most parameters. Specifically, the 90:10 rib blend exhibited the fastest wetting time (2.8 s top, 2.3 s bottom), the highest absorption rate (1.4 mm/s top, 2.3 mm/s bottom), and superior moisture spreading speed (2.0 mm/s top, 2.6 mm/s bottom). These properties make it an ideal choice for high-performance sportswear, especially in warmer climates.
The study also found that as the proportion of cattail in the blend increased, the fabric’s moisture absorption and transport properties decreased. Loop-knit fabrics, with their dense pile structure, exhibited the slowest moisture absorption and spreading speeds, making them better suited for insulation purposes rather than moisture management.
In conclusion, rib-knit fabrics with lower cattail content offer the most efficient moisture management, making them the best option for activewear. The findings also suggest that fiber composition and fabric structure play crucial roles in optimizing moisture management for sportswear.
Read the full article: 10.1177/24723444251347687
