Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Journal of Textiles
Volume 2014, Article ID 379731, 11 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/379731

Research Article
Studies on Wicking Behaviour of Polyester Fabric

Arobindo Chatterjee and Pratibha Singh

Department of Textile Technology, National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar 144 011, India

Correspondence should be addressed to Arobindo Chatterjee; [email protected]

Received 5 October 2013; Accepted 7 January 2014; Published 24 February 2014

Academic Editor: Seshadri Ramkumar

Copyright 2014 A. Chatterjee and P. Singh. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution
License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly
cited.

This paper aims to investigate vertical wicking properties of polyester fabric based on change in sample direction and change in
tension. Also experimental results are compared with theoretical results. Polyester fabric made out of spun yarn with four types
of variation in pick density was used. Theoretical values of vertical wicking were calculated by using Lucas-Washburn equation
and experimental results were recorded using strip test method. Maximum height reached experimentally in both warp way and
weft way is more than that of the theoretical values. The maximum height attained by fabric experimentally in weft is more as
compared to warp way. Vertical wicking increases with increase in tension. This paper is focused on wicking which plays a vital
role in determining comfort and moisture transport behavior of fabric.

1. Introduction radiation and the body perspires in vapour form to maintain

the temperature. However, while doing high level bodily act-
Transport of water through textiles plays a very important ivity and/or at higher atmospheric temperatures, heat pro-
role in deciding comfort, dyeing and finishing of textile fab- duction is very high and for transmitting this heat from
rics, liquid filtration, and so forth. Transport of water takes the skin to the atmosphere the sweat glands produce liquid
place through the phenomenon of capillarity. Capillarity is perspiration (insensible perspiration which is in vapour form
the ability of liquids to penetrate into fine pores with wettable and sensible perspiration which is in liquid form) [4]. To be
walls and be displaced from those with nonwettable walls [1]. in comfortable state, the clothing worn should allow both
Capillary wetting is due to the meniscus formed by fibres and types of perspirations to transmit from the skin to the outside
yarns in warp and weft directions, especially in the interstitial atmosphere. Moisture related properties influence the ther-
area [2]. mophysiological clothing comfort of the material [5].
Wicking can only occur when a liquid wets fibres assem- Mathematical modeling of surface-tension-driven flow in
bled with capillary spaces between them. The resulting capil- yarns and fabrics can provide a way to develop an under-
lary forces that arise from the wetting of the fabric surface due standing of the liquid transport mechanism. The constituent
to pressure difference created by surface tension of the liquid yarns are responsible for the main portion of the wicking
across the curved liquid/vapor interface drive the liquid into action, in capillary flow through textile fabrics [6, 7]. In many
the capillary spaces. Because capillary forces are caused by researches, the textile yarns were treated either as porous
wetting, wicking is a result of spontaneous wetting in a cap- media [810], the liquid transport through which is described
illary system [3]. Capillary forces are governed by the prop- by Darcys law [11], or as capillary tubes [1215], the liquid flow
erties of the liquid, liquid-medium surface interactions, and through which can be modeled by Lucas-Washburn kinetics
geometric configurations of the pore structure in the med- [16]. In the first case, the characteristic parameters, such as
ium. permeability, are difficult to quantify and are obtained empir-
During normal activity and in normal atmospheric con- ically. In the second case, the effective radius of the capillary
dition, the heat produced in the body due to metabolism is tube, the effective contact angle, and so forth are determined
liberated to the atmosphere by conduction, convection, and by fitting the experimental data [17].
2 Journal of Textiles

Table 1: Details of sample used for experiment.

Composition Type of yarn EPI PPI Thickness (in mm) GSM Referred to as
100% polyester Staple yarn 48 30 0.535 127 P1
100% polyester Staple yarn 48 40 0.493 147 P2
100% polyester Staple yarn 48 50 0.544 173 P3
100% polyester Staple yarn 48 60 0.549 186 P4

Fibres
Scale Clamp

Specimen

Rmi
Clip
Figure 2: Microcapillary.

vertically at a depth of 20 mm into the water, the bottom end

of each specimen was clamped with a 3 g clip. To evaluate
wicking performance at varying tensions 3 g weight was
Figure 1: Vertical wicking apparatus. replaced by 12 g, 20 g, and 34 g weights. For kinetics of wick-
ing heights, distance traveled by water on vertical strip was
measured for every minute for the first 5 minutes and then
In a model developed for jersey knitting fabric macro-
readings were taken after every 5 minutes for 30 minutes.
and microcapillary are considered which are collectively res-
The fabric wicking experiments were conducted in a stan-
ponsible for wicking in the fabric. The effective capillary rad-
dard atmosphere of 20 2 C and 65 2% relative humidity
ius is not calculated by fitting the experimental data; it is dep-
and the fabric was conditioned for 24 h before testing.
endent on the geometrical conformation [18]. It was reported
by various researchers that wicking depends on tortuosity of
fabric [6, 7, 14, 19] and this factor was incorporated in single 2.2.2. Capillary Rise in Fabric. Textile materials are hierar-
jersey knitted fabric [18]. chical porous media. Fabric is composed of yarns which are
Though this work focuses on the wickability, recently running parallel to each other and yarns are made up of fibres
related properties such as moisture vapor transport have also or filaments oriented along the yarn axis. Capillary rise in
attracted attention [2022]. fabric can be considered as the effect of capillary rise between
In this work, plain woven fabric is studied and tortuosity yarns within a fabric and between fibres within a yarn con-
factor is considered. Direct method for calculation of macro- stituting the fabric. The capillary formed between yarns may
pore radius is given for plain weave. be termed as macrocapillary and capillary formed between
fibres in yarn may be termed as microcapillary. Microcap-
illary, macrocapillary, and tortuosity were evaluated for the-
2. Materials and Methods oretical calculation of capillary rise using Lucas-Washburn
equation.
2.1. Materials. Fabric was made out of 100% polyester spun
yarn having 2/30s yarn count. The detailed specification of it Microcapillary. Capillary rise between fibres (in a yarn) can be
is given in Table 1. analysed like a flow in capillary tube of radius mi as shown
in Figure 2.
2.2. Methods The capillary rise of liquid is given by Washburn law [16]
2.2.1. Vertical Wicking. The schematic diagram of the exper- as follows:
imental setup for measurement of vertical wicking is shown 2
(mi /) 2 cos
in Figure 1. The fabric was tinted to facilitate visual tracking = ( ) , (1)
8 mi
of the movement of water.
Specimens of 200 mm 25 mm cut along warpwise and where / is the rate of change of capillary height with
weftwise directions were prepared from these fabrics. The respect to time, mi is the microcapillary radius, is the tortu-
specimens were suspended vertically with their bottom ends osity, is liquid viscosity, is the capillary height, is surface
dipped in a reservoir of distilled water. In order to ensure tension, cos is the contact angle of water with the fibre, is
that the bottom ends of the specimens could be immersed liquid density, and is acceleration due to gravity.
Journal of Textiles 3

emac L

LP
Magnified view

emac

Yarn

1/
Figure 3: Macrocapillary.

P
E

1/
At equilibrium the rate of change of height with respect
Figure 4: in unit cell of plain weave.
to time is zero. That is, / = 0. Putting this value in (1) we
get:
t
2 cos
miceq = . (2) 1/P
mi
or
From (1), (3) can be obtained for further evaluation of
1/E
kinetics of capillary rise as follows:
2 cos 1
= (1 (2 /2 8) ) . (3)
mi mi

Microcapillary radius (mi ) can be calculated as [18] emac

2 2 Figure 5: Parallelepiped.
mi = fiber . (4)
32 8
From (7), (9) can be obtained for further evaluation of
Macrocapillary. On fabric scale the capillary formed is bet-
kinetics of capillary rise as follows:
ween yarns as shown in Figure 3.
The equation describing the capillary kinetics of progres- 2 cos 1
= (1 (2 /2 12) ) . (9)
sion between two parallel plates, where ( mac ), is given mac mac
by the equation of Poiseuille:
Macrocapillary radius (mac ) can be calculated as
2
mac
= , (5) Vacuum volume = Total volume Yarn volume (10)
12

where = ; is the difference in pressure Total volume = (11)
related to the capillary forces (law of Laplace). In the case of
two parallel plates with mac distance (as in two yarns) the 2
yarn
Laplace law is Yarn volume = , (12)
4
2 cos
= . (6) where is the length of yarn making one unit cell of plain
mac weave (Figure 4).
Thus the rate of change of height of liquid in macrocapil- Hence,
lary is 2
yarn
Vacuum volume = . (13)
2
(mac /) 2 cos 4
= ( ) , (7)
12 mac The capillary rise between yarns (on fabric scale) can be
regarded as equivalent to a flow between two distant parallel
where / is the rate of change of capillary height with plates of capillary distance mac . The vacuum volume is equiv-
respect to time, mac is the macrocapillary radius, is the alent to a parallelepiped volume having lengths 1/ (if it is
tortuosity, is liquid viscosity, is the capillary height, is warp way capillary) and 1/ (if it is weft way capillary), width
surface tension, cos is the contact angle of water with the mac , and thickness (Figure 5):
fibre, is liquid density, and is acceleration due to gravity.
At equilibrium, the rate of change of height with respect mac warp
parallelepiped volume = (warp way capillary) ,
to time is zero. That is, / = 0. Putting this value in (7),
we get mac weft
2 cos parallelepiped volume = (weft way capillary) .
maceq = . (8)
mac (14)
4 Journal of Textiles

Warp or weft Experimental and theoretical vertical wicking

(warp way): P1
Weft or warp 0.1

0.08

Height (m)
0.06

0.04
Weft or warp 0.02
P or E 0

1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
0
Figure 6: Geometry of the unit cell for a plain weave.
Time (s)
Experimental
Theoretical
Table 2: Characteristics of distilled water at 20 C.
(a)
Parameters Value
Theoretical micro- and macrocapillaries wicking
Density 998.29 kg/m3 (warp way): P1
0.01
Dynamic viscosity 0.001003 Kg/ms
Surface energy 72.5 mJ/m2 0.008

Height (m)
Contact angle/polyester fibre 75 0.006
0.004
Using (13) and (14), the macrocapillary radius is 0.002
2
1 yarn 0
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
240
260
280
300
320
340
360
380
400
mac warp = (warp way capillary) ,
4
(15) Time (s)
2
1 yarn Microcapillaries
mac weft = (weft way capillary) . Macrocapillaries
4
(b)
Tortuosity. The tortuosity illustrated in Figure 6 is defined as
Figure 7: (a) Experimental and theoretical vertical wicking. (b)
Theoretical micro- and macrocapillaries wicking (warp way, P1).
= , (16)
or
where is the tortuosity, and denote picks per inch and
ends per inch, respectively, and is given by
ways and the theoretical vertical wicking in micro- and
= (1 + ) ( or ) . (17) macrocapillaries. It is seen from the figures that the maximum
height reached in 1800 seconds experimentally for all the
Here denotes the crimp (it is measure of waviness in samples of polyester in both warp and weft ways is more than
yarns) which can be calculated by taking out the yarns from that of the theoretical values.
the fabric and measuring crimp condition length and then When the fabric strip is dipped in liquid reservoir, the
applying force from both ends of the yarn and measuring the smaller capillaries are filled first because of higher capillary
actual length after application of force [23]. pressure followed by larger capillaries. The mass of liquid
Consider retained in small capillaries is less as compared to large
Actual length Crimp condition length capillaries. Due to less capillary pressure in large capillaries
= . (18) the liquid advancement is less but the liquid retained by
Crimp condition length
these capillaries acts as reservoir for small capillaries. Liquid
From equations (16), (17), and (18) we get reservoir is also present at the points where yarns are
intersecting. So for wicking to take place, liquid placed at the
= (1 + ) . (19) bottom of fabric strip is the main reservoir; the liquid retained
in large capillaries and at the intersection points of yarns act
2.2.3. Liquid Characteristics. The characteristics of liquid as mini reservoirs.
used for carrying out wicking test are given in Table 2. In theoretical calculation, it was assumed that the cap-
illaries are uniform. But in actual fabric capillaries are not
3. Results and Discussions uniform or continuous between fibres and yarns. It may be
assumed that in fabric a large number of small capillaries
3.1. Experimental and Theoretical Vertical Wicking of Polyester. are joined by large number of mini reservoirs which act as
Figures 7 to 14 show the results of experimental and the- source of liquid for these small capillaries. With time and
oretical vertical wicking of polyester both warp and weft gradual rise of liquid, the amount of liquid available in the
Journal of Textiles 5

Experimental and theoretical vertical wicking Theoretical micro- and macrocapillaries wicking
(weft way): P1 (weft way): P1
0.1 0.01
0.08 0.008
Height (m)

Height (m)
0.06 0.006
0.04 0.004
0.02 0.002
0 0
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800

0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
240
260
280
300
320
340
360
380
400
Time (s) Time (s)
Experimental Microcapillaries
Theoretical Macrocapillaries
(a) (b)

Figure 8: (a) Experimental and theoretical vertical wicking. (b) Theoretical micro- and macrocapillaries wicking (weft way, P1).

Experimental and theoretical vertical wicking Theoretical micro- and macrocapillaries wicking
(warp way): P2 (warp way): P2
0.1 0.01

0.08 0.008
Height (m)
Height (m)

0.06 0.006
0.04 0.004
0.02 0.002

0 0
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900

160
180
200
220
240
260
280
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140

300
320
340
360
380
400
0

Time (s) Time (s)

Experimental Microcapillaries
Theoretical Macrocapillaries
(a) (b)

Figure 9: (a) Experimental and theoretical vertical wicking. (b) Theoretical micro- and macrocapillaries wicking (warp way, P2).

Experimental and theoretical vertical wicking Theoretical micro- and macrocapillaries wicking
(weft way): P2 (weft way): P2
0.1 0.01

0.08 0.008
Height (m)
Height (m)

0.06 0.006
0.04 0.004
0.02 0.002
0 0
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900

180
200
220
240
260
280
300
320
340
360
380
400
0

0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160

Time (s) Time (s)

Experimental Microcapillaries
Theoretical Macrocapillaries
(a) (b)

Figure 10: (a) Experimental and theoretical vertical wicking. (b) Theoretical micro- and macrocapillaries wicking (weft way, P2).

subsequent mini reservoirs keeps decreasing and when the 3.2. Effect of Sample Direction for Vertical Wicking of Polyester.
pressure difference between the small capillaries and mini Samples are cut in warp way and weft way directions for
reservoirs ceases to exist, the equilibrium is achieved. Because vertical wicking test. Theoretical values are based on certain
of this reason, the experimental values are higher than the variables; change in those variables brings about change
corresponding theoretical values. in maximum height reached in warp way and weft way
6 Journal of Textiles

Experimental and theoretical vertical wicking Theoretical micro- and macrocapillaries wicking
(warp way): P3 (warp way): P3
0.1 0.01

0.08 0.008
Height (m)

Height (m)
0.06 0.006
0.04 0.004
0.02 0.002
0 0

1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900

180
200
220
240
260
280
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160

300
320
340
360
380
400
0

Time (s) Time (s)

Experimental Microcapillaries
Theoretical Macrocapillaries
(a) (b)

Figure 11: (a) Experimental and theoretical vertical wicking. (b) Theoretical micro- and macrocapillaries wicking (warp way, P3).

Experimental and theoretical vertical wicking Theoretical micro- and macrocapillaries wicking
(weft way): P3 (weft way): P3
0.1 0.01

0.08 Height (m) 0.008

Height (m)

0.06 0.006
0.04 0.004
0.02 0.002
0 0
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900

140
160
180
200
220
240
260
280
0

0
20
40
60
80
100
120

300
320
340
360
380
400
Time (s) Time (s)
Experimental Microcapillaries
Theoretical Macrocapillaries
(a) (b)

Figure 12: (a) Experimental and theoretical vertical wicking. (b) Theoretical micro- and macrocapillaries wicking (weft way, P3).

Experimental and theoretical vertical wicking Theoretical micro- and macrocapillaries wicking
(warp way): P4 (warp way): P4
0.1 0.01

0.08 0.008
Height (m)

Height (m)

0.06 0.006

0.04 0.004

0.02 0.002

0 0
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900

160
180
200
220
240
260
280
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140

300
320
340
360
380
400
0

Time (s) Time (s)

Experimental Microcapillaries
Theoretical Macrocapillaries
(a) (b)

Figure 13: (a) Experimental and theoretical vertical wicking. (b) Theoretical micro- and macrocapillaries wicking (warp way, P4).

directions. From Table 3 it can be observed that for P1 and But for the experimental values for maximum height
P2 fabric warp way wicking height is more as that of weft reached, it is observed that the maximum height reached in
way wicking height but for P3 and P4 fabric the situation is weft way is more as compared to maximum height reached in
reversed. warp way in all cases of polyester samples (Table 3).
Journal of Textiles 7

Experimental and theoretical vertical wicking Theoretical micro- and macrocapillaries wicking
(weft way): P4 (weft way): P4
0.1 0.01

0.08 0.008
Height (m)

Height (m)
0.06 0.006

0.04 0.004

0.02 0.002

0 0

1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
0

0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
240
260
280
300
320
340
360
380
400
Time (s) Time (s)
Experimental Microcapillaries
Theoretical Macrocapillaries
(a) (b)

Figure 14: (a) Experimental and theoretical vertical wicking. (b) Theoretical micro- and macrocapillaries wicking (weft way, P4).

Kinetics of vertical wicking in polyester Kinetics of vertical wicking in polyester

(warp way): tension (3 g) (weft way): tension (3 g)
0.09 0.11
0.08 0.1
0.07 0.09
0.06 0.08
Height (m)

Height (m)

0.05 0.07
0.06
0.04 0.05
0.03 0.04
0.02 0.03
0.02
0.01 0.01
0 0
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800

1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900

100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
0

Time (s) Time (s)

Polyester 1 Polyester 3 Polyester 1 Polyester 3
Polyester 2 Polyester 4 Polyester 2 Polyester 4
(a) (b)

Figure 15: Kinetics of vertical wicking in polyester at 3 g, (a) warp way and (b) weft way.

Though the same yarn was used both as warp and as the relation between pick density and wicking height. The
weft, a difference in warp way wicking and weft way wicking results obtained are significant at 95% level. Theoretical calcu-
behaviour suggests that there has to be some difference in lation of effect of pick density on wicking height is also in line
terms of size and distribution of capillaries in the respective with experimental results and may be explained as follows.
directions. The difference in tension of warp and weft yarn
during fabric formation may be responsible for difference in (i) With increase in pick density fabric structure is
size and disposition of capillaries in two directions. Warp becoming more compact, due to which thickness is
yarns, being in more stressed condition than weft yarns, have increasing gradually which is influencing the micro-
a more compact structure due to which the radius of the capillary radius. Theoretically according to (4), thick-
values of micro- and macrocapillaries formed will be less. ness (), number of fibres in yarn ( ) and fibre diam-
This will slow down the rate of capillary rise and in a given eter () can bring a change in micro capillary radius
time the height reached will be less. It is also evident from the (mi ). In this case thickness is the only variable and
experimental vertical wicking graphs (Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, the other two factors are constant. So higher thickness
12, 13, and 14) that the initial rate of wicking is greater in weft value will give higher microcapillary radius. So, as
way than in warp way which supports the difference in size pick density is increased micro capillary radius will
and disposition of capillary in warp way and weft way. increase (Table 1) and due to which capillary pressure
It may also be mentioned here that within the range will decrease which is responsible for wicking; the
investigated, irrespective of the ends per inch and picks per less the capillary pressure is, the less the wicking will
inch, the weft way wicking is more than that of the warp way be. Because of this theoretical reason, wicking height
wicking. is reduced as pick density is increased. Theoretically,
(15), change in pick density and thickness of fabric will
3.3. Effect of Change in Pick Density. As pick density incre- affect the macrocapillary radius. With increase in pick
ases, wicking height decreases. Figures 15, 16, 17, and 18 show density and thickness, the macrocapillary radius will
8 Journal of Textiles

Kinetics of vertical wicking in polyester Kinetics of vertical wicking in polyester

(warp way): tension (12 g) (weft way): tension (12 g)
0.11 0.11
0.1 0.1
0.09 0.09
0.08

Height (m)
0.08
Height (m)

0.07 0.07
0.06 0.06
0.05 0.05
0.04 0.04
0.03 0.03
0.02 0.02
0.01 0.01
0 0

1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800

1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900

100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
0

0
Time (s) Time (s)
Polyester 1 Polyester 3 Polyester 1 Polyester 3
Polyester 2 Polyester 4 Polyester 2 Polyester 4
(a) (b)

Figure 16: Kinetics of vertical wicking in polyester at 12 g, (a) warp way and (b) weft way.

Kinetics of vertical wicking in polyester Kinetics of vertical wicking in polyester

(warp way): tension ( 20 g) (weft way): tension (20 g)
0.12 0.14
0.11
0.1 0.12
0.09 0.1
Height (m)

0.08 Height (m)

0.07 0.08
0.06
0.05 0.06
0.04 0.04
0.03
0.02 0.02
0.01
0 0
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800

1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900

100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
0

Time (s) Time (s)

Polyester 1 Polyester 3 Polyester 1 Polyester 3
Polyester 2 Polyester 4 Polyester 2 Polyester 4
(a) (b)
Figure 17: Kinetics of vertical wicking in polyester at 20 g, (a) warp way and (b) weft way.

Kinetics of vertical wicking in polyester Kinetics of vertical wicking in polyester

(warp way): tension (34 g) (weft way): tension (34 g)
0.12 0.14
0.1 0.12
0.1
Height (m)

Height (m)

0.08
0.06 0.08
0.06
0.04
0.04
0.02 0.02
0 0
1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800

1000
1100
1200
1300
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900

100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
0

Time (s) Time (s)

Polyester 1 Polyester 3 Polyester 1 Polyester 3
Polyester 2 Polyester 4 Polyester 2 Polyester 4
(a) (b)

Figure 18: Kinetics of vertical wicking in polyester at 34 g, (a) warp way and (b) weft way.

decrease (Table 4). Macrocapillaries are responsible (ii) With change in pick density crimp in yarn will chan-
for short term wicking less will be the capillary radius ge. The more the pick density is, the more the crimp
less would be the initial rate and hence less wicking will be there in yarn and the more the tortuosity
height. Moreover, the liquid which is retained in these will be (19). With an increase in the tortuosity of the
capillaries will decrease. Liquid retained in capillaries capillaries, its wicking potential is reduced.
acts as reservoir and helps in increasing the wicking
height. Due to this reason as we move on to higher Fabric with pick density 30 does not follow the above-
pick density the wicking height is reduced. mentioned trend. This may be due to the fact that in this fabric
Journal of Textiles 9

Maximum height reached in 1800 sec with Maximum height reached in 1800 sec with
varying tensions (warp way): P1
varying tensions (weft way): P1
120
112.00 120 122.00
106.67 116.33

Height (mm)
Height (mm)

100
100
95.33
85.00
80 80.67
80
75.00

60 60
0g (T1) 3 g (T2) 12 g (T3) 20 g (T4) 34 g 0g (T1) 3 g (T2) 12 g (T3) 20 g (T4) 34 g
Tension (g) Tension (g)
(a) (b)

Figure 19: Maximum height reached with varying tension, (a) warp way and (b) weft way (P1).

Table 3: Maximum height reached in 1800 seconds (polyester). In actual experiment the change in wicking height with
variation in pick density may be attributed to the effect of the
P1 P2 P3 P4 above-mentioned factors either individually or collectively.
Theoretical values warp 0.053 0.044 0.049 0.051
way (m)
3.4. Effect of Change in Tension on Polyester. Wicking height
Theoretical values weft 0.050 0.043 0.050 0.052 increases with increase in tension in P2, P3, and P4 fab-
way (m)
rics (Figure 15). Due to presence of twist in yarn, when
Experimental values warp 0.085 0.082 0.083 0.075 tension was applied on fabric, the fibres inside the yarn
way (m)
will become compact (due to lateral pressure developed)
Experimental values weft 0.095 0.098 0.098 0.088 and hence more parallel along yarn axis. Because of this
way (m)
dimension of microcapillary radius is decreasing, so when
strip with tension attached at bottom is immersed in water
Table 4: Micro- and macrocapillary radius (polyester). liquid will wick in these small capillaries formed because of
higher capillary pressure developed since capillary pressure is
P2 P3 P4 inversely related to micro capillary radius.
Microcapillary At higher tension, dimensional change in capillaries is
5.037 6 6.247 6 6.359 6
radius mi (m) negligible as is observed in Figures 19, 20, 21, and 22 that
Warp macrocapillary from 20 g tension to 34 g tension. As at higher tension or
5.292 4 5.000 4 5.000 4
radius mac warp (m) after critical tension micro and macro capillaries available for
Weft macrocapillary wicking to take place are becoming constant.
6.350 4 5.080 4 4.230 4 Behaviour of P1 fabric with increase in tension is different
radius mac weft (m)
from other fabrics. In Figure 22 maximum wicking height
at 12 g tension is less than 3 g. As 3 g load is less to bring
Table 5: Thickness of polyester fabrics. any change in arrangement of fibres inside yarn and in yarn
itself. Due to smaller number of yarns in warp (EPI 48), and
P1 P2 P3 P4
weft (PPI 30) way, structure of yarn in fabric is more similar
Experimental thickness 0.000535 0.000493 0.000544 0.000549 to cylindrical structure. And when tension is increased to
(m) 12 g the cylindrical structure becomes flat due to application
Theoretical thickness 0.000526 0.000508 0.00053 0.000486 of load; hence, micro- and macrocapillaries that existed are
(m) distributed and may lead to increase in capillary radius due
to which less wicking is observed in this fabric at 12 g tension.
From 12 g to 20 g and 34 g this fabric is behaving in the same
the stress generated at yarn intersection point is less due to way as that of P2, P3, and P4.
smaller number of picks per inch and because of this the
structure of yarns is closer to cylindrical structure. This ass- 4. Conclusions
umption is also supported by the measured thickness values
of the fabric and theoretical value of thickness which is Wicking takes place through microcapillaries and macrocap-
calculated based on Pierces Geometry (Table 5). The thick- illaries in fabric. It is difficult to analyse the interconnection
ness of the fabric P1 is close to that of the fabric P3 both between micro- and macrocapillaries, so kinetics for micro-
experimentally and theoretically. capillary and macrocapillary was studied at different wicking
10 Journal of Textiles

Maximum height reached in 1800 sec with Maximum height reached in 1800 sec with
varying tensions (warp way): P2 varying tensions (weft way): P2
120 117.67 140 139.00
134.00
110.00

120

Height (mm)
100 99.33
Height (mm)

109.67
82.33 100
80 98.00

60 80
0g (T1) 3 g (T2) 12 g (T3) 20 g (T4) 34 g 0g (T1) 3 g (T2) 12 g (T3) 20 g (T4) 34 g
Tension (g) Tension (g)
(a) (b)

Figure 20: Maximum height reached with varying tension, (a) warp way and (b) weft (P2).

Maximum height reached in 1800 sec with Maximum height reached in 1800 sec with
varying tensions (warp way): P3 varying tensions (weft way): P3
120
120 119.67
116.00
103.00
100 99.00
Height (mm)

Height (mm)

100 98.33
85.00 98.00
82.67
80

60 80
0g (T1) 3 g (T2) 12 g (T3) 20 g (T4) 34 g 0g (T1) 3 g (T2) 12 g (T3) 20 g (T4) 34 g
Tension (g) Tension (g)
(a) (b)

Figure 21: Maximum height reached with varying tension, (a) warp way and (b) weft way (P3).

Maximum height reached in 1800 sec with Maximum height reached in 1800 sec with varying
varying tensions (warp way): P4 tensions (weft way): P4
120 120

104.33
Height (mm)

100
Height (mm)

105.00
90.00 100 98.00
95.00
80
75.00 73.33 87.67

60 80
0g (T1) 3 g (T2) 12 g (T3) 20 g (T4) 34 g 0g (T1) 3 g (T2) 12 g (T3) 20 g (T4) 34 g
Tension (g) Tension (g)
(a) (b)

Figure 22: Maximum height reached with varying tension, (a) warp way and (b) weft way (P4).
Journal of Textiles 11

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