Factors Affecting Dimensional Properties of Cotton 1×1 Rib Knitted Fabrics

The effect of fabric tightness (K) and relaxation treatment on the dimensional parameters (Uc;, Uw; , Us; =Uc; ×Uw;, Uc; /Uw; ) and the ratio t/l for 1×1 rib knitted fabrics is investigated experimentally, using two kinds of nylon sewing threads (filament yarn and textured filament yarn), and three kinds of cotton yarns (two plied yarn:20s/2, three plied yarn:30s/3 and three-paralleled yarn:30s//3). For 1×1 rib fabrics knitted of nylon sewing threads, the dimensional parameters are approximately constant and are independent of the fabric tightness and the method of relaxation treatments used. The ratio t/l increases with the increase of fabric tightness and is independent of the method of relaxation treatments used. For cotton 1×1 rib knitted fabrics after laundering treatment-1, the dimensional parameters are dependent on the fabric tightness and the method of relaxation treatments used. Although the values of Us; after laundering treatrnent-3 for cotton 1×1 rib fabrics knitted of plied yarns are close enough to a constant, those knitted of a paralleled yarn after laundering treatment-3 decrease rapidly with the decrease of fabric tightness. The ratio t/l of each fabric increases linearly with the increase of fabric tightness and is also dependent on the yarn folding types and the method of relaxation treatments used.