Effect of abrasion level on surface handling and thermal conductivity of blended suit fabrics

The tactile comfort of garments is of great interest for researchers to achieve their performance efficiently. This research aims to study the ability of blended worsted fabrics to be used as men's suits by checking the thermal conductivity (k) and surface handling properties that are represented in surface roughness deviation (SMD), surface mean friction (MIU), and electrostatic properties before and after abrasion actions. Different levels of weft yarn counts (16 Ne and 24), weft density (19 and 21 per cm) and fabric weave structures (stripped twill 2/2 and stripped satin 4) were used. Abrasion weight loss percentage, thermal conductivity, surface roughness, and friction in warp and weft directions, and electrostatic properties were measured. Results showed that all the fabric factors studied are significant to affect abrasion weight loss percentages, thermal conductivity, and fabric roughness in the weft and warp directions. Fabric friction behavior follows the fabric roughness, but there is a difference between weft direction and warp direction. In addition, the fabrics achieved a reasonable resistance to form static charges after abrasion actions, and the fabric factors studied are not significant to affect the electrostatic properties except for abrasion cycles as P-value equals 0.03.