Mechanical Properties of Micro Modal Air Vortex Yarns and the Tactile Wear Comfort of Knitted Fabrics

This study examined the mechanical properties of micro modal yarns and their knitted fabrics spun using ring, compact, and air vortex spinning machines. The micro modal air vortex yarn was more irregular than those of the ring and compact yarns but there were significantly fewer and shorter hairy fibers on the air vortex yarn surface than those of the ring and compact yarns. In addition, the neps of the air vortex yarns were also much lower than those of the ring and compact yarns. This was attributed to the fine denier of the micro modal fibers in the air vortex yarns. The tenacity and breaking strain of the air vortex yarns were lower than those of the ring and compact yarns because of the high yarn unevenness of the air vortex yarn. On the other hand, the initial modulus of the air vortex yarns was higher than those of the ring and compact yarns, which was attributed to a fasciated air vortex yarn structure. The wet and dry thermal shrinkage of the air vortex yarns were higher than those of the ring and compact yarns. The knitted fabric from the air vortex yarn had higher bending rigidity and lower compressibility with slightly greater formability than the fabrics produced from the ring and compact yarn. This was caused by the fasciated air vortex yarn structure with a less hairy and non-bulky assembly due to the fine micro modal fibers. In addition, the similar extensibility and shear modulus of the air vortex knitted fabrics to those of the ring and compact knitted fabrics composed of fine micro fibers were associated with their supple hand similar to the ring and compact knitted fabrics and better tailoring performance due to the high formability, which would justify their use as apparel fabrics.