A Study on Influencing Factors for Wetting and Wicking Behaviour

摘要

The basic requirement of fabric worn next to skin should assist for the moisture release to the atmosphere. For which the study on wetting and wicking behaviour is helpful to enhance the above said requirement. The airflow through the fabric makes the moisture to evaporate quickly to the atmosphere, for that the capillary path in the fibre plays an important role in the transformation of moisture. Some chemical treatments to the fabric will enhance the above said required properties. Those chemically treated fabrics have very good wetting and wicking behaviour, which improves the wearing comfort. The thickness of the fabric governs the transverse wicking behaviour. In this paper, wetting and wicking behaviour of polypropylene and cotton were dealt with. The special requirement for sportswear and also the influence of chemical treated fibre on wetting and wicking characteristics were discussed. Wetting characteristics of enzyme treated polyester and the influence of sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide bleached, materials behaviour on wetting and wicking were dealt with. The hydrophilic polymers are used to provide waterproof breathable fabrics and their wetting behavior, which is essential characteristics for protective clothing, is also discussed in this paper.