Wrinkle Recovery of Flax Fabrics with Embedded Superelastic Shape Memory Alloys Wires

The present study explores the possibility of using superelastic Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wires to improve the wrinkle recovery of flax fabrics that exhibit very poor recovery from creasing. Three types of hybrid yarns (H1- H3) were developed consisting of a SMA wire (Ni-Ti alloy) as the core, with a textile shield around it. Hybrid fabrics (HF1 - HF3) were developed by embedding the hybrid yarns in both the warp and weft directions of a fabric, to bring about all-direction recovery from creasing. The wrinkle recovery angles (WRAs) of the hybrid fabrics were assessed in both dry (RH 65%) and wet (RH 90%) conditions, and they were compared with those of reference flax fabrics (RF) and forth hybrid fabric (HF0) with Ni-Ti SMA wires embedded. The results showed a significant increase in the Wrikle Recover Angle (WRA) for all hybrid fabrics, from about 40 to approximately 120 degrees. Statistically significant differences were noticed between the WRA of hybrid fabrics HF2 and HF3 in dry conditions, as well as a significant variation in the WRA with humidity for hybrid fabric HF2. In addition, the bending properties of the four hybrid fabrics were assessed, but no significant correlation was found between these properties and the WRA of the hybrid fabrics.