Wool/polyester mixed knitted fabrics with three-layer double-side structure for personal heat and humidity management

Unidirectional moisture-transfer knitted fabrics play a crucial role in regulating body heat and moisture comfort. However, conventional moisture-conducting knitted fabrics primarily rely on single-sided plated stitches or double-sided fabrics connected by loops or tucks, lacking innovative multilayer structure designs. This study employed integrated knitting technology to fabricate three-layer double-sided moisture-conducting fabrics by incorporating the plated structure into the double-sided stitches. Two structures (A and B) were designed using ordinary polyester, ultrafine polyester, and wool yarns, with 10 fabrics knitted by varying the yarn types and layer positioning. A systematic evaluation of their properties was conducted. Results indicated that wool-containing fabrics exhibited better thermal insulation but reduced air permeability, moisture permeability, and moisture conductivity in comparison to wool-free fabrics. The positioning of wool yarns (inner, middle, and outer layers) significantly influenced fabric performance. Fabrics with wool plated in the inner layer demonstrated better performance compared with other wool-containing fabric configurations. The comprehensive evaluation results showed that structure B fabrics performed superior overall performance for garment applications compared with structure A. Furthermore, this knitting process presents a new approach to gradient moisture-conducting knitted fabric design.