Factors affecting knitted fabric slipperiness and smoothness

In this study, the factors affecting the slipperiness and smoothness of knitted fabrics were statistically analyzed to facilitate the effective design and development of knitted fabrics. Both slipperiness and smoothness are important properties of a fabric, with impacts on clothing comfort, sports records and the medical or safety performance of textile products. In this study, the average value of frictional coefficient (MIU) of a knitted fabric, which is correlated with the slipperiness of the fabric, and the fluctuations of the average frictional coefficient (MMD), which is correlated with the smoothness of the fabric, were measured by using a friction tester (KES-SE). The friction coefficient of the knitted fabric was found to depend on three factors: linearity of the loop arrangement, fuzziness and real contact area of the fabric. The contribution ratio of each factor to fabric slipperiness was calculated. In addition, the friction coefficient of the fabric was highly correlated with its course or wale densities. On the other hand, the smoothness of the fabric was affected by the linearity of fabric loop arrangement, but not by fabric fuzziness or the real contact area.