Compression properties of knitted fabrics printed by sublimation transfer printing technique

Compression properties of textile materials are useful for determining fullness, softness, smoothness, and stiffness. In addition, compression parameters have significant influence on fabric hand value and quality of textile materials. The present paper reports a study of the sublimation printing process influence on the change in compression properties of knitted fabrics (polyester, cotton, and cotton/ polyester) intended for sportswear manufacturing. For that purpose, the KES-FB3-A Compression Tester was used for measuring compression parameters of knitted fabrics. The parameters, which contributed to the smallest reduction percentage in compression properties of polyester knitted fabrics were yarn linear density and weight. For cotton-rich knitted fabrics sublimation coating powder was used for paper modification to bond disperse dyes to cotton fibres. The analysis of the results showed that the printing process had a smaller influence on the change of compression parameters of polyesters in relation to cotton and cotton/polyester knitted fabrics. It was noted that the printing process had the effect of thickness reduction for all knitted fabrics to varying degrees. Printing process contributed to small decrease in compressibility and specific volume values for polyester knitted fabrics. The modification process contributed to the significant reduction of the compressibility for cotton (from 34.46% to 47.89%) and cotton/polyester (from 38.81% to 50.75%) knitted fabrics. In addition, reduction in specific volume values range from 41.86% to 44.19% for cotton and from 42.37% to 45.75% for cotton/ polyester knitted fabrics was notted.