Thermal comfort properties of weft knitted quilted fabrics

Purpose This paper investigates the thermal comfort properties of quilted (jersey cord) fabrics produced with different width of diamond pattern, different filling yarn linear density and different types of material. Design/methodology/approach A total of 12 fabrics were knitted by varying the width of diamond pattern (1 and 3 cm), the filling yarn linear density (300 and 900 denier) and the type of materials (cotton, polyester and their combination). In this regard, air permeability, thermal conductivity, thermal resistance, thermal absorptivity and relative water vapor permeability of these fabrics were measured and evaluated statistically. Findings The results showed that fabrics knitted using cotton yarn in both front and back surfaces exhibit higher thermal conductivity, thermal absorptivity and relative water vapor permeability characteristics; whereas samples knitted using polyester yarn in both surfaces have higher air permeability and thermal resistance. As the linear density of filling yarn increases, thickness and thermal resistance of the samples increase and air permeability, thermal conductivity, water vapor permeability characteristics decrease. When the effect of the width of diamond pattern compared, it is seen that an increase in the width of pattern lead to an increase in thickness and thermal resistance and a decrease in thermal conductivity, thermal absorptivity and water vapor permeability values. Originality/value Many researches were carried out on the thermal comfort properties of knitted fabrics, however there is a lack of research efforts regarding thermal comfort properties of quilted fabrics.