The manufacture and characterization of auxetic, self-curling, and self-folding woven fabrics by helical auxetic yarns

Auxetic fabrics with traditional filaments and auxetic structures have been provided by knitting method; however, the auxetic behavior and applicability of woven fabric with auxetic yarns remain to be studied. Thus, the paper aims to present the special characters of woven fabrics with heliacal auxetic yarns. Auxetic yarns with the maximum value of Poisson's ratio −0.88 were used as weft yarns to do the weaving by the semi-automatic loom. Then the properties of the fabrics have been tested and analyzed under tensions of different directions (warp, weft, and diagonal). The results indicated that the fabric presented auxetic effect with the maximum value of Poisson's ratio −0.3 under diagonal tension and also showed self-curling and self-folding behavior in natural state. Moreover, the relationship between properties and fabric weaves was also discussed and analyzed. It is expected that the study of fabrics with helical auxetic yarns could promote the practical applications of auxetic textiles such as the self-folding property for smart cladding materials.