Influences of Process Parameters on Thermophysiological Comfort of Mechanically Recycled PET and Wool-blended Woven Fabrics

Large volumes of plastic waste are currently being generated, posing a significant challenge for waste management. Refurbishing plastic waste into value-added textile products is one of the potent options for handling waste. There is a need to design fabrics from recycled materials without compromising the essential properties. This research article focuses on the impact of incorporating recycled polyester fibre with wool into woven fabric for suiting applications. This research explores the influences of yarn blend, linear density and twist multiplier on the thermophysiological comfort of mechanically recycled polyester and wool-blended woven fabrics. Fabric comfort was assessed based on instrumental parameters, such as air permeability, water vapour permeability, moisture management, thermal conductivity, thermal resistance, thermal absorptivity and surface roughness. It is observed that increasing the amount of recycled polyester fibre improved the thermal conductivity, air and moisture vapour transmission, fabric roughness and moisture management. Higher wool content improved the thermal insulation. Finer yarn samples demonstrated enhanced air and water vapour permeability. Coarser fabric samples showed higher surface roughness, better thermal resistance and moisture management. Increasing the yarn twist multiplier increased the fabric roughness and enhanced air, thermal and moisture vapour transmission, thermal absorptivity, and overall moisture management, but it also reduced thermal resistance in fabrics.