Non-destructive evaluation of vertical moisture transport in knitted textiles using infrared thermography

The vertical capillary wicking performance of fabrics is a critical factor in determining human comfort during wear. Infrared thermography was developed as a non-contact method to quantify vertical capillary wicking in knitted fabrics. The system processes an infrared video, extracting 900 ROI images. Image pre-processing and K-Means clustering segment the wicking area to derive eight geometric and intensity metrics. Grayscale-to-temperature mapping visualized wicking dynamics, revealing rapid and slow wicking phases. Radar chart analysis comprehensively evaluated fabric performance in course and wale directions. Results showed sample 1 (honeycomb mesh structure) achieved the highest wale direction area score (1.45) on the radar chart. Its higher wale-direction stitch density provided more moisture pathways, forming a ‘micro-pipeline’ network. The honeycomb structure further interconnected channels, enhancing moisture absorption and capillary performance. This non-invasive approach provides textile engineers a quantifiable tool for optimizing moisture management in functional apparel design.