Effects of Topographic Structure on Wettability of Differently Woven Fabrics

Optical analysis of roughness operating on the principle of chromatic aberration and dynamic wetting measurements have been used to investigate the surface properties of polyester fabrics with different woven structures. The results revealed differences in the two basic types of weave — plain and twill — with respect to the penetration behavior of water. Additionally, plain weave fabrics were manufactured using differently profiled fibers — round and cruciform. It was established that fabrics composed of fibers having a cruciform cross section are more hydrophobic than those that are round. It was shown that topographical characteristics of the fabrics strongly depend on their construction parameters such as the type and fineness of filaments, yarn fineness, yarn density, and, consequently, the type of weave. The results provide further insight into the relationship between construction parameters of fabrics of the same chemical nature and their topographic and wetting properties.