Optimization of stretch and recovery properties of woven stretch fabrics

Stretch woven fabrics are widely used owing to their comfortable properties such as formability, fitting to the human body and shape retention after wearing. These distinguishing properties are determined by stretch and recovery tests. The aim of this study is to determine the optimum elastane draw ratio, load and relaxation type for best stretch and recovery properties of woven stretch fabrics. An optimization model is developed to determine the optimum draw ratio of the elastane core in the yarn, load applied to the fabric and relaxation type for the best response variables of stretch and permanent stretch. The effects of the elastane draw ratio, load applied to the fabric and relaxation type on stretch and permanent stretch properties are found to be statistically significant according to analysis of variance results. Regression models are obtained to estimate the stretch and recovery properties for different elastane draw ratios and load levels. Additionally, the effect of the elastane draw ratio of the yarn on the fatigue properties of woven bi-stretch fabrics is investigated for dry relaxed and laundered states.