Preparation and properties of polyimide air-jet textured yarns and their woven fabrics

Two kinds of air-textured polyimide yarns with different overfeed ratios (0.5/2 and 8/8) were prepared by air-jet texturing technique, and three kinds of woven fabrics with similar tightness and thickness were produced with the same warp yarn but different weft yarns (polyimide flat yarn and the two air-jet textured polyimide yarns, respectively). The influence of air-jet textured yarn on the wearing properties of the fabrics was explored. The results show that, compared with the fabric containing polyimide flat yarn, the fabrics woven with polyimide air-jet textured yarns possess lower mechanical properties but have better air permeability, moisture permeability, heat resistance and luster. In addition, the smaller contact angle and larger wicking height of polyimide air-jet textured yarn fabrics indicate that the hydrophilicity of polyimide fabrics was improved. The effect of air-jet textured yarn on the hydrophilicity of polyimide fabrics was explained by Wenzel rough model and fabric surface roughness characteristics.