Evaluation of wear in needles working with open end cotton yarn

For the knitting process, needles are the main elements and latch needles are used in large quantities in weft knitting machines. Production quality of knitted fabrics is heavily dependent on the longevity and quality of the needles and they are in contact with fibers, yarns and contaminants in the structure of the yarns which results in wear. The purpose of this research is to investigate the problem of accelerated wear on latch needle especially in hook, butt and pivot parts of the latch needle in the case of using 100% cotton open-end yarn. According to the results, the needle fractured from rivet part and there were no fractures at any place of the needle. However, with reference to the SEM views of the needles, there was wear on both needle butt and interior surface of the needle hook. Also, the wear became clear as the number of knitted courses was increased.