Effects of yarn type, process history, softener type and concentration on wicking and drying properties of cotton plain knitted fabrics

Wicking and drying performances of knitted cotton fabrics made from siro, ring and open-end yarns were investigated before and after bleaching and dyeing procedures. Moreover, the samples were treated with cationic, non-ionic and silicone softeners at various concentrations. The data obtained were evaluated using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) as well as independent t-tests, and the results were discussed comparatively. The results showed that the selected parameters were highly effective on the wicking and drying behaviors of cotton plain knitted fabrics. Fabrics made from siro yarns tended to perform better. Dyeing process caused improvement of fabric wicking and drying behaviors. Also, application of silicone, especially at higher concentrations, was shown to negatively affect the discussed comfort properties, probably due to silicone double-layer formation with polar outside.