The Relationship between Yarn Properties and Pilling Resistance in Knitted Fabrics

Pilling resistance is an important subject for apparel industry. The purpose of this research was to determine whether the physical yarn properties have an effect on pilling resistance of knitted fabrics. In addition, the other aim of work was to investigate whether significant changes in these effects with different fabric compactness and pilling test turns. Twelve different knitted fabrics were obtained with two different yarn feedings by using six yarns. Fabrics were produced by using rib knit structure in flat knitting machine. Tensile strength, elongation at break, unevenness, imperfections and hairiness of yarns were measured. Pilling resistance of fabrics was tested at 2000 and 5000 turns according to Martindale method. The relationship between yarn properties and pilling were statistically evaluated through correlation analysis. This work indicated that there were significant relationship between elongation, thin places, thick places and hairiness with pilling. However, the increased fabric compactness eliminated these yarn properties on pilling resistance except yarn hairiness. These findings suggest that fabric pilling is primarily related to the fabric structure. Moreover, a clear benefit of reduction of yarn hairiness in the prevention of pilling formation could be said independently of the effect of pilling test turns and fabric compactness.