Friction of cotton yarn in relation to fluff formation on circular knitting machines

The problem of fluff formation on circular knitting machines from spun yarns like cotton is investigated in order to study the amount of fluff with respect to knitting conditions, including yarn tension, yarn feeding speed, and angle. A novel test-rig is designed to measure tension variation and the extent of fluff generation. The results demonstrate that the amount of fluff is influenced by yarn tension, which is caused by yarn friction with the knitting elements.