Influence of fabric structure and finishing pattern on the thermal and moisture management properties of unidirectional water transport knitted polyester fabrics

The thermal-wet-comfort characteristic of fabrics is primary to clothing for human bodies. The comfort aptitudes in the fabrics increase the significance of attire and are gaining more interest in the global market. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of finishing patterns and fabric structure parameters on the comfort performance, air permeability, wicking effect, one-way water transport properties and thermal-physiological properties of unidirectional water transport knitted polyester fabrics. Eight samples are developed by hydrophobic finishing, which possessed good moisture management properties. The result implies that with the intensity of pores, there is an increase in the capillary effect of moisture absorption and transportation in the fabrics. Further, the escalation of the hydrophilic area to a hydrophobic area and regularity in the finishing pattern make the fabrics better in performance for unidirectional water transmission and thermal-wet comfortability. The statistical analysis indicates that the fabric structure and finishing patterns have a significant effect (p = 0.01) on moisture management properties. The fabric with a rib air structure and finishing pattern with ratio (69%) of the hydrophilic area to the hydrophobic area has the best regularity and moisture management property.