Method for Evaluating the Elastic Properties of Knitted Fabrics

Abstract

A device is described which was designed and built primarily for evaluating the visco-elastic behavior of knitted fabrics. This apparatus can be used in measuring the stretch and elastic recovery of knitted materials in either the lengthwise or crosswise direction or in both directions simultaneously when various loads are applied. Measurements made with this machine are presented which show the relationship between strain and elastic recovery in plain knit fabrics of cotton, nylon, rayon, and wool. Elastic re covery values as determined on the new device are considerably higher than those obtained with the incline-plane serigraph machine commonly employed in determining the breaking strength and elongation of yarns. This difference in values is due to the fact that in the method using the incline-plane machine only the recovery which occurs instantaneously is measured, whereas with the new device it is possible to determine the combined instantaneous and delayed recovery.