FABRIC OBJECTIVE MEASUREMENT - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF FABRIC CHARACTERISTICS

The general characteristics of eight fabric groups as measured by the KES-F system are described. These fabric groups are divided by fibre content, fabric construction and special finishing treatment. Using silk fabric as a reference, caustic-reduced polyester fabrics exhibit strong silk-like characteristics except in their surface properties. Liquid ammonia-treated cotton fabrics also possess a certain silky hand. Micro-fibre fabrics are soft and smooth, but they do not have the high Kishimi hand which is typical of silk fabrics. Fabric construction has some influence on fabric stiffness, but not on hysteresis. Polyester-lining fabrics have high bending stiffness and polyester/cotton fabrics have very high shear stiffness and hysteresis. These two groups of fabrics are the least silk-like. Shear properties and bending hysteresis appear to be the most important factors affecting the hand of the fabrics studied.