Determining Residual Torsional Energy Limits in Plied versus Alternate Feed Single Jersey Knits
Plied yarns neutralize torsional spirality within the strand cross-section, while alternate feeds distribute opposed stresses across alternating courses.
Wet Relaxation
Recovery Stage
Physical relaxation in water allows knitted textiles to release internal stresses stored within the loops during fabric manufacture. Through wet relaxation, the fabric structure returns to its most stable energy state as the yarn loops adjust their shape. The process is a necessary step in characterizing the true dimensions of a knit fabric.
Fabric Shrinkage
Tension applied during spinning, winding, and knitting deforms the loops into an elongated shape. Immersing the fabric in water during wet relaxation allows these loops to shorten and widen, which causes the fabric to contract. Measuring this change gives garment makers a realistic preview of how the fabric will behave during commercial garment washing.
Understanding this behavior prevents the manufacture of garments that fail size specifications after the first laundering cycle.
Yarn Adjustment
Swelling of the fibers in water reduces the friction between adjacent yarns, enabling them to move more freely. This movement helps redistribute the yarn twist evenly across the loops, which reduces fabric spirality and seam twist. Correcting these imbalances before the fabric is cut minimizes the risk of producing distorted garments.
Performance Standard
Quality assurance protocols use standardized wetting procedures to test fabric stability before bulk production begins. Monitoring wet relaxation helps technicians set appropriate heat-setting and finishing parameters. This preventive measure protects factories from costly claims related to garment shrinkage.