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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Structure and Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #174369
Title: Tensile properties of various cotton and Dyneema blend yarns

Author
item Kimmel, Linda
item Sawhney, Amar
item Delhom, Chris

Submitted to: Indian Journal of Fibre and Textile Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/9/2005
Publication Date: 9/15/2006
Citation: Kimmel, L.B., Sawhney, A.P., Delhom, C.D. 2006. Tensile properties of various cotton and Dyneema blend yarns. Indian Journal of Fibre and Textile Research. 31(3):376-380.

Interpretive Summary: A series or ring and rotor spun yarns were produced from low-level blends of ultra high-strength polyethylene(PE)fibers of varied levels of fineness eith selected white and colored cottons at different levels of twist. The addition of small quantities of PE fiber is shown to substantially increase the yarn tenacity and breaking elongation of certain cotton-bleend yarns, particularly those made from brown cotton. The resultant yarn tenacity appears to be influenced by the fineness of the constituent fibers and the level of yarn twist. The effect is more pronounced for the colored cottons than for the PR blends with white cotton. Yarn strength tends to increase the brown and white cottons as tiwst increases, while yarn strength tends to decrease in the green cotton yarns with increasing wtist within the range tested. The finer PE fiber causes a greater improvement in yarn strength than the coarser PE fiber. The vastly different frictional properties and geometries of the constitent cottons and synthetic fibers likely play a role in the blending and tenacity of the resultant yarns. The ability to significantly increase the strength of colored cotton-blend yarns with small amounts of PE enables the production of stronger yarns from colored cotton with mininmal impact on color. It is speculated that such cotton/Dyneema blends may be used in special-purpose denims, where pure cotton yarns (whether white or naturally colored) or the traditional cotton-rich blend yarns may not meet the performance requirements for strength, serviceability, or other fabric properties.

Technical Abstract: A series of ring and rotor yarns were produced from blends of ultra high-strength gel-spun polyethylene (PE) fibers of varied geometry with selected white and colored cottons at different levels of twist. It is concluded that the addition of small quantities of PE fiber can significantly increase the yarn tenacity and breaking elongation of certain cotton-blend yarns. The resultant yarn tenacity appears to be influenced by the fineness of the constituent fibers and the level of yarn twist. The effect is more pronounced for the blends with green and brown cottons than for the blends with white cotton. Yarn strength tends to increase for the brown and white cottons with increasing twist while yarn strength decreases in the green cotton yarns with increasing twist in the range tested. The finer 1-denier PE additive causes more improvement in strength than the coarser 2-denier PE fiber. The vastly different frictional and geometric properties of the subject cottons and synthetic fibers could possibly play a role in the uniformity of blending and the resultant yarn tenacity. The ability to significantly increase the strength of colored cotton-blend yarns with small amounts of PE enables the production of stronger yarns from colored cotton with minimal change in color. Such cotton/Dyneema blends may be used in special-purpose denims, where pure cotton yarns (white or naturally colored) or the traditional cotton-rich blend yarns may not meet the performance requirements for strength or serviceability.