Yarn conditioning is fixing the amount of moisture in the yarns. It is possible by conditioning them in a humidified environment[1][2][3] or with the help of a conditioning machine.[4][5]
A fiber's moisture regain is defined as "the amount of moisture that a material is able to reabsorb after its [sic] has been dried". It is expressed as a weight/weight percentage (w/w%) of water in a fiber versus the fiber's dry weight.[6]
Different textile fibers have distinct moisture regain. For example, cotton has a moisture regain of 7%, and silk has a moisture regain of 11%.[7]
In a yarn, moisture content is the moisture present in the yarn, expressed as a percentage of the total weight of the yarn. Moisture content is one of the most important tests on a yarn;[9] a fiber's moisture content will affect the entire manufacturing process, as it affects the physical properties of a material. For instance, during yarn manufacturing, the moisture content in a yarn is lowered, which may have a negative impact on the yarn's properties.[further explanation needed] Therefore, it is considered crucial to maintain a fiber's moisture percentage throughout manufacturing. Yarn conditioning after manufacture ensures a specific property of moisture regain before sale, improving the characteristics of the resulting yarn, such as improved flexibility and strength.[1][10][11]
Importance of moisture
The presence of water plays a crucial role in the mechanical behavior of natural fibers. Hydrated biopolymers generally have enhanced ductility and toughness. Water plays the role of a plasticizer, a small molecule easing passage of polymer chains and in doing so increasing ductility and toughness. When using natural fibers in applications outside of their native use, the original level of hydration must be taken into account. For example, when hydrated, the Young's Modulus of collagen decreases from 3.26 to 0.6 GPa and becomes both more ductile and tougher. Additionally the density of collagen decreases from 1.34–1.18g/cm3 (0.048–0.043lb/cuin).[12]
↑ Hollen, Norma R.; Hollen, Norma R. Textiles (1988). Textiles. Internet Archive. New York: Macmillan. ISBN978-0-02-367530-0.
↑ Kadolph, Sara J. (1998). Textiles. Internet Archive. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Merrill. pp.38, 44, 56, 64, 85, 91, 102, 110, 120, 124, 129. ISBN978-0-13-494592-7.
↑ Limited, Associated Industrial Consultants (1970). The testing of yarn. H.M. Stationery Office. p.12.{{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
↑ Reichman, Charles (1963). Guide to the Manufacture of Sweaters, Knit Shirts, and Swimwear. National Knitted OUterwear Association. YARN TESTING – A number of simple tests are available to the knitter to spot check the yarns he purchases for moisture content, count, twist and yarn uniformity and appearance. Such checking is important for purposes not only of quality [...]
