FTTS-FA-004 Moisture Transferring and Quick Drying Textiles
The quick drying capability of textiles (absorption of moisture and perspiration) is usually derived from profile fibers/fabrics, special weave structure or absorbent finishing. Textiles that transfer moisture and dry quickly mainly rely either on capillary action in their fibers/fabrics or moisture absorbency to quickly absorb moisture on skin surface and wick it away to textile surface. Affected by diffusion and air convection on textile surface, the moisture quickly evaporates, leaving the textile dry. These textiles are especially useful in hot climates or during intense workouts. They absorb huge amounts of perspiration, speed moisture to outer surface and keep the body dry. The capability of a textile to absorb water is called hygroscopicity and is measured by ‘wicking height’ and ‘water diffusion speed’. The capability of driving out sweat is known as ‘drying ability’ and is measured by ‘drying rate’.
Purpose and Scope
This criterion is applicable to evaluate the ability of moisture transferring and quick drying textiles in perspiration (simulated by water) transferring and quick drying.
Performance specification
3.1 The grading for the textiles performance in water diffusion ability
Table 1. The grading of water diffusion ability
|
Index of wetting area after 20 seconds
|
Grade
|
Classification
|
|
Knitted
|
Woven
|
|
X≧10
|
X≧9
|
5
|
Excellent
|
|
5≦X＜10
|
5≦X＜9
|
4
|
Very Good
|
|
3≦X＜5
|
3≦X＜5
|
3
|
Good
|
|
1.6≦X＜3
|
1≦X＜3
|
2
|
Moderate
|
|
X＜1.6
|
X＜1
|
1
|
Fair
|
3.2 The grading for the textiles performance in drying ability
Table 2. The grading of drying ability
|
Remained water ration at the 40th minute (%)
|
Grade
|
|
Knitted
|
Woven
|
|
X
|
X
|
5
|
|
13≦X
|
3≦X
|
4
|
|
26≦X
|
10≦X
|
3
|
|
35≦X
|
20≦X
|
2
|
|
X≧50
|
X≧37
|
1
|
3.3 The grading for the textiles performance in absorbency speed – dripping method
Recommendation: to meet the performance requirement of moisture transferring and quick drying textiles in absorbency, for knitted fabric the average time for no reflection of water droplet shall not be more than 2 seconds; for woven fabric the average time shall not be more than 5 seconds.
3.4 The grading for textiles performance in absorbency speed – Byreck method
To meet the requirement, both woven and knitted fabrics will have to reach the following standards in both warpwise (wale) and fillingwise (course) wicking heights.
Table 4. The grading of absorbency speed
|
Wicking height (mm)
|
Grade
|
|
Woven/knitted fabric
|
|
warpwise (wale)/fillingwise (course) direction
|
|
X≧130
|
5
|
|
100≦X
|
4
|
|
80≦X
|
3
|
|
50≦X
|
2
|
|
X
|
1
|
|
