In this study, six different woven samples were produced on air jet loom with two different weave designs (i.e. 3/1 twill and 1/1 plain), three different picking sequences (i.e. single pick insertion (SPI), double pick insertion (DPI) and three pick insertion (3PI)). All the woven samples were singed, desized, bleached and finished together at industrial scale, as a single lot. The effect of these factors on the wetting, wicking and air permeability (AP) of the fabric samples was analysed. It was revealed that the fabric weave design and picking sequence has statistically significant effect on fabric wetting time, water spreading speed and AP of the fabric. It was found that fabrics woven in twill weave design and with simultaneous 3PI give significantly better AP, shorter wetting time and better water spreading rate as compared to plain woven fabrics and those with double or SPI. It could be concluded that the thermophysiological comfort of woven fabrics may be significantly improved simply by selecting a suitable weave design and picking sequence.

A sustainable approach to composites is leading to the use of natural fibers rather than synthetic materials, like carbon or glass, for reinforcement. However, the higher moisture absorption of natural fibers impairs the composite’s mechanical properties. Therefore, to improve the mechanical properties, some chemical treatments like silane and fluorocarbon can be performed to reduce the moisture absorption of natural fibers. In this study, flax was used as reinforcement, and epoxy was used as a matrix. In the first part of the study, flax reinforcement was treated with different concentrations of silane (20, 40, and 60 g/L) and fluorocarbons (80, 100, and 120 g/L). Moisture regains (MRs), absorbency, and tensile strength were measured at reinforcement levels. According to the results, reinforcements treated with 60 g/L silane (S3) and 120 g/L fluorocarbons (F3) exhibited the lowest MR values of 7.09% and 3.06%, respectively, whereas water absorbency was significantly reduced. The sample treated with 120 g/L fluorocarbons required 300 seconds extra time to absorb the water as compared with the untreated sample, whereas samples S3 and F3 showed an increase in tensile strength by 20.16% and 34.80% when compared with untreated reinforcement flax reinforcement. In the second part of the study, untreated and treated flax reinforcements were combined with an epoxy matrix for composite fabrication. MR and mechanical tests (tensile, flexural, and Charpy impact tests) were performed. Results revealed that treated flax-reinforced composites exhibited lower MR values 0.86% for F3 and 0.42% for S3, respectively. The tensile, flexural, and pendulum impact strengths of silane-treated reinforced composite sample C.S3 were increased by 15.07%, 117%, and 20.01%, respectively, compared with untreated reinforced composite samples. Consequently, both chemical treatments improve composite mechanical performance as well as service life.

The objective of this research is to develop the woven/knitted hybrid composites for improved in plane as well as out of plane mechanical properties. Two different type of structures and two different materials were used in this study. Firstly, the woven and knitted fabrics were developed with glass and Kevlar yarn. Secondly, the laminated composite samples were fabricated with different stacking sequence of fabric plies. The epoxy resin was used as matrix. The cured samples were characterized for impact, tensile and dynamic mechanical properties. The behavior of composite materials was then analyzed with percentages of different fiber and fabric types. The samples with higher percentages of knitted reinforcement gave better impact strength but failed to provide better tensile properties. Moreover, the samples with higher percentages of woven structure and glass materials gives better modulus values.

The paper focuses on the development of a bilayer-woven fabric and investigating the effect of weave design and material type on its comfort properties. Face layer was plain woven with cotton yarn, while two different weave designs (2/2 and 3/1 twill) and four different materials (cotton, polyester, micropolyester and nylon) were used for the back layer. The comfort properties of fabric, including air permeability (AP), thermal resistance, water vapour resistance and overall moisture management capacity, were determined. It was found that both the layers of fabric as a whole contribute to the comfort properties of bilayer fabric. The highest AP was exhibited by fabrics having both layers of cotton, while 3/1 twill samples have a lower value of thermal resistance as compared to the 2/2 twill samples. The results further showed that micro polyester woven in 3/1 twill weave exhibits better comfort properties.

Improvement in mechanical properties of natural fiber reinforced polymeric composites remain a key focus of researchers in the recent years. However, few studies have been carried out for the improvement in low velocity impact properties of such composites. In the present article, the results on the effect of weave structure of reinforcing fabric and addition of glass microsphere fillers (GMS) on the drop weight impact properties of Hemp/Green epoxy composite samples are reported for the first time. Hemp woven fabrics having four different weave structures (matt, satin, hybrid weave A and hybrid weave B) were developed in an inhouse lab. Four layered composites containing glass microspheres (0%, 2%, 3.5% and 5% on the weight of resin) were fabricated using vacuum bag molding. Drop weight impact testing was performed at 10 J impact energy, and force-displacement, force-time and energy absorbed-time behaviors were recorded and analyzed. The results were statistically analyzed as well. It was found that both weave design and glass microspheres show a significant effect on impact properties of the developed composites. The composite sample reinforced with satin woven reinforcement exhibited maximum value of impact force, whereas composite samples containing 5% glass microspheres display more resilience and stiffness as compared to other structures.