Analysis of functional products for medical textiles indicates that there are plenty of different classifications of this group. Requirements for compression generated by compression garments differ depending on the application area, and even more, sometimes are contradictory and can be fulfilled in very different ways. The effectiveness of such products depends on mechanical and physical properties as well as psychological barriers. Currently, there is no uniform classification of compression classes, furthermore, there is no uniform standard, test method or technic for evaluation of the product’ compression. Knitted compression fabrics are made by knitting together at least two types of yarns: a ground yarn which ensures stiffness and thickness and an elastomeric yarn which generates compression. Knitted compression products can be produced on both flat and circular knitting machines, though parameters and usage of production are different. Additional elements used in the structure of the compression product can significantly change the generated compression. Purposes and number of additional details depend on the application and functionality of the compression support, nevertheless, all rigid elements must be taken into account at the designing stage. Additional functionality like antimicrobial activity or thermal therapy can also be provided for compression knits. It is highly important to ensure the longevity of all functional properties.

The features of elasticized knitted fabric are: high extensibility, elasticity and adaptability to a body shape and a compression effect when it is used in the extended state. The elasticity of a knitted fabric is enhanced by the incorporation of elastane thread or core-spun yarn into the knitted structure as the weft yarn that is laid in the stretching direction. The quality of elasticized knitted fabrics is determined by the reliability of the how the elastomeric yarn is fixed within as the structure is deformed with an increase in the contact areas between the elastomeric and conventional yarns. The high fixing level can be achieved by the nature of loops formed from the elastomeric yarn. The simultaneous union of both conditions is possible with miss-knitting of elastomeric yarn through a certain number of needles. The main purpose of this study is to establish the influence of miss knit repeat of elastomeric yarn on the structural parameters and determine the stretch properties of the elasticized knitted fabric that formed by an alternation of two courses of 1x1 rib from cotton yarn and one course of miss knit (from 2 to 10 wales between the loops) from core-spun yarn with elastane core.

The purpose of the study is to design and develop an instrument for non-destructive measurement of basis weight of fabrics. Weight per square meter is a major product quality of textile materials but its control during production is still limited. The observed dependency of the amplitude pulsed ultrasonic signal transmitted through a textile material on its basis weight informed the recommendation of this method for determining the basis weight of fabrics. The ultrasonic method of non-destructive testing of basis weight of textile materials has been incorporated into the experimental system. We investigated the basis weight of woven fabrics using the proposed ultrasonic system and the standard method and the results show high correlation. It is concluded that the proposed ultrasonic method can be used for the continuous operational control of the basis weight of textile materials during production.

Two main methods employed in designing knitted fabrics for production rely on a given surface density or on the basis weight (grams per square meter). The actual value of these parameters may differ. Normally, the actual basis weight of knitted fabrics is determined by weighing a sample of a certain width and length and subsequently performing the relevant conversion (ISO 3801:1977). This method involves a destruction or wasting of the material. A non-destructive ultrasonic method for determining the basis weight of textile materials was developed, which is based on a determination of the amplitude ratio of ultrasonic waves falling on the fabric and the waves passing through it. However, this method has limitations in determining the basis weight of textile materials with variable porosity, such as knitted fabrics. To improve the developed method, it is proposed to continue the measuring of an amplitude of the reflected wave from the fabric surface. In this case, it is possible to monitor the fabric porosity changes. If the distance and pore size of the controlled fabric have increased or decreased relative to the control sample, the amplitude and magnitude of the reflected wave (part of the reflected ultrasonic signal) changes and the ultrasonic device will be adapted to the fabric structure. Our studies have demonstrated the possibility of determining the fabric porosity by using an amplitude of the reflected ultrasonic wave from the fabric surface, which allows adaptively to determine the basis weight using an amplitude of transmitted ultrasonic wave. Further development of ultrasonic non-contact methods and relative devises is very important for production control.

The high speed (4D) body scanning provides technical possibility for accurate measurements of the body geometry and can be applied not only for moving objects, but as well for evaluating the changes of static geometry with time. This information is important for compression socks, because it provides data regarding the relaxation processes of the textile product and of the human leg. In this work, changes of the body geometry after 1 and 4 hours with compression socks are investigated. Up to 9% changes of the cross section areas and up to 5.5% of changes of the circumference between the position at the starting point and after 4 hours are detected. Additionally the differences between the both legs of the investigated person and of the different (upper- and bottom) part of the leg are observed. It is the first step to the digitalization of the personal compression stocking design.

Compression therapy can be successfully applied to the treatment of amputated limbs. Compression is known to speed healing and reduce the appearance of complex scars. This is particularly relevant as the number of amputations increases, especially during times of war, such as the current war in Ukraine. For the research presented in this article, compression knits of two pattern repeats and twelve structural variations each were created. We investigated how the compression generated by the knit is influenced by the main factors which theoretically could have an effect: knitting pattern, density of loops, speed of the wheel supplying elastomeric inlay-yarn into the knitting zone, and elongation resulting from the difference between the knitted limb cover and limb circumference. It was found that in the area of low elongations (up to 50%) of the investigated elastomeric knits, the speed of supply of the inlay-yarn does not have a significant influence on the compression. However, the effect of loop density and knitting elongation on the generated compression is significant and manifests linearly. In addition, the established equations can be used for compression prediction and knitting design according to the required compression class.