Regenerated Cellulosic Fibres Blended with Cotton to Enhance the Performance and Comfort Properties of Single Jersey Spandex Knitted Fabrics: A Sustainable Approach

Low production rate than demand and non-sustainability of cotton growth emphasise the world for its substitution. Regenerated cellulosic fibres (RCFs) are the best replacement options in terms of sustainability and performance properties. In this research, we compared the regenerated fibres and cotton fibres blended yarns and single jersey spandex knitted fabrics based on those yarns with 100% cotton yarns and single jersey spandex knitted fabrics and tried to single out the most suitable regenerated/ cotton fibre blend option as the best replacement for cotton fibre in terms of performance and comfort properties along with sustainability. 30/1 Nec yarns were produced by blending cotton with lyocell, modal and Viscose Rayon fibres in (60:40) weight ratios. Single jersey knitted fabrics with 20 denier (20 D) spandex filaments were developed from the said yarns and compared with 100% cotton-based knitted fabrics. Performance properties of yarns such as strength, uniformity and hairiness and fabric properties such as skewness, bursting strength, and pilling along with some comfort properties, e.g. flexural rigidity, air permeability and vertical wicking were also evaluated. RCF-blended yarns and fabrics exhibited improved performance and comfort properties as compared to 100% cotton yarns and fabrics, especially cotton/lyocell-blended yarns and fabrics. The cotton/lyocell (60:40)-blended yarns exhibited 16% higher strength, 36% better yarn performance and 13% less hairiness when compared to 100% cotton. Similarly, the fabrics of the cotton/lyocell (60:40) blend exhibited 32% less spirality, 25% more bursting strength, twice as much airflow and five times higher moisture flow with comparable flexural rigidity as compared to the 100% cotton fabric.