Effect of residual extensibility of polyester filament yarn on low-stress mechanical properties of fabric

Polyester multifilament yarns having residual extensibility 6.31, 12.50, 18.75, 24.20 and 30.21 % have been manufactured with nearly identical filament and yarn linear density. All filaments yarns are then converted to fabric of nearly same areal density. As the residual extensibility of yarn increases, the bending rigidity of corresponding fabric decreases. The coefficient of friction of fabric samples is higher at both too high and too low residual extensibility but it is found least at 18.75% residual extensibility. Too low and too high residual extensibility is not suitable to produce smooth fabric surface and hence fine optimization of residual extensibility is required. The fabric sample consisting of yarns of 18.75 % residual extensibility shows the maximum total hand value of 4.54, which can be considered excellent for ladies thin dress application on 0-5 scale