Thermal insulation, compression and air permeability of polyester needle-punched nonwoven

38-44The normal round, circular hollow and trilobal cross-sectional shaped polyester fibres have been used to prepare needle-punched nonwoven fabrics for technical textile application. Effects of fabric weight and fibre cross-sectional shapes on thermal insulation value (TIV), fabric thickness, density, percentage compression, air permeability and sectional air permeability (SAP) have been studied. Comparison between Marsh and plate methods of TIV measurement has also been studied along with the inter-relation and grouping of parameters using correlation matrix and cluster analysis approach respectively. The TIV, thickness, density, air permeability and SAP fall under different sub-cluster but all these parameters are dependent on fabric weight. Plate method of TIV measurement is preferred over Marsh TIV measurement because of the easy preparation of samples and the reason that the samples retain their original properties and it gives more accurate results. Trilobal fabric sample shows highest TIV, thickness and percentage compression followed by regular and hollow polyester needle-punched fabrics. Thermal insulation value, thickness and density of the fabric increase but percentage compression, air permeability and SAP decrease with the increase in fabric weight. The fabric thickness is significantly correlated with fabric weight and TIV. Fabric weight versus air permeability and fabric density versus SAP are negatively correlated with significant correlation coefficient