INFLUENCE OF ANTISTATIC POLYESTER FIBERS ON THE PROPERTIES OF COTTON AND POLYESTER SINGLE JERSEY KNITTED FABRICS

In this research, the influence of the antistatic polyester fibers containing carbon black on the comfort properties of 100% and blended cotton as well as on 100% and blended polyester single jersey knitted fabrics was evaluated. The research results revealed that the behavior of the investigated knitted fabrics was dependent on their structure and mechanical characteristics. The electrical resistance of knitted fabrics decreased significantly due to the use of 4% antistatic polyester fibers. The electrical resistance of the pure and blended cotton knitted fabric was lower than that of the pure and blended polyester knitted fabrics. Antistatic polyester fibers positively influenced the air permeability of the polyester knitted fabric. The air permeability of 100% and blended cotton fabrics was approximately 3.5 times compared to both 100% and blended polyester fabrics, respectively. The carbon black polyester fibers influenced the decrease in thermal resistance, the increase in vapor permeability, and the minor increase in vapor resistance of both cotton and polyester knitted fabrics. Thermal resistance was lower, water vapor resistance was significantly higher, and relative water vapor permeability was slightly lower for the cotton and cotton/antistatic polyester knitted fabrics than for the polyester and polyester / antistatic polyester knitted fabrics, respectively. Therefore, the research results revealed that the presence of 4% antistatic polyester fibers in cotton and polyester knitted fabrics positively influenced their antistatic behavior and improved or almost did not alter their comfort properties.