Moisture Management finish

Moisture Management finish

 

Moisture management often refers to the transport of both moisture vapour and liquid away from the body. Moisture management can be defined as – 'The controlled movement of water vapour and liquid water (perspiration) from the surface of the skin to the atmosphere through the fabric'.

 

When a synthetic material is subjected to this moisture management treatment, it develops improved hydrophilicity followed by very fast drying behavior. In case of synthetic blends subjected to this treatment, their drying rate becomes much faster. In the case of natural fibres it is the reverse - very good absorbency and slow drying rate. The drying rate of polyester is four times greater than cotton. P/C blends subjected to moisture management treatment will have increased absorbency. The polyester will dry more quickly than cotton and while it dries it keeps on absorbing from cotton and quickens the drying process. Wicking, wetting and drying rate are test methods through which we can find out moisture management efficiency.

 

Wicking Windows™, a new moisture management finishing technology developed by the scientists in textile chemistry at Cotton Incorporated, adds yet another dimension to the benefits of 100% cotton.

“This new treatment actually reduces the fabric’s absorbent capacity while taking advantage of cotton’s natural wicking capabilities”. Wicking Windows creates a differential between the surfaces of the cotton fabric that allows moisture to move from the surface of greater moisture (next to the body) to the outer surface where it can spread and evaporate more quickly. The result is that the surface next to the body is drier and has less surface cling. Wicking Windows also significantly increases the fabric’s drying rate.

 

There are some different testing methods have already been developed:

 

Ø       ASTM moisture vapor test (open cup test) Cotton Incorporated

In this test, the textiles are bent over cups containing water. The temperature of the water, the air above the water and the surrounding air is the same. The weight of water evaporated through the textile is measured after a certain time.

 

Ø       GATS • (gravimetric absorbency test system) Cotton Incorporated

The fabrics are put on a porous plate through which water is transmitted to the backside of the sample. The water is more or less soaked up there by the fabric. The fastness and value of the water absorption is measured, as well as the speed of drying.

 

Ø       Cotton Incorporated Gross Absorbency Test• Cotton Incorporated

In this test, the sample is placed on another textile which is evenly saturated with water. The lower textile is kept saturated by a sponge placed under it, while the sample soaks up the water and evaporates it.

 

Ø       Moisture Management Tester (MMT)

The sample is placed flat between two plates of different diameters with circular sensors. After application of a special liquid, the sensors measure the changes in resistance between each upper and lower pair of sensors. In that way the duration of moisture absorption, the radius of spreading, the speed of spreading, the amount of moisture transported, and by this, the overall moisture management can be measured.

 

Reff:-               www.fibre2fashion.com; www.cottoninc.com; www.drpetry.de