A comparative study of regenerated bamboo, cotton and viscose rayon fabrics. Part 1 : Selected comfort properties

Date
2010
Authors
Gericke, Adine
Van Der Pol, Jani
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
South African Association of Family Ecology and Consumer Sciences (SAAFECS)
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Regenerated bamboo, also known as bamboo viscose, is a man-made cellulose fibre that has recently appeared on the market as an apparel and home-furnishing textile. The products are marketed as having exceptional properties such as superior comfort and hand, as well as antimicrobial properties. Apart from the claimed “cool feeling”, the comfort properties referred to in the promotion of bamboo viscose fabrics can generally be ascribed to most cellulose fibres or fabrics. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the moisture management and thermo-physiological properties of regenerated bamboo fabrics differ significantly from those of cotton and viscose rayon fabrics. A knitted regenerated bamboo fabric was compared to cotton and viscose rayon fabrics of comparable construction by using the results of objective measurements. Test apparatus used included the WALTERTM sweating manikin to measure thermal resistance, water vapour permeability, water absorbency and the moisture permeability index, the ALAMBETA instrument to measure thermal resistance and absorption and the PERMETEST instrument to measure water vapour permeability. To compare the structure of the regenerated bamboo fibre with that of cotton and viscose rayon fibres, the longitudinal character and cross-section of fibres were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results confirmed that regenerated bamboo fibre fabrics have excellent moisture and temperature management properties. Contrary to the expectations created, however, no empirical evidence was found in this study, when properties pertaining to comfort were compared, to confirm that regenerated bamboo fibre fabrics are superior to those made of cotton and viscose rayon.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geregenereerde bamboes, ook bekend as bamboes viskose, is ‘n verwerkte sellulosevesel wat onlangs op die mark verskyn het. Tekstielstowwe van dié vesels is geskik vir ‘n verskeidenheid produkte in die klerasie sowel as huishoudelike mark. Die gewildheid daarvan kan toegeskryf word aan die feit dat dit bemark word as omgewingsvriendelik en hernubaar (wat in hierdie geval verwys na die feit dat die bamboes waarvan dit gemaak word ‘n rou material is wat baie vinnig groei, nie bedreig is nie en sonder oormatige chemikalieë verbou word). Daar word ook aanspraak gemaak op buitengewone gemakseienskappe wat verband hou met vogabsorbeervermoë en aanvoeling. Dit is ook bekend dat die vesels antimikrobiese eienskappe besit. Behalwe vir die sogenaamde “cool feeling”, is die gemakseienskappe waarna verwys word eintlik van toepassing op die meeste sellulosevesels of tekstielstowwe - veral katoen en viskose rayon. Die gladde filamentstruktuur van viskose rayon lei tot ‘n uitstekende drapeervermoë en ‘n aanvoeling wat beskryf kan word as “glad en luuks”. Hierdie veseleienskappe kan ook aanleiding gee tot ‘n “koel” sensasie op die vel. Die vraag ontstaan dus of die vermoë om vog te hanteer en die termo-fisiologiese eienskappe van bamboes viskose werklik beter is as dié van ander sellulose- vesels. Die doel van hierdie studie was om empiries te ondersoek of die voghanteervermoë en termofisiologiese gemakseienskappe van geregenereerde bamboesveselstowwe betekenisvol verskil van dié van katoen en viskose rayon. Objektiewe meetinstrumente is gebruik om eienskappe soos termiese weerstand en absorbeervermoë, waterdampdeurlaatbaarheid, waterabsorbeervermoë en die vogdeurlaatbaarheidsindeks van drie tekstielstowwe, gebrei van garings van onderskeidelik bamboesvesel, katoenen viskose rayon, te vergelyk. Die onderskeie veselstrukture is vergelyk met behulp van ‘n skandeer elektronmikroskoop (SEM). In teenstelling met wat verwag is, is geen empiriese bewyse gevind dat die gemakseienskappe van bamboesveselstowwe beter is as dié van die ander twee sellulosevesels wat getoets is nie. Dit is belangrik om daarop te let dat geen van die aansprake wat gemaak word ten opsigte van genoemde eienskappe as onwaar bewys kon word nie. Bamboesvesels kan beslis verwerk word in produkte wat ‘n besondere bydrae lewer tot die versekering van die gemak van die draer omdat dit vog en temperatuur goed kan reguleer. Die resultate van die studie dui egter daarop dat die gebreide katoen en veral die gebreide viskose rayon stowwe wat getoets is, vergelykbare eienskappe toon. Die resultate bevestig ook die verwagting dat metings op die viskose rayon stowwe as gevolg van die ooreenstemming in fisiese veselstruktuur en vervaardigingsprosesse baie meer sou ooreenstem met dié van die bamboesveselstowwe as met dié wat van katoen vervaardig is.
Description
The authors would like to thank Prof Lubos Hes and the Department of Textile Science, Technical University of Liberec, Czech Republic, for the use of laboratory equipment and facilities, as well as for technical guidance in this project and the CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing (National Fibre, Textile and Clothing Centre) in Port Elizabeth and specifically Ms Tando Mbanga (Clothing Technologist/Researcher) for the use of and assistance with the tests on WALTER thermal manikin.
The original publication is available at http://www.ajol.info/index.php/jfecs/index
Keywords
Moisture management, Fibre fabrics -- Thermal properties, Cellulose fibers
Citation
Gerikce, A & Van Der Pol, J. 2010. A comparative study of regenerated bamboo, cotton and viscose rayon fabrics. Part 1 : Selected comfort properties. Journal of family ecology and consumer sciences, 38, 63-73.