Thermal properties of socks made from reclaimed fibre

In this study, thermal properties of the socks made from the blend of reclaimed cotton fibre and virgin polyester fibre are investigated in comparison with those of similar socks made from virgin cotton fibre, together with the influence of incorporated elastane. Statistical results reveal that elastane addition and fibre type significantly affect all of the thermal properties of the socks. Elastane addition leads to increase in the thermal conductivity, thermal resistance and thermal absorptivity values and decrease in the water vapour permeability values. The reclaimed fibre socks exhibit lower thermal conductivity and thermal absorptivity and higher thermal resistance than the cotton socks. The water vapour permeability results of the reclaimed fibre socks with no elastane are higher than those of the cotton socks with no elastane. The difference between the water vapour permeability of the reclaimed socks with elastane and the cotton socks with elastane is found to be statistically insignificant. © 2015 The Textile Institute.