Prediction of Thermal Conductivity of Elastic Single Jersey Knitted Fabric

This work aims to derive a mathematical model that describes the thermal conductivity of the elastic single jersey knitted fabric (SJKF) based on the loop geometry and the yarn and fibers inclination on the direction of heat flow, and to assist the manufactures of elastic SJKF to predict the thermal conductivity from the fabric construction parameters. The main fabric construction parameters in this model are yarn count, loop length, and spandex weight percent. To validate the proposed model, elastic SJKF samples were produced at two different counts and five levels of loop length and spandex weight percent. The thermal conductivity of these samples was measured and compared to the predicted values from the new model rather than the previous three models (Maxwell – Eucken 2, Schuhmeister, Militky models). From the results, it could be concluded that the values of thermal conductivity from the model are very closed to the experimental values; therefore, the new model could be used to predict the thermal conductivity of elastic SJKF.