GB1342015A - Method of manufacturing a knitted fabric having a woven fabric- like appearance and hand feeling and a knitted fabric obtainable therefrom - Google Patents

Abstract

1342015 Finishing fabrics KANEBO Ltd 27 April 1971 11505/71 Heading D1S A knitted fabric possessing a woven appearance and hand feeling is made by uniformly pressing a knitted fabric containing at least 50% of thermoplastic synthetic fibre based on the weight thereof with a presser face under a pressure of 5 to 35 kg/cm<SP>2</SP> substantially in the direction of the thickness of the fabric at a temperature lower than the melting point of the thermoplastic synthetic fibre but not lower than 90‹C for a period of time sufficient for setting the knitted fabric in a thickness of 95 to 55% based on the thickness of the knitted fabric. The resultant fabric has a porosity of at most 80% and at least one surface with a surface contour (as defined in the Specification) of at most 6. Specified synthetic thermoplastic fibres are polyamides, e.g. nylon 6, nylon 7, nylon 9, nylon 11, nylon 12, nylon 66, nylon 610 and copolymers and mixtures of these polyamides; polyesters, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate, polymethylene terephthalate, polytetramethylene terephthalate, polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate and copolymers and mixtures of these polyesters; polyolefins, e.g. polyethylene, polypropylene and copolymers and mixtures of these polyolefins; and mixtures of any of these polymers. Preferably, the knitted fabric is pressed by a plate or roller under a pressure of 10 to 25 kg/cm<SP>2</SP> for at least five seconds. After pressing, the fabric may be heat set at a temperature lower than the melting point of the synthetic fibres but not less than 100‹C. This heat setting may be by steam, e.g. in a decatizer at 110‹C under a pressure of at 100 gm/cm<SP>2</SP> for at least two, preferably three, minutes. Alternatively, hot air at 150-200‹C, preferably 170-190‹C, may be used for at least five seconds and preferably not longer than thirty seconds. A hot stenter may be used. Moisture may also be imparted to the fabric. The pressing process may be carried out simultaneously with, before or after conventional finishing, e.g. finishing with softening agents, anti-static agents, heatresisting agents, light-resisting agents, fluorescent whitening agents, pilling resisting agents, soil resisting agents, flame resisting agents and finishing resins.