A Study on Mechanical Properties of Bamboo-Cotton Handloom Fabrics

<p>This paper aims to study mechanical properties of cotton-bamboo fabrics made on handloom using<br>different blend ratio as well as weave structure. A single warp beam using 2/20 Ne cotton was made<br>and various samples were prepared using 100% cotton, 50/50 (bamboo/cotton), and 100% bamboo<br>yarn in weft direction. Samples were also prepared with 1/1 plain weave and 2/2 twill weave to see the<br>impact of weave on mechanical properties of fabrics. Results indicate that as the bamboo contents<br>increases in fabrics there is increase in tensile strength and tear strength due to higher strength of<br>bamboo yarn. The Tearing strength of twill woven fabrics is more than plain woven fabrics due to<br>higher float length of yarn. Bamboo blended fabrics exhibit lesser flexural rigidity than cotton fabrics.<br>The crease recovery also increases with the increasing bamboo contents for all samples irrespective of<br>plain and twill weave. The twill woven fabrics exhibit slightly higher crease recovery than<br>corresponding plain woven fabrics. Results indicate that bamboo also help in improving abrasion<br>resistance, which may be due to non-circular surface and striated cracks of bamboo fibres. The<br>increase in bamboo contents in plain woven fabrics also improves pilling resistance as compared to<br>twill woven fabrics. Use of bamboo fibres in handloom industry as eco-friendly fibres could be seen as<br>promising scope for consumers and entrepreneurs who are environmental concerned.</p>