Evaluation of mechanical and dimensional characteristics of stretchable fabrics made with recycled dual-core-spun yarns with different core materials

Purpose Elastic constructions often enhance denim fabric’s recovery and elasticity performance. This study aims to explore the dimensional and mechanical characteristics, along with air and water permeability, of stretchable fabrics manufactured from recycled yarn (dual-core). Design/methodology/approach The yarns used in this research combined various core materials, including polyester (PES), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyethylene terephthalate/polytrimethylene terephthalate, T400®, with elastane and a blend of virgin and recycled cotton as sheath components. Denim fabric samples were developed using different yarn configurations, and testing was performed to assess fabric performance. The investigation focused on evaluating the impact of core yarn composition on fabric characteristics. One-way multivariate analysis of variance was used as a statistical analysis to assess the significant variations in fabric properties by considering core components. Findings Results indicated that fabrics incorporating recycled yarns demonstrated lower strength and higher growth, highlighting the influence of yarn quality on fabric properties. In addition, fabrics made with PBT filament–based yarns exhibited higher elasticity and shrinkage than those made with PES filament. Statistical analysis exhibited meaningful differences in fabric characteristics depending on the core components of weft yarn. Originality/value The findings recommend that recycled dual-core yarns hold promise for sustainable denim manufacturing, offering valuable insights into their effect on denim fabric.