VIKOR-Based Ranking of Modified Polyester/Cotton Yarns for a Sportswear Fabric

ABSTRACT The design and development of sportswear fabrics require optimized yarns with improved moisture management properties, leading to optimum comfort. This study is performed with an aim to rank various structurally modified doubled polyester/cotton blended yarns for sportswear by using the VIKOR multi-criteria decision-making method. Using a Box–Behnken three-factor experimental approach, fifteen distinct polyester/cotton blended yarn samples were produced by systematically varying the percentage of cotton fiber, yarn linear density (Ne), and twist multiplier (TM). This statistical factorial method was utilized to examine the effect of process parameters on the structural and performance characteristics of the produced yarns. Dissolution of cotton component was done to create additional pores in the yarn structure to improve moisture management and hence the comfort properties of the fabric produced from it. Various yarn characteristics, such as strength, compressibility, packing density, irregularity, hairiness and immediate elastic recovery, were assessed before and after treatment. To ascertain the weights, the triangular fuzzy AHP technique which combines triangular fuzzy numbers with absolute priority scales to effectively handle uncertainty and subjectivity in the evaluation process was used to determine the weights. A pairwise comparison matrix was created using the absolute numbers of priority levels for the aforementioned yarn properties to determine their relative weights. The optimum rank is achieved for treated double yarn (YS6) produced from a 95/5 polyester/cotton blend and 40s Ne single yarn having a 4.5 TM. The results of the best-selected yarn revealed reduction in hairiness, unevenness, packing fraction, and strength, whereas an improvement in compressibility and immediate elastic recovery is observed in comparison to the untreated yarn.