In a conventional view, flatness has been one of the criteria that a quality woven fabric should meet. However, the flat fabrics are being used to make 3D shapes for various applications in practice and the most commonly used technique for forming 3D shapes is cutting and sewing, which inevitably break the continuity of the fibres and yarns and may cause negative effects aesthetically and also from the performance perspective. This paper reports on a recent research at UMIST on engineering, manufacture, and measurement of 3D Domed woven fabrics. An add-on device was engineered for a loom to alter the weaving conditions so that a domed shape can be produced through the standard weaving process. Different weaves were used to enhance the dome effect. A mouldability tester was developed to evaluate the dome effect. Fabrics with 3D domes are useful for technical applications where fabrics need to be moulded into 3D shape and will be useful as clothing and fashion fabrics where smooth 3D shapes are imperative, such as the shoulders and busts.
By: Xiaogang Chen and Ayse Ebru Tayyar Department of Textiles, UMIST, PO Box 88, Manchester, UK M60 1QD
Submit Date: 6/14/2010 18:00