TORQUE-BALANCED SINGLES KNITTING YARNS SPUN BY UNCONVENTIONAL SYSTEMS.1. COTTON ROTOR SPUN YARN

This paper is the first part of a series reporting on the recent devel opment of a yarn modification process to produce torque-balanced singl es spun yarns. Taking advantage of the core-sheath structure of unconv entionally spun yarns, we have developed a yam modification process an d applied it to singles yams spun by rotor spinning, producing torque- free singles yarns from 100% cotton fibers. The spirality of the resul tant single jersey knit fabrics is greatly reduced or, in some cases, completely eliminated. Properties and performance characteristics of b oth parent and modified yarns, as well as their resultant fabrics, are evaluated, including yarn tensile properties, surface properties, han dle, air permeability, burst strength, and pilling resistance of the f abrics.