Pilling in Soft Sweatshirt Fleece Fabric can be reduced through a variety of methods involving yarn selection, fabric processing, and knitting methods.
Selecting the Right Yarn Material
Use long-staple fibers: Compared to short-staple fibers, long-staple fibers (such as combed cotton or polyester filament) can better reduce pilling. Because the fiber length of long-staple fibers is longer, it is more difficult for fibers to shed from the yarn surface during knitting. This means that there are fewer fine fiber ends on the surface of the knitted fabric, reducing the chance of friction-induced pilling. In addition, combed yarns remove short fibers and impurities during the spinning process, making the yarn smoother and tighter, which helps to improve the durability of warp-knit fabrics.
Choose anti-pilling fibers: There are specially designed anti-pilling fibers on the market, usually made of modified polyester, nylon, or acrylic. These fibers have been chemically treated or structurally modified to have smoother surfaces or lower coefficients of friction, thereby reducing the formation of pills. This method is suitable for use in fabrics with high wear resistance requirements, such as sportswear and outdoor products.
Use blended yarns: Blended technology can combine natural fibers (such as cotton and wool) with synthetic fibers (such as polyester and nylon) to form stronger yarn structures. For example, cotton-polyester blended yarns can take advantage of the softness of cotton and the abrasion resistance of polyester to achieve a good balance, thereby effectively reducing pilling caused by friction.
Optimizing Yarn Twist and Spinning Process
Increase yarn twist: Yarn twist refers to the number of turns per unit length of yarn. By increasing the twist, the structure of the yarn becomes tighter, reducing the chance of fibers shedding from the yarn body or being exposed. This can control the surface pilling of warp-knit fabrics to a certain extent. However, excessive twist can make the yarn too stiff or reduce its elasticity, so a balance between the fabric's elasticity and wear resistance needs to be considered when adjusting.
Use compact spinning technology: Compact spinning technology uses special devices during the spinning process to make the fiber bundles more concentratedly enter the yarn, reducing the fuzz on the yarn surface. This process can reduce the risk of pilling during the friction process of the fabric, while maintaining the softness and breathability of the fabric. This technology is widely used in the production of high-end knitted fabrics, especially for garments that require high durability and comfort.
Improving the Knitting Process
Reduce knitting density: By adjusting the number of needles and yarn tension of the knitting machine to control the knitting density, the pilling of warp-knit fabrics can be reduced. Higher knitting density will make the needle loop structure tighter, and the friction and relative movement of yarns in the fabric will be reduced, thereby reducing the generation of surface pills. It is usually used to produce some more wear-resistant and high-quality knitted fabrics, such as sportswear or high-end fashion fabrics.
Select tighter stitch patterns: The stitch pattern design of warp-knit fabrics has a significant impact on pilling. For example, double-faced or rib knit structures are tighter than plain knit structures. This tighter needle loop knitting method reduces the degree of freedom and friction of the yarn, thereby reducing the possibility of pill formation. These knitting methods are particularly suitable for garments that require high wear resistance or high elasticity, such as tight-fitting clothing, sweatpants, and jackets.
Adopting Finishing Processes
Anti-pilling finish: After knitting, the fabric can be chemically treated with an anti-pilling resin to form a protective film on the surface of the fabric. This resin can not only increase the strength of the fibers but also make the fiber surface smoother, thereby reducing the friction-induced pilling phenomenon. This treatment method is applied in daily clothing and workwear.
Singeing: Singeing is a process that uses high temperature to remove the floating hair and fuzz on the surface of the yarn. Through singeing, the surface of the warp-knit fabric becomes smoother and more uniform, reducing the risk of fine fibers shedding from the fabric surface and entangling to form pills. Singeing is suitable for all types of Soft Sweatshirt Fleece Fabric, including cotton, synthetic fibers, and blended fabrics.
Enzyme treatment: Enzyme treatment usually uses cellulase to remove short fibers and loose fibers on the surface of natural fibers. This biological treatment method is mild and environmentally friendly, and can effectively reduce the pilling of cotton warp-knit fabrics. After enzyme treatment, the fabric is not only smoother but also has a certain degree of increased softness and comfort.
Controlling Fabric Use and Care
Proper washing: The washing method of warp-knit fabrics has a significant impact on pilling. It is recommended to use a mild detergent and choose hand washing or a low-speed washing machine program to avoid excessive friction. In addition, you can turn the garment inside out when washing to reduce the friction between the fabric surface and other fabrics or the washing machine drum.
Avoid wearing in high-friction situations: Warp-knit fabrics are more likely to pill when they come into frequent contact with rough or hard objects (such as straps, backpacks, tabletops, etc.). Therefore, in these situations, you should try to avoid wearing such clothing or take protective measures, such as adding a layer of fabric between the backpack and the clothing for protection.
