The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the elastomeric performance and comfort-related attributes of knitted fabrics used in garments for scar management and venous insufficiencies. Pressure garments used for scar management and venous insufficiencies need to provide sustainable pressure to the underlying limb from the time the garment is donned by the wearer to assist in recovery. In addition, fabrics used in the construction of pressure garments must be able to transport heat, vapour and moisture from the human body to the environment, leaving the wearer dry and comfortable. By adding a fabric assembly (two separate pieces of fabric layered on top of one another) to the pressure garment, pressure generating and comfort properties of the garment are expected to be enhanced. Six commercial knitted fabric samples were studied. Their selection was based on a representative sample of fabrics currently used for pressure garments, for scar management and venous diseases. Pressure garments have been comprehensively studied for their material composition, construction, pressure delivery and physiological benefits as single layers in the past, while the amount of research carried out on fabric assemblies is limited. All fabrics were tested in both single layers and as fabric assemblies to compare their elastic performance and comfort attributes. Fabrics’ physical parameters and structural properties were analysed for mass per unit area, thickness, stitch density, optical porosity and air permeability. The elastic characteristics of the six fabrics were tested at 25%, 40% and 60% strain to determine their properties relevant to pressure generation. In addition, the fabrics were tested for tension decay. The fabrics were also assessed for thermal resistance (Rct) and water vapour resistance (Ret). Additionally, selected fabrics were tested for moisture management properties. It was found that fabric assemblies influenced and enhanced the overall elastic and comfort properties of the single layer fabrics. For elastic characteristics it was found that the most powerful fabrics are the powernet fabrics in both warp and weft direction as single layers. The powernet fabrics are able to generate the most pressure on the underlying limb of the patient wearing a garment made from these, in comparison with the lining fabrics. When a second fabric was introduced as a second layer in a fabric assembly, the power also increased in the warp and weft direction for powernets. For moisture management capabilities, single layer brushed-back powernet had better moisture management characteristics. However, as a fabric assembly the non-brushed powernet paired with the lining fabrics had better moisture management capabilities. Also, a fabric assembly, lining on the inside next to skin, facilitates the removal of sweat from the skin and the evaporation into the environment better compared with powernet when next to skin. For thermal and water vapour resistance non-brushed powernet had the lowest thermal and water-vapour resistance as the next to skin side of the fabric is not brushed and doesn’t entrap air which acts as an insulator. Also, as a fabric assembly, the non-brushed powernet next to skin has the lowest thermal and water vapour resistance compared with the lining next to skin and powernet outside. For thermal and water vapour resistance in garment form different segments of the body had different thermal and water vapour resistance, which have to be taken into account at all stages of garment design and engineering.
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