International Journal on Textile Engineering and Processes

Vol. 3, Issue 1
January 2017

Effect of Pile Density on Physical Properties of Terry Towel Fabric

Madhuri V. Kakde*, Hemant More*, Bharat Magarwadia# Vishal Kejkar#, *Centre for
Textile Functions, MPSTME, SVKMs NMIMS Shirpur, Dhule.
#
Quality Manager, Welspun Pvt.Ltd., Anjar, Senior Project Engineer, Wellknown Polyester, Daman.
madhutext.kakade@gmail.com,
Abstract
Pile structure has a very important effect on the structure and usage properties of terry fabrics. The effect of terry fabric
parameters on water absorption properties using various fabric constructions without hydrophilic finishes was
investigated in this project. The water absorption properties were analyzed with respect to warp density, weft density,
pile height, and the type of yarns. It was found that an increased in weft density, warp density and pile height causes an
increased in water absorption, but the pile height has the most significant effect on water absorption properties.
Keywords: Terry Fabric, Water Absorption, Warp Density, Weft Density, Pile Height.

I. Introduction
Terry fabrics are produced using weft, ground warp and pile warp yarns [1]. Cotton and linen yarns are very desirable
materials for terry fabrics because of their good water absorption properties, bearing in mind that terry material are widely
used for towels, home textile products, dressing-gowns, headgears, slippers, childrens clothes, hygiene products for
babies, etc. [2]. Although the yarn material is an important parameter in determining the water absorption properties of
terry fabrics, pile characteristics also have an effect on them [3]. The lot of research has been carried out to study the
construction of terry fabric that affects the water absorption properties of the material [4]. The absorption properties are
determined by the fabrics structure and geometrical characteristics, such as porosity, thickness, pile density, handle etc.
as well as by finishing procedures like washing, softening etc. [5-6]. The research shows that the percentage of water
absorption is the lowest for open-end yarn, and the highest for two-ply ring carded yarn [3].The higher twist values used
in the production of open-end yarns are thought to make water penetration inside open-end yarns more difficult [7]. It
was concluded that the percentage of water absorption decreases with increasing warp and weft densities as the terry
fabric structure becomes dense, whereas it increases with an increase in pile height because of the increased pile warp
yarn surface area. Regarding water vapor permeability, no correlation of this parameter with the thickness of knitted
fabric was noted [8-9]. There are various test methods used for the evaluation of liquid absorption, such as the aqueous
immersion test, the saturation value test, the drop test, etc. [8] Terry fabrics are used in various fields because of their
water absorption properties. Piles are formed on one or both sides by the variable periodic movement of the reed or cloth
fell position, mostly over three picks [10, 11]. The pile warp yarns move forward together with three picks and take on
the pile form. If piles are to be formed on the surface of a terry fabric, the pile warp yarns must be over the third and first
picks; similarly, if the piles are too formed on the back side of a terry fabric, then the pile warps must be under the third
and first picks [12]. The off-loom and after washing lengthwise and widthwise contractions, the weight per square meter,
the shearing waste ratio and weft yarn, the ground warp and pile warp yarn ratios of the terry fabrics are measured, and
the changes in these parameters are discussed [13]. The measured weight per square meter and pile length are compared
with those calculated, and the applicability of the theoretical approach is tested [14-15].
II. Material and method
This study performed on fabric samples with different yarn count and type having different density for ground and pile
which is shown in the table no.1.
Table No.1 -Material specification
Yarn count Density (pile) Density(Ground)
2/18.6 hyg+60 PVA 5.8 38.0
2/27.8 O Twist 6.7 39.8
2/30 combed 5.4 53.8
1/9 hygro2 6.2 37.0

III. Experimental method

There are two types of testing methods to check the water absorbency one is called as Drop test method and another is
Surface water test. The Procedure for Drop test - Specimen conation at 0.5 2% relative humidity. Mount the specimen
in the embroidery hook then place the loop about 25.4 mm below the tip of the burette. Then allow one drop of water on
the embroidery cloth. At the time start the stop watch when one drop of water on the surface of the cloth and stop the stop
watch when disappear of water on the cloth up to 60 sec. Take at least five reading. In GSM testing of the fabric, GSM
Cutters are used for cutting a fabric samples in accurate form of 100 sq. cm areas. After cutting, these samples are used
for finding out grams per square meter. The steps for working of the cutter are the samples to be cut are placed between
the sample cutter & cutting board, the gentle pressure on the hand wheel is applied, The internal blades come in contact

Copyright@CTF- MPSTME Page 1

 International Journal on Textile Engineering and Processes
Vol. 3, Issue 1
January 2017

with the specimen samples, By rotating the hand wheel tinder pressure, sample is cut cleanly & with smooth edges. Blades
should be turned or changed when they become blunt. The cutting boards should be turned or changed when they get
worn out after prolonged use. Sample area cut by GSM Cutter should be exactly of 100 cm2.

IV. Results and discussion

1. Test results of water absorbency by drop test
Table No. 2 Effect of Pile Density on Water absorbency by drop test method
Sort no density Pile ratio Pile height Drop test
Pile Ground
RAA081907602 KMART (2/18.6) 5.8 38.0 6.50 6.37mm 3 sec
RAA085207619 WALMART 2/27.8 6.7 39.8 5.93 5.52mm 1 sec
RAA585006992 WELSPUN USA 2/30 COMBED 5.4 53.8 10.10 6.98mm 2 sec
RAA020607634 WELSPUN USA COSTCO 9HYG 6.2 37.0 6.30 6.24mm 2.5 sec
Graph No. 1 Effect of pile density on water absorbency
water absorbency of test
4

0
5.8 6.7 5.4 6.2
Pile density
The table 2 and graph 1 shows the effect of pile density on water absorbency of fabric tested by drop test method. It is
clear that at 6.7 pile density water absorbency is more. This is due to the fact that lowest twist values thought to make
more water penetration inside yarns. For 6.7 pile density 0 twist pile yarn is used. The results show that the surface
water absorption for twist less towels is better than that of the normal towels. It was concluded that the percentage of
water absorption decreases with increasing warp and weft densities as the terry fabric structure becomes dense, whereas
it increases with an increase in pile height because of the increased pile warp yarn surface area.
2. Test results of water absorbency by surface water absorbency
Table No. 3 Effect of Pile Density on Water absorbency by surface water absorbency
Sort no density Pile Pile surface Water
ratio height absorbency
Pile Ground
RAA081907602 KMART (2/18.6) 5.8 38.0 6.50 6.37mm 58 %
RAA085207619 WALMART 2/27.8 6.7 39.8 5.93 5.52mm 70 %
RAA585006992 WELSPUN USA 2/30 COMBED 5.4 53.8 10.10 6.98mm 78 %
RAA020607634 WELSPUN USA COSTCO 1/9 HYG 6.2 37.0 6.30 6.24mm 68 %

Graph No. 2 Effect of pile density on water absorbency

Water absorbency of test
100
80
60
40
20
0
5.8 6.7 5.4 6.2
Pile density
The table 3 and graph 2 shows the effect of pile density on water absorbency of fabric tested by surface water absorbency
method. It is shown that as the pile height increased with decreasing the pile density, the water absorbency was increased
by 78%. This is because as the pile height increases less number of piles are formed on the surface of the fabric. Therefore
more surface area is made available for water absorbency.
3. Test results of GSM test
Table No. 4 Effect of pile density on GSM
Sort no density Pile Pile height GSM of the
ratio fabric
Pile Ground

Copyright@CTF- MPSTME Page 2

 International Journal on Textile Engineering and Processes
Vol. 3, Issue 1
January 2017

RAA081907602 KMART (2/18.6) 5.8 38.0 6.50 6.37mm 470.07

RAA085207619 WALMART 2/27.8 6.7 39.8 5.93 5.52mm 398.91
RAA585006992 WELSPUN USA 2/30 COMBED 5.4 53.8 10.10 6.98mm 661.51
RAA020607634 WELSPUN USA COSTCO 1/9 HYG 6.2 37.0 6.30 6.24mm 620.20
Graph No. 3 Effect of pile density on GSM
GSM test
800
600
400
200
0
5.8 6.7 5.4 6.2
Pile density of terry fabric
The table 4 and graph 3 shows the effect of pile density on fabric GSM tested. This shows at 5.4 pile density gives the
highest GSM of 661.51 and at 6.7 pile density gives the lowest GSM of 398.91gm.

V. Conclusion
This study mainly focused on effect of pile height, pile density on the physical properties of terry fabric. By doing the
experimental work it is concludes that cotton terry fabric absorbency is found 70% and PAV blend is found 58% with
cotton fabric of GSM 398.91 and PVA blend terry fabric of GSM 470.67. Therefore 100% cotton terry fabric physical
properties is better than the cotton blend terry fabric. The pile height of terry woven fabrics had a significant effect on
their static water absorption. The biggest differences in static water absorption between variants investigated were
determined for grey fabrics. This was due to increase in the surface density of the fabric.

References
[1]. Patil Tushar C., Terry Towels- Classification, Designing, & Manufacturing Technology, International Journal on
Textile Engineering and Processes, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2005, 23-31.
[2]. Nazire Deniz IIL Maz, Nancy B Povel: Technology of Terry Towel Production, Journal of Textile and Apparel
Technology and management, Vol. 4, Issue 4, 2005, 25-31.
[3]. Parsi R. D., Fibres Used in Terry Towels, International Journal on Textile Engineering and Processes, Vol. 1, Issue
1, 2015, 32-39.
[4]. Upasani Harshada, Quality Testing of Terry Towel and its Assurance, International Journal on Textile Engineering
and Processes, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 48-53.
[5]. Kakde Madhuri V., Defects Their Causes and Remedial Measures in Terry Fabric, International Journal on Textile
Engineering and Processes, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2015, 71-76.
[6]. Chandurkar Pranjali, Total Quality Management in Terry Fabric Manufacturing, International Journal on Textile
Engineering and Processes, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2015, 40-47.
[7]. Angelova Radostina A., Kushlova Maria, Design of Terry Towels: Assessment of the Effect of Weft Density and Pile
Height on Fabrics Weight, Journal of Research in Mechanical Engineering, Vol. 2, Issue 9, 2016, 8-13. [8]. Singh J P,
Behera B K, Performance of Terry Towel, Indian Journal of Fibre and Textile Research, Vol. 40, 2015, 112-121.
[9]. Kim S H, Kim S J & Oh K W, Theory of terry Towels, Textile Research Journal, Vol. 73, 2003, 459- 465. [10].
Singh J P, Behera B K, Performance of terry towel A Critical Review, Part I Water Absorbency, Journal of Textile
& Apparel Technology & Management, Vol. 9, Issue 1, 2014, 1-14.
[11]. Gungor Durur, Eren Oner, The Comfort Properties of the Terry Towels Made of Cotton And Polypropylene Yarns,
Journal of Engineered Fibers & Fabrics, Vol. 8, Issue 2, 2013, 1-10.
[12]. Singh J P, Behera B K, Compression Behavior of Woven Terry Fabrics, The Journal of the Textile Institute, Vol.
106, Issue 9, 2015, 170-176.
[13]. Belkis Z., Erdem K., An Experimental Approach on the Performance of Towels Part-II Degree of Hydrophility &
Dimensional Variation, Fibres and Textiles in Eastern Europe, Vol. 14, 2006, 56-62.
[14]. Crow R M., Interaction of water with fabrics, Textile Research Journal, Vol. 68, 1998, 280-288.
[15]. Behera B K Singh J P, Objective Evaluation of Aesthetic Characteristics of Woven Terry Structures Using Image
Analysis Techniques, Fibres and polymers, Vol. 15, 2014, 2633-2643.

Copyright@CTF- MPSTME Page 3