A Study on Mechanical Properties of Bamboo-Cotton Handloom Fabrics

This paper aims to study mechanical properties of cotton-bamboo fabrics made on handloom using
different blend ratio as well as weave structure. A single warp beam using 2/20 Ne cotton was made
and various samples were prepared using 100% cotton, 50/50 (bamboo/cotton), and 100% bamboo
yarn in weft direction. Samples were also prepared with 1/1 plain weave and 2/2 twill weave to see the
impact of weave on mechanical properties of fabrics. Results indicate that as the bamboo contents
increases in fabrics there is increase in tensile strength and tear strength due to higher strength of
bamboo yarn. The Tearing strength of twill woven fabrics is more than plain woven fabrics due to
higher float length of yarn. Bamboo blended fabrics exhibit lesser flexural rigidity than cotton fabrics.
The crease recovery also increases with the increasing bamboo contents for all samples irrespective of
plain and twill weave. The twill woven fabrics exhibit slightly higher crease recovery than
corresponding plain woven fabrics. Results indicate that bamboo also help in improving abrasion
resistance, which may be due to non-circular surface and striated cracks of bamboo fibres. The
increase in bamboo contents in plain woven fabrics also improves pilling resistance as compared to
twill woven fabrics. Use of bamboo fibres in handloom industry as eco-friendly fibres could be seen as
promising scope for consumers and entrepreneurs who are environmental concerned.