Preparation method of super-soft moisture-absorbing quick-drying knitted fabric

Abstract

The invention discloses a preparation method of a super-soft moisture-absorption quick-dry knitted fabric, which comprises the following steps: S10, spinning: adopting long stapled cotton as a raw material, and carrying out roving and spinning on the raw material; wherein the twisting direction of the roving process is S twist, and the twisting direction of the spinning process is Z twist; s20, weaving: weaving the yarns prepared in the step S10 into a knitted fabric substrate; s30, shaping and finishing: treating the knitted fabric substrate in the step S20 by adopting finishing liquid, and baking the treated knitted fabric substrate; the finishing liquid comprises cross-linked resin, a polyurethane dispersion and a polyethylene softening agent. The knitted fabric prepared by the preparation method has the properties of moisture absorption, quick drying, softness and comfort.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of knitted fabric technology, specifically to a method for preparing an ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying knitted fabric. Background Technology

[0002] Pure cotton knitted fabrics have long been the preferred material for children's clothing due to their natural, skin-friendly, and breathable properties. However, the inherent physical characteristics of pure cotton also bring two intractable problems. One is that because cotton fibers are highly hydrophilic, moisture is difficult to evaporate quickly after absorbing it. When children sweat, the fabric quickly becomes wet and heavy, clinging to their skin and creating an uncomfortable "damp and cold feeling," which not only affects comfort but may also cause health problems. The second is that after repeated home washing and drying, the fibers of pure cotton fabrics become stiff and rough, a phenomenon known as "the more you wash, the stiffer it gets," causing its core softness and comfort to decline significantly over its lifespan. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the above-mentioned defects or problems in the prior art and to provide a method for preparing an ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying knitted fabric, the resulting knitted fabric having the properties of moisture-wicking, quick-drying, softness, and comfort.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] Technical Solution 1: A method for preparing an ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying knitted fabric, comprising the following steps: S10: a spinning step, comprising: using long-staple cotton as raw material, and performing a roving process and a spinning process on the raw material; wherein the twisting direction of the roving process is S-twist, and the twisting direction of the spinning process is Z-twist; S20: a weaving step, comprising: weaving the yarn prepared in step S10 into a knitted fabric base; S30: a finishing step, comprising: treating the knitted fabric base in step S20 with a finishing solution, and baking the treated knitted fabric base; wherein the finishing solution contains a crosslinking resin, a polyurethane dispersion, and a polyethylene softener.

[0006] Technical Solution 2 based on Technical Solution 1: The long-staple cotton in step S10 is ultrafine long-staple cotton, and the fiber fineness of the ultrafine long-staple cotton is 125-130 mtex, with an average length of 38-40 mm.

[0007] Technical Solution 3 based on Technical Solution 1: In step S10, the twist coefficient of the roving process is 130-150, and the twist coefficient of the spinning process is 280-320.

[0008] Technical Solution 4 based on Technical Solution 1: The spinning process in step S10, before the roving process, also includes a combing process, and the waste rate of the combing process is 16%-20%.

[0009] Technical solution five based on technical solution one: In step S20, the yarn count is 50 English count or above.

[0010] Technical Solution Six based on Technical Solution One: In the finishing liquid of step S30: the crosslinking resin is modified dihydroxymethyl dihydroxyvinyl urea resin; the polyurethane dispersion is a self-crosslinking polyether polyurethane dispersion; and the polyethylene softener is a nonionic high-density polyethylene emulsion.

[0011] Technical Solution Seven based on Technical Solution Six: The dosage of each component in the finishing liquid is as follows: Modified dihydroxymethyl dihydroxyvinyl urea resin: 40-80 g / L; Self-crosslinking polyether polyurethane dispersion: 20-50 g / L; Nonionic high-density polyethylene emulsion: 20-60 g / L.

[0012] Technical solution eight based on technical solution one: The baking process conditions in step S30 are: temperature 160-170℃, time 70-120 seconds.

[0013] Technical solution nine based on technical solution one: Between step S20 and step S30, a dyeing step is further included, wherein the dyeing step uses a dual-reactive-group high-fixation-rate reactive dye.

[0014] As can be seen from the above description of the present invention, compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] Technical Solution 1 provides a method for preparing an ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying knitted fabric. This method systematically solves the inherent technical contradiction between physical comfort and functional durability in pure cotton knitted fabrics through the synergistic cooperation of various technologies. Conventional pure cotton knitted fabrics typically employ low-twist spinning processes to achieve softness. This process results in a loose yarn structure, but also exposes a large number of short fiber ends on the yarn surface, forming fuzz. This fuzz is the root cause of two core problems: First, after repeated washing and friction, the fibers become entangled and flattened, making the fabric feel stiff and resulting in short-lived softness; second, during functional finishing, chemical finishing agents mainly adhere to these low-strength, easily detached surface fuzzes rather than the strong fiber backbone, thus the finishing effect is not wash-resistant.

[0016] This invention first overcomes the aforementioned structural defects through the spinning process defined in step S10. This step applies the reverse twisting technique of S-twist roving and Z-twist yarn to a high-twist process scenario that those skilled in the art would typically avoid when pursuing softness. Under the influence of high twist, the long fibers of long-staple cotton are forcibly bundled into a compact, round, and smooth yarn entity. This compact physical structure ensures that the fiber ends are firmly bound inside the yarn, thereby greatly reducing fuzz on the yarn surface. The direct technical effect is that the softness of the fabric no longer comes from a changeable fluffy structure, but from a smooth surface with a low coefficient of friction. This physical softness, due to the stability of its structure, has high washability and durability, thus overcoming the technical bias that softness and durability are mutually restrictive.

[0017] More importantly, the low-hair, high-smoothness yarn prepared in step S10 provides a reaction substrate with optimized physical properties for the chemical finishing in step S30. Based on this optimized physical substrate, the selection of finishing solution components in step S30 has a clear technical direction, and these components exhibit significant synergistic effects with the physical properties of the substrate. The strong hydrophilicity of cotton fibers stems from the densely packed hydroxyl groups on their molecular chains, which is the fundamental reason for their slow drying after absorbing water. To achieve moisture-wicking and quick-drying functionality, the finishing solution formulation defined in this invention addresses this problem through a multi-component synergistic system.

[0018] The crosslinking resin in the finishing solution, as the main functional component, reacts chemically with the hydroxyl groups on the surface of cotton fibers to form stable covalent bonds, thereby sealing some of the hydroxyl groups. The yarn surface prepared in step S10 is smooth and fuzz-free, allowing the crosslinking resin to form a continuous and uniform reaction layer, rather than the discontinuous, point-like reaction attached to unstable fiber ends that occurs on the surface of conventional high-fuzz yarns. This directly improves the efficiency of the crosslinking reaction and the durability of the finishing effect. The polyurethane dispersion in the finishing solution forms a complete and elastic film on the smooth fiber surface, working together with the crosslinking resin to form a denser end-capped network. Simultaneously, the polyethylene softener in the finishing solution, with its non-polar long-chain structure, can more effectively orient itself on this smooth substrate surface, thereby constructing a low surface energy micro-interface. This interface accelerates the spread of liquid water on it, i.e., moisture wicking, with a much higher efficiency than on rough, uneven, high-fuzz surfaces.

[0019] Clearly, in this solution, the optimized substrate ensures that the components in the finishing solution act uniformly and firmly on the fiber backbone. Simultaneously, the components within the finishing solution complement each other: the crosslinking resin and polyurethane are responsible for hydroxyl end-capping at the chemical level, fundamentally reducing water absorption; the polyethylene softener is responsible for moisture conduction at the physical level, accelerating the diffusion and evaporation of adsorbed moisture. The significant innovation of this solution lies in its revelation and utilization of the synergistic relationship between the substrate's physical microstructure and the multi-component chemical finishing system, providing a non-obvious solution: Faced with the problem of insufficient durability in chemical finishing, the conventional approach for those skilled in the art is to find single chemicals with better performance, while this invention teaches a systematic method that combines optimizing the physical substrate with designing a multi-component synergistic chemical system to significantly improve overall performance.

[0020] In technical solution two, the raw material is further limited to ultrafine long-staple cotton with a specific fineness and length. This fiber is not only high in strength but also has good flexibility, allowing it to withstand higher mechanical stress without breaking during high-twist twisting. This enables the yarn structure described in step S10 to achieve higher density and roundness, resulting in a yarn entity with a smoother surface and less fuzz. This optimized yarn structure directly improves the physical softness and luster of the fabric base, and provides a more uniform reaction interface for the chemical finishing in step S30, further enhancing the uniformity and durability of the finishing effect.

[0021] In technical solution three, the twist coefficient of the roving and spinning processes is quantitatively defined, and this twist coefficient range is key to optimizing the yarn structure. Below this range, the twist is insufficient, the fiber ends cannot be effectively bound, resulting in excessive yarn hairiness, a loose structure, and an inability to achieve lasting physical softness and an optimized chemical finishing base. Above this range, the twist is too high, which may lead to yarn stiffness, decreased hand feel, and even damage to fiber strength. Therefore, this technical solution ensures that step S10 can stably and repeatedly produce an ideal yarn structure with both high stability and a low coefficient of friction.

[0022] In technical solution four, a combing process is added to the spinning treatment, and the cotton waste rate is limited. The purpose of the combing process is to actively remove short fiber components from the raw material before twisting. Short fibers are the main source of yarn hairiness. Through this step, the number of fibers that can form hairiness is significantly reduced at the source. This allows the subsequent high-twist process to be carried out on a purer fiber aggregate with more uniform fiber length, thereby producing yarn with higher surface smoothness and a more compact structure, providing a superior physical condition for achieving lasting softness and efficient finishing.

[0023] In technical solution five, the yarn is limited to high-count yarn of 50 English count or above. High-count yarn means finer yarn. Using finer yarn for weaving allows for the formation of more loops per unit area, resulting in a denser, finer-textured, and lighter-weight knitted fabric base. This dense and fine structure not only directly improves the fabric's soft touch and appearance quality but also provides a more continuous and uniform surface for the chemical finishing in step S30, facilitating the even spreading and fixation of the finishing solution.

[0024] In Technical Solution Six, the three components in the finishing solution are clearly defined by chemical categories. This definition establishes a synergistic chemical system. Modified dimethyloldihydroxyvinyl urea resin, as the main reactant, achieves durable hydrophobic modification by forming covalent bonds with cellulose hydroxyl groups. The self-crosslinking polyether polyurethane dispersion, as an auxiliary film-forming agent, can form an elastic film, enhancing the integrity of the end-capping effect. The nonionic high-density polyethylene emulsion acts as a surface modifier, reducing surface energy and accelerating moisture spreading. This combination of three specific chemical categories ensures that the finishing process simultaneously achieves both chemical end-capping and physical moisture wicking effects.

[0025] In Technical Solution Seven, based on Technical Solution Six, the dosage of each component in the finishing solution is quantified. This dosage range is key to achieving a balance between functionality and comfort. Excessive crosslinking resin dosage will result in a stiff fabric feel, compromising the physical softness established in step S10. Insufficient dosage will fail to achieve effective hydroxyl end-capping, resulting in insignificant moisture-wicking and quick-drying effects. The specified dosage ratio ensures that while achieving significant and durable moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties, it also maximizes the preservation and enhancement of the original soft touch of the fabric base.

[0026] Technical Solution 8 specifies the temperature and time for the baking process. These process conditions are essential for activating the finishing liquid in step S30, enabling it to chemically react with the fibers and cure. In particular, the crosslinking resin requires specific temperature and time to complete its crosslinking reaction with cellulose. Below this range, the reaction is incomplete, resulting in a poor finishing effect that is not washable. Above this range, it may cause heat damage to the cotton fibers, leading to yellowing or a decrease in fabric strength. Therefore, this solution ensures that the functionality of the chemical finishing is permanently cured onto the fabric.

[0027] In technical solution nine, a dyeing step is added to the process flow, and the type of dye used is specified. A dual-reactive-group high-fixation reactive dye is used, which fixes the dye molecules to the fiber through chemical covalent bonds. This gives the fabric extremely high color fastness, resisting repeated washing without fading. This step ensures that the durability of the final fabric's appearance and color attributes matches the durability of the physical softness and moisture-wicking quick-drying properties imparted by this invention, thus obtaining a high-performance product with stable overall quality. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be considered as excluding other embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] In the claims and description of this invention, the terms "comprising," "having," and variations thereof are used to mean "including but not limited to."

[0030] This invention relates to a method for preparing a moisture-wicking and quick-drying knitted fabric for stir-frying meat, which includes the following steps:

[0031] S10: Spinning step, which includes: using long-staple cotton as raw material, performing a roving process and a spinning process on the raw material; wherein the twisting direction of the roving process is S-twist, and the twisting direction of the spinning process is Z-twist;

[0032] S20: Weaving step, which includes: weaving the yarn prepared in step S10 into a knitted fabric base;

[0033] S30: Finishing step, which includes: treating the knitted fabric substrate mentioned in step S20 with a finishing solution, and baking the treated knitted fabric substrate; the finishing solution contains a crosslinking resin, a polyurethane dispersion and a polyethylene softener.

[0034] Between steps S20 and S30, a dyeing step is also included, wherein the dyeing step uses a dual-reactive-group high-fixation-rate reactive dye.

[0035] Specifically, the complete preparation process of this invention includes three core stages: spinning high-performance yarns, weaving the knitted fabric base, and dyeing and finishing the greige fabric. These three stages are interconnected, ensuring the overall performance of the final fabric.

[0036] The first step is the spinning process for high-performance yarn. The goal of this stage is to produce a high-count yarn with high strength, high stability, low fuzz, and high smoothness. The preparation process begins with opening and removing impurities from the raw materials. Ultra-fine long-staple cotton bales meeting specifications are fed into an opening and cleaning machine. These bales have a fiber fineness of 125-130 mtex and an average length of 38-40 mm. The compacted cotton bales are opened mechanically, and impurities are removed, controlling the final impurity content to below 1.2%. Subsequently, the opened cotton fibers are fed into a carding machine, where the fibers are initially straightened and paralleled through carding, and short fibers and fine impurities are further removed, resulting in a uniform sliver.

[0037] To fundamentally guarantee yarn quality, the cotton sliver after carding must undergo combing. The sliver produced in the carding process is fed into a combing machine, and the machine parameters are set to remove 16%-20% of short fibers and impurities by weight during the combing process. The combed sliver results in fibers with uniform length and high parallelism and straightness. It then undergoes a drawing process, where multiple slivers are combined and drafted to further improve sliver uniformity, resulting in a finished sliver suitable for spinning roving.

[0038] The subsequent twisting process is crucial for forming the yarn structure. The combed and drawn sliver is fed into a roving frame for initial drafting and S-axis twist, controlling the twist coefficient within the range of 130-150 to produce a roving with a certain strength. This roving is then fed into a ring spinning frame for main drafting and Z-axis twist, opposite to the roving's twist direction, controlling the twist coefficient within the range of 280-320. This reverse high-twist process tightly binds the long fibers together, spinning them into a fine yarn with a dense, smooth surface. Finally, the fine yarn is wound into cones suitable for weaving through the winding process.

[0039] The second step is the manufacturing of the knitted fabric base. Finished yarns meeting a count of 50 or higher are selected and woven on a single-sided circular weft knitting machine. Depending on the design requirements, a plain weave or double-sided plain weave is used, bending the yarn into loops and interlocking them to form a weight of 180-220 g / m². 2 The tubular knitted greige fabric within the range, i.e., the knitted fabric base.

[0040] The next step is the dyeing and finishing of the knitted fabric base. The purpose of this stage is to give the knitted fabric base color and ultimately to impart moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties through chemical means.

[0041] First, the greige fabric undergoes pretreatment, including processes such as boiling and bleaching, to remove natural impurities, waxes, and oil stains that may have been picked up during the textile process, giving it a white appearance and uniform water absorption, in preparation for subsequent dyeing.

[0042] Next, dyeing is performed. High-fixation reactive dyes with dual reactive groups are used in a dye bath. By precisely controlling the amounts of dye, electrolyte, and fixing alkali, as well as the time and rate of heating, holding, and cooling, the dye forms strong covalent bonds with the cotton fibers, resulting in colored fabrics with high wash fastness. After dyeing, the fabric undergoes thorough soaping and washing to remove excess dye, followed by dehydration.

[0043] Finally, the core functional finishing process is carried out. This step begins with the preparation of the finishing solution. Metered water is injected into a mixing tank at room temperature. While stirring, nonionic high-density polyethylene emulsion, self-crosslinking polyether polyurethane dispersion, and modified dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea resin are added and dissolved sequentially, and thoroughly stirred to form a homogeneous and stable finishing solution. During the finishing process, the dyed and dehydrated knitted fabric is introduced into an impregnation tank, ensuring it is fully impregnated with the finishing solution containing: 40-80 g / L modified dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea resin, 20-50 g / L self-crosslinking polyether polyurethane dispersion, and 20-60 g / L nonionic high-density polyethylene emulsion. The fabric is then pressed through rollers. By adjusting the roller pressure, the fabric's liquid retention rate is controlled between 70% and 80% to ensure that each unit weight of fabric carries a sufficient amount of finishing agent.

[0044] The damp fabric, after being impregnated with the finishing solution, is smoothly fed into the setting machine. The oven temperature inside the setting machine is set at 160-170℃, and the time the fabric spends in the oven is precisely controlled to be 70-120 seconds by adjusting the machine's operating speed. Under these conditions, the fabric is dried, and the cross-linking resin in the finishing solution undergoes a full cross-linking reaction with the fibers, achieving functional curing. After setting, a pre-shrinking treatment is usually required to control the dimensional stability of the finished product, ultimately resulting in an ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying knitted fabric.

[0045] The method for preparing ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying knitted fabrics disclosed in this invention systematically solves the inherent technical contradiction between physical comfort and functional durability in pure cotton knitted fabrics through the synergistic cooperation of various technical means. Conventional pure cotton knitted fabrics typically employ low-twist spinning processes to achieve softness. This process results in a loose yarn structure, but also exposes a large number of short fiber ends on the yarn surface, forming fuzz. This fuzz is the root cause of two core problems: first, after repeated washing and rubbing, the fibers become entangled and flattened, making the fabric feel stiff and resulting in short-lived softness; second, during functional finishing, chemical finishing agents mainly adhere to these low-strength, easily detached surface fuzzes rather than the strong fiber backbone, thus the finishing effect is not wash-resistant.

[0046] This invention first overcomes the aforementioned structural defects through the spinning process defined in step S10. This step applies the reverse twisting technique of S-twist roving and Z-twist yarn to a high-twist process scenario that those skilled in the art would typically avoid when pursuing softness. Under the influence of high twist, the long fibers of long-staple cotton are forcibly bundled into a compact, round, and smooth yarn entity. This compact physical structure ensures that the fiber ends are firmly bound inside the yarn, thereby greatly reducing fuzz on the yarn surface. The direct technical effect is that the softness of the fabric no longer comes from a changeable fluffy structure, but from a smooth surface with a low coefficient of friction. This physical softness, due to the stability of its structure, has high washability and durability, thus overcoming the technical bias that softness and durability are mutually restrictive.

[0047] More importantly, the low-hair, high-smoothness yarn prepared in step S10 provides a reaction substrate with optimized physical properties for the chemical finishing in step S30. Based on this optimized physical substrate, the selection of finishing solution components in step S30 has a clear technical direction, and these components exhibit significant synergistic effects with the physical properties of the substrate. The strong hydrophilicity of cotton fibers stems from the densely packed hydroxyl groups on their molecular chains, which is the fundamental reason for their slow drying after absorbing water. To achieve moisture-wicking and quick-drying functionality, the finishing solution formulation defined in this invention addresses this problem through a multi-component synergistic system.

[0048] The crosslinking resin in the finishing solution, as the main functional component, reacts chemically with the hydroxyl groups on the surface of cotton fibers to form stable covalent bonds, thereby sealing some of the hydroxyl groups. The yarn surface prepared in step S10 is smooth and fuzz-free, allowing the crosslinking resin to form a continuous and uniform reaction layer, rather than the discontinuous, point-like reaction attached to unstable fiber ends that occurs on the surface of conventional high-fuzz yarns. This directly improves the efficiency of the crosslinking reaction and the durability of the finishing effect. The polyurethane dispersion in the finishing solution forms a complete and elastic film on the smooth fiber surface, working together with the crosslinking resin to form a denser end-capped network. Simultaneously, the polyethylene softener in the finishing solution, with its non-polar long-chain structure, can more effectively orient itself on this smooth substrate surface, thereby constructing a low surface energy micro-interface. This interface accelerates the spread of liquid water on it, i.e., moisture wicking, with a much higher efficiency than on rough, uneven, high-fuzz surfaces.

[0049] Clearly, in this solution, the optimized substrate ensures that the components in the finishing solution act uniformly and firmly on the fiber backbone. Simultaneously, the components within the finishing solution complement each other: the crosslinking resin and polyurethane are responsible for hydroxyl end-capping at the chemical level, fundamentally reducing water absorption; the polyethylene softener is responsible for moisture conduction at the physical level, accelerating the diffusion and evaporation of adsorbed moisture. The significant innovation of this solution lies in its revelation and utilization of the synergistic relationship between the substrate's physical microstructure and the multi-component chemical finishing system, providing a non-obvious solution: Faced with the problem of insufficient durability in chemical finishing, the conventional approach for those skilled in the art is to find single chemicals with better performance, while this invention teaches a systematic method that combines optimizing the physical substrate with designing a multi-component synergistic chemical system to significantly improve overall performance.

[0050] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below through embodiments and comparative examples.

[0051] To ensure the repeatability of the embodiments and the accuracy of the data, the main raw materials used in the embodiments and comparative examples of this invention are as follows: Extra-fine long-staple cotton: Giza 45 type from Aksu region, Xinjiang, China, with a fiber fineness of 128 mtex and an average length of 39 mm. Ordinary combed cotton: Chinese standard grade 1, with an average fiber length of 29 mm. Crosslinking resin (modified dimethylol dihydroxyvinyl urea resin): BASF, Germany, brand name Fixapret F-CL conc. Polyurethane dispersion (self-crosslinking polyether polyurethane dispersion): Huntsman, brand name ULTRATEX Uesoft. Polyethylene softener (nonionic high-density polyethylene emulsion): Dow, brand name ACUMER 9000. Conventional softener: commercially available, ordinary cationic softener (fatty acid amide quaternary ammonium salt).

[0052] Example 1

[0053] This embodiment aims to provide the best implementation of the present invention.

[0054] S10: Spinning Steps

[0055] The raw material is Giza 45 type superfine long-staple cotton from Aksu region of Xinjiang. After opening and cleaning, and carding, the cotton is combed, with the combing waste rate controlled at 18%. The combed sliver is fed into a roving frame, and S-axis twist is applied, controlling the twist coefficient at 140. Subsequently, the roving is fed into a ring spinning machine, and Z-axis twist is applied, controlling the yarn twist coefficient at 300, to produce 60-count (60s) combed yarn.

[0056] S20: Weaving Steps

[0057] The aforementioned 60s yarn was woven on a single-sided circular knitting machine to a weight of 190g / m². 2 Plain knit fabric base.

[0058] S30: Dyeing and Finishing Steps

[0059] After pretreatment and dyeing of the fabric substrate, a functional finishing process is performed. The finishing solution formula is: 60 g / L crosslinking resin, 40 g / L polyurethane dispersion, and 40 g / L polyethylene softener. The fabric is impregnated with the finishing solution, with the liquid carry-over rate controlled at 75%, and then baked in a setting machine at 165°C for 90 seconds.

[0060] Example 2

[0061] S10: Spinning Steps

[0062] The raw materials and combing process are the same as in Example 1. In the roving process, S-axis twist is applied, and the twist coefficient is controlled to the lower limit of 130. In the spinning process, Z-axis twist is applied, and the spinning twist coefficient is controlled to the lower limit of 280, to produce 50-count (50s) combed yarn.

[0063] S20: Weaving Steps

[0064] The above 50s yarn is woven to a weight of 210g / m². 2 Plain knit fabric base.

[0065] S30: Dyeing and Finishing Steps

[0066] The finishing solution formulation is: 40 g / L crosslinking resin, 20 g / L polyurethane dispersion, and 20 g / L polyethylene softener. The baking conditions are 160℃ for 120 seconds.

[0067] Example 3

[0068] S10: Spinning Steps

[0069] The raw materials and combing process are the same as in Example 1. In the roving process, S-axis twist is applied, and the twist coefficient is controlled to the upper limit of 150. In the spinning process, Z-axis twist is applied, and the spinning twist coefficient is controlled to the upper limit of 320, to produce 80-count (80s) combed yarn.

[0070] S20: Weaving Steps

[0071] The above-mentioned 80s yarn is woven into a yarn with a weight of 180g / m². 2 Plain knit fabric base.

[0072] S30: Dyeing and Finishing Steps

[0073] The finishing solution formulation is: 80 g / L crosslinking resin, 50 g / L polyurethane dispersion, and 60 g / L polyethylene softener. The baking conditions are 170℃ for 70 seconds.

[0074] Comparative Example 1

[0075] This comparative example utilizes existing technologies such as conventional low-twist spinning and conventional softener finishing. It aims to simulate the most common commercially available pure cotton knitted fabrics that prioritize an initial hand feel.

[0076] S10: Spinning Steps

[0077] Ordinary combed cotton is used as raw material. No special S / Z reverse twisting design is used. Conventional Z / Z same-direction twisting is used. In order to pursue a fluffy hand feel, the yarn twist coefficient is controlled at a low level of 240, and it is spun into a 32-count (32s) conventional combed yarn.

[0078] S20: Weaving Steps

[0079] The above 32s yarn was woven to a weight of 190g / m². 2 Plain knit fabric base.

[0080] S30: Dyeing and Finishing Steps

[0081] After pretreatment and dyeing of the fabric substrate, no functional finishing is performed; only a conventional cationic softener is used for softening.

[0082] Comparative Example 2

[0083] The spinning process of this invention is used only, but conventional softening finishing is performed. This comparative example aims to verify the independent effect of step S10 of this invention and to demonstrate that it is insufficient to achieve all the objectives of the invention.

[0084] S10-S20: The spinning and weaving steps are exactly the same as in Example 1.

[0085] S30: Dyeing and Finishing Steps

[0086] After pretreatment and staining of the high-quality substrate prepared in Example 1, no functional finishing was performed; instead, only a conventional cationic softener, the same as that used in Comparative Example 1, was used for softening.

[0087] Comparative Example 3

[0088] The conventional low-twist spinning process is employed, but the functional finishing liquid of this invention is used. This comparative example aims to verify the effect of step S30 of this invention and to demonstrate that it must work in conjunction with step S10 to achieve durability, thereby demonstrating the inventiveness of this invention.

[0089] S10-S20: Spinning and weaving steps are exactly the same as in Comparative Example 1.

[0090] S30: Dyeing and Finishing Steps

[0091] After pretreatment and staining of the conventional substrate prepared in Comparative Example 1, it was finished using the same functional finishing solution formulation and process as in Example 1.

[0092] The performance of the above embodiments and comparative examples was tested using the following testing standards:

[0093] Moisture absorption and quick-drying performance: Tested according to GB / T 21655.1-2008 "Evaluation of moisture absorption and quick-drying properties of textiles - Part 1: Single-item combination test method". Two main indicators were tested: Water droplet diffusion time (s): the time from when a water droplet contacts the fabric surface until it is completely absorbed; the shorter the time, the better the moisture absorption. Moisture evaporation rate (g / h): the mass of moisture evaporated from the fabric per unit time; the higher the rate, the better the quick-drying performance.

[0094] Softness: According to GB / T 8689-2017 "Textiles - Determination of drape of fabrics", the stiffness length (cm) of the fabric is tested using the cantilever beam method. The shorter the stiffness length, the softer the fabric and the better its drape.

[0095] Wash resistance: The post-wash performance tests of all samples were conducted after the samples underwent 30 cycles of washing in Program 4N (40℃) and cyclic drying in Program A (hanging to dry) in GB / T 8629-2017 "Test Procedures for Household Washing and Drying of Textiles".

[0096] The test results are as follows:

[0097]

[0098]

[0099] Comparing the data of Examples 1, 2, and 3 with Comparative Example 1, it is evident that the fabric prepared by this invention exhibits overwhelming advantages in all performance aspects. Regarding moisture absorption and quick-drying properties, all examples demonstrate exceptionally superior initial and post-wash performance, a function largely absent in conventional fabrics. In the crucial area of ​​lasting softness, the stiffness length of all examples shows only minor changes after 30 washes, remaining at an excellent level within 8.0 cm; while the stiffness length of Comparative Example 1 deteriorates sharply from 7.5 cm to 10.5 cm, resulting in a stiff hand feel. This demonstrates that this invention successfully solves both the technical challenges of quick-drying and lasting softness simultaneously.

[0100] Comparing the softness data of Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 with those of Comparative Examples 1 and 3, it can be seen that the samples using the S / Z reverse high-twist process of this invention (Examples 1, 2, 3 and Comparative Example 2) maintain an excellent level of stiffness length after washing; while the samples using the conventional low-twist process (Comparative Examples 1 and 3) deteriorate to over 10.5 cm in stiffness length after washing. This proves that the specific spinning process defined in step S10 of this invention is the core and root of achieving lasting physical softness. By constructing a stable, low-hair yarn structure, it overcomes the technical prejudice that conventional pure cotton becomes stiffer after washing. After washing, a large number of hairs on the surface of conventional low-twist yarn become entangled, which is the direct cause of its stiff hand feel.

[0101] Furthermore, although Comparative Example 2 exhibits excellent and lasting softness, its moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties are no different from those of conventional fabrics. This demonstrates that the optimized physical substrate in step S10 alone cannot endow the fabric with moisture-wicking and quick-drying functionality. Comparative Example 3 has initial moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties comparable to the examples. However, after 30 washes, its performance deteriorates sharply (diffusion time worsens to 18.6 s, evaporation rate drops to 0.15 g / h), almost losing its functionality. This is because the surface of the conventional low-twist substrate has many fibers, and the functional finishing agent mainly adheres to these loose fibers, which are largely lost during washing as they fall off. Clearly, only by combining the optimized physical substrate in step S10 with the functional finishing in step S30 can the moisture-wicking and quick-drying function, which combines excellent initial performance and high wash resistance, be finally achieved. The fundamental reason is that the smooth and stable yarn surface prepared in step S10 provides a firm and uniform adhesion platform for the chemical finishing agent in step S30, allowing the functionality to be permanently solidified.

[0102] The foregoing description of the specifications and embodiments is intended to explain the scope of protection of this invention, but does not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this invention. Modifications, equivalent substitutions, or other improvements to the embodiments of this invention or a portion thereof that can be obtained by those skilled in the art through logical analysis, reasoning, or limited experimentation, based on the teachings of this invention or the foregoing embodiments, in conjunction with common knowledge, general technical knowledge, and / or existing technology, should all be included within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. A method for preparing an ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, quick-drying knitted fabric, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S10: Spinning step, which includes: using long-staple cotton as raw material, and performing a roving process and a spinning process on the raw material; Wherein, the twisting direction of the roving process is S-twist, and the twisting direction of the spinning process is Z-twist; S20: Weaving step, which includes: weaving the yarn prepared in step S10 into a knitted fabric base; S30: Finishing step, which includes: treating the knitted fabric substrate mentioned in step S20 with a finishing solution, and baking the treated knitted fabric substrate; the finishing solution contains a crosslinking resin, a polyurethane dispersion and a polyethylene softener.

2. The method for preparing an ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying knitted fabric as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The long-staple cotton mentioned in step S10 is ultrafine long-staple cotton, and the fiber fineness of ultrafine long-staple cotton is 125-130 mtex, with an average length of 38-40 mm.

3. The method for preparing an ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying knitted fabric as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step S10, the twist coefficient of the roving process is 130-150, and the twist coefficient of the spinning process is 280-320.

4. The method for preparing an ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying knitted fabric as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The spinning process in step S10, prior to the roving process, also includes a combing process, and the waste rate of the combing process is 16%-20%.

5. The method for preparing an ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying knitted fabric as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step S20, the yarn count is 50 English count or higher.

6. The method for preparing an ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying knitted fabric as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In the finishing solution mentioned in step S30: The crosslinking resin is a modified dihydroxymethyl dihydroxyethylene urea resin; The polyurethane dispersion is a self-crosslinking polyether polyurethane dispersion; The polyethylene softener is a nonionic high-density polyethylene emulsion.

7. The method for preparing an ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying knitted fabric as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The amounts of each component in the finishing solution are as follows: The modified dihydroxymethyl dihydroxyethylene urea resin: 40-80 g / L; The self-crosslinking polyether polyurethane dispersion: 20-50 g / L; The nonionic high-density polyethylene emulsion has a concentration of 20-60 g / L.

8. The method for preparing an ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying knitted fabric as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The baking process conditions in step S30 are: temperature 160-170℃, time 70-120 seconds.

9. The method for preparing an ultra-soft, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying knitted fabric as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Between step S20 and step S30, a dyeing step is also included, wherein the dyeing step uses a dual-reactive-group high-fixation-rate reactive dye.

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