What is Wicking Fabric? How Does it Work?
What is Wicking Fabric?
Wicking fabric is pretty technical stuff. (We’ll get into exactly how to works a little later in this article.) But its effect is simple. It has two primary jobs.
- To draw moisture (in this case sweat) away from the body.
- To dry quickly.
This keeps the wearer dry and allows the body to regulate its temperature more effectively. It also helps to prevent the odor and irritation sometimes experienced with perspiration.
What is Wicking Fabric Used For?
Because of these sweat diffusing properties, wicking fabric is the perfect material for any kind of sportswear, active wear or clothing used in outdoor pursuits.
In hotter parts of the world, it’s also becoming popular for everyday wear, underwear and even bedding.
How does Wicking Fabric Work? How Many Types of Wicking Fabrics Are There?
There are three main ways in which we can give a garment wicking properties.
1. The Construction of the Yarn
Wicking yarn has a different composition to that of regular yarn. A normal yarn is round in shape.
Wicking yarn isn’t round. It might be cross or flower shaped, as you can see in the diagrams below. Ultimately, it’s designed to have more spaces and channels through which moisture can move.
This process of moisture movement is called capillary action. Tiny capillaries (little tubes) in the yarn allow moisture to move through the fabric. Sweat is wicked away from the body and can then evaporate into the air.
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Wicking yarn is always synthetic filament so it’s only available in materials like polyester and nylon.
2. The Knitting Structure
This process is sometimes referred to as?one-way wicking?or mechanical wicking. Fabric (like?this) is knitted into a particular pattern. The pattern of the fabric forces moisture into the outer layer of the garment.??
This means sweat is taken away from the skin and diffused over a large area of the outer fabric. It is then able to evaporate quickly and efficiently.
3. Adding a Chemical Finish
We can give a regular fabric wicking properties by adding a chemical finish containing a hydrophilic molecule. This is usually added while dyeing or setting the fabric.
After fabrics are treated, the additive attaches to the surface of the yarn and makes the yarn hydrophilic.
A chemical wicking finish is cheaper than wicking yarn. But when the clothes are washed, the finish will gradually wear away.
The 3 Ways to Give Fabric Wicking Qualities
Do you prefer Wicking fabrics or Quick Dry Fabrics ?
Do you know how to proof wicking and quicking dry ?
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