1125461

research-article2022
JEF0010.1177/15589250221125461Journal of Engineered Fibers and FabricsAnas et al.

Knitting Technology - Original Article

Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics

Ultraviolet protection factor evaluation of Volume 17: 1­–13

© The Author(s) 2022
https://doi.org/10.1177/15589250221125461
DOI: 10.1177/15589250221125461
comfort oriented two-yarn fleece fabrics journals.sagepub.com/home/jef

Muhammad Sohaib Anas1 , Adeel Abbas1 , Zeeshan Azam1 ,

Zeeshan Tariq2 , Zarnab Gul1 and Muhammad Ehtisham Sarwar1

Abstract
Knitted fleece fabrics with superior comfort characteristics are chiefly focused in winter wear. Thermal characteristics
are an area of interest in selecting fleece clothing. However, environmental hazards also need to be focused. Fleece
clothing is worn in cold areas having higher ultraviolet rays exposures. Hence the clothing should have the capability of
combating environmental challenges. The study focuses on engineering variable fleece structures with different materials.
Cotton, nylon, and polypropylene fleece patterns have been knitted using fleece 1:1, 3:1, and 2:2 patterns. The designs
vary by tuck and miss stitch configurations in the fleece course. Comfort characteristics were determined through air
permeability, moisture management, and thermal resistance tests. Performance criteria were evaluated in terms of
pilling resistance and ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) investigation. Structures and materials owing better comfort
characteristics with satisfactory UPF have been predicted as safe clothing in UV affected zones, that is, fleece 3:1
possessed the optimum comfort characteristics and UPF simultaneously; however, the mechanical performance was
better for 2:1 and 1:1 fleece fabric due to less amount of miss stitch floating yarns.

Keywords
Knitting technology, fleece fabrics, comfort characteristics, ultraviolet protection

Date received: 21 April 2022; accepted: 25 August 2022

Introduction have gained much importance, as the human body and

clothing interaction defines wearer performance in most
In recent years, knitting has shown dynamic market growth stances.11–13 Thermo-physiological comfort includes air
governed by increasing demands for knitted garments in permeability, moisture management characteristics, and
domestic and international markets.1 Low cost and rapid heat transfer properties necessary to maintain body and
manufacturing facilitate the knitwear industry in meeting clothing temperature equilibrium.14,15 Such heat and mass
daily, rising customer demands.2 Hence, about 50% of
market demands seem to be fulfilled by knitwear com-
1
pared to woven outfits.3 Textile and clothing consumers  epartment of Textile Engineering, School of Engineering &
D
Technology, National Textile University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
have been aware of comfort parameters while buying.4 2
School of Design & Textiles, University of Management and
Comfort is defined as a state of being fulfilled or not being Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
mentally and physically irritated using an outfit.5 Knitted
Corresponding author:
fabrics have better stretch and recovery properties, facili-
Muhammad Sohaib Anas, Department of Textile Engineering, School
tating user body movements.6–9 That’s why knitted fabrics of Engineering & Technology, National Textile University, Faisalabad
are before woven for comfort needs.10 In addition to 37610, Pakistan.
motion and esthetic comfort, physiological characteristics Email: sohaibanas09@gmail.com

Creative Commons CC BY: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of
the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages
(https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
2 Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics 

Table 1. Physical parameters of materials.

Sr. No. Material Count Fiber fineness (dTex) Moisture regain (%) Tenacity (g/Denier)
1 Cotton 20 Ne 2.7 × 10−6 8.5 4.5
2 Nylon 275 Denier 1.4 4 10
3 Polypropylene 275 Denier 1.4 0.05 6.5

transport differ w.r.t environmental factors, that is, sea- tightness factor is also influential.34 Blending cotton fibers
sonal temperature and humidity fluctuations.16–18 Different with bamboo and Tencel enhanced UPF of cotton/bamboo/
knitted structural derivatives have been engineered to meet Tencel knitted fabrics.35 Although literature comprises
varying demands.19 Fleece knitted fabrics are chiefly pre- prestigious work on knitted fabrics’ comfort characteris-
ferred in winterwear, including sweatshirts, jackets, hood- tics. Ultraviolet performance also has been evaluated in
ies etc.20 However, performance characteristics cannot be some studies. However, UPF evaluation along with com-
neglected, focusing on comfort only.21 Performance char- fort characteristics of fleece knitted fabrics derivatives
acteristics are mostly related to mechanical properties such find a gap. Hence the research focuses on developing dif-
as pilling resistance, abrasion performance, and bursting ferent fleece structures using cotton, nylon, and polypro-
strength.22 Environmental triggers consideration is also pylene yarns. Comfort transfer characteristics have been
vital in clothing performance assessment. Knitted fleece investigated with UPF evaluation to predict structures hav-
clothing consumers are mostly from cold regions where ing satisfactory performance.
ultraviolet rays exposure governs severe skin infections.23
Hence, evaluating the ultraviolet rays protection factor is
Materials and methods
critical in knitted fleece clothing performance, along with
heat-mass transfer and mechanical characteristics. And the Fleece knitted fabrics are engineered using either two or
same issue is the focused concern of the research. three yarns, and the fleeces are named two-yarn and three-
Frydrych et al. examined thermal characteristics of yarn fleece, respectively. Three-yarn fleece comprises a
natural, and manmade cellulosic woven fabrics; Tencel feeder repeat of three, having one course of all knit stitches,
woven fabrics possessed lower thermal conductivity.24 second all tuck, and third of tuck and miss stitches combi-
P. Chidambaram et al.’s comparative study revealed that nation. However, two-yarn fleece has a feeder/course
100% bamboo knitted fabrics have better air permeability repeat of two, the first course is all knit, and the second is
and moisture management characteristics than cotton a combination of tuck and miss loops. Two-yarn fleece
blended, and thermal conductivity is also enhanced using was architected in the research using different materials
loose stitch length.25 Material variations also influence and structures. All knit stitches course is also called ground
heat and moisture management characteristics, keeping knitting course. The respective yarn is called ground yarn,
knitted structural parameters constant.26 The physiological and the second course is termed a fleece course knitted
comfort of plaited knitted fabrics is majorly influenced by with fleece yarn. In the study, similar materials were uti-
changing yarn material; nylon plaited fabrics have better lized for ground and fleece course knitting, including cot-
heat and moisture transportation than polyester and poly- ton, nylon, and polypropylene. Cotton is a soft cellulosic
propylene plaited fabrics.27 Afzal et al. performed thermal natural plant-based fiber chiefly known for its exceptional
characterizations showed an increase in thermal resistance clothing comfort characteristics.36 Nylon is petroleum-
of bi-layered knitted fabric by increasing cotton percent- based synthetic fiber consisting of polyamides/amide link-
age in PC blend yarns.28 Decreasing the tightness factor age in its polymer chains. Nylon having compact molecular
leads to enhanced air transportation of interlock knitted structure possesses soft hand and good weathering and
fabrics; however, moisture management capability is com- abrasion properties.37 Polypropylene fiber is a linear chain
promised.29 Moisture transportation of knitted fabrics is synthetic fiber synthesized through propylene polymeriza-
diminished with an increase in stitch length.30 Akçakoca tion. Polypropylene having lightweight and viable
Kumbasar et al. investigation proved no significant comfort mechanical characteristics, is famous in clothing and tech-
change in three-yarn knitted fleece after shearing except nical textiles.38 The physical characteristics of materials
warmth feeling.31 However, in two-yarn knitted fleece are shown in Table 1.
fabrics, thermal properties are influenced by raising.32 The knitting process of two-yarn fleece fabrics was
S. Gunesoglu and Meric found yarn type and blend ratio done on the FUKUHARA circular single jersey weft knit-
less significant than raising in determining thermal contact ting machine present in the Knitting Laboratory of National
properties of two-yarn fleece fabrics.33 Double knit struc- Textile University, Pakistan. The machine has 90 feeders,
tures have a better ultraviolet protection factor than single 20 gauge, and 32 inches in diameter. Feeding tension of
knit corresponding to weight and thickness; however, the ground and fleece yarn was 6 cN/Tex and 9 cN/Tex,
Anas et al. 3

Figure 1. Diagrammatic notations: (a) Fleece 1:1, (b) Fleece 3:1, and(c) Fleece 2:2.

respectively. Forty-five feeders out of ninety were material detail of each knitted sample. Standardized rais-
employed on ground yarn feeding and remaining forty- ing of knitted specimens was done to enhance thermal
five fed fleece yarn. Machine parameters were kept con- characteristics. Washing was done to remove process-
stant during knitting for solely achieving fleece structure induced stresses and impurities, and samples were tumble
and material effect on comfort and performance. Three dif- dried. Figure 3 shows the samples development and char-
ferent fleece structures were used with three knitting mate- acterizations highlights.
rials. Figure 1 shows the diagrammatic representations,
and the animated images of the architected fleece structure
have been visualized in Figure 2. Characterizations
Table 2 shows experimental factors and levels details. Comfort characterizations included air permeability, mois-
Three different materials were incorporated with three ture management, and thermal resistance testing. Fabric
different structural derivatives of fleece. Fleece 1:1, 3:1, thickness was also evaluated to interpret the correlation
and 2:2, were knitted using cotton, nylon, and polypropyl- with comfort characteristics. Pilling resistance interpreted
ene. Fleece 1:1 has alternative tuck and miss stitches in fabric performance characteristics against environmental
the fleece course with a move number of one after each surface abrasions. Ultraviolet protection factor was exam-
ground course. Fleece 3:1 consisted of three miss and one ined to check whether fleece clothing is suitable for being
tuck stitch alteration with move number two after each worn in UV threatened regions if it performs satisfactorily.
ground knitted course. However, fleece 2:2 has an alterna- All characterizations were performed under international
tive combination of two tuck and miss stitches with a testing standards defined laboratory conditions and testing
move number of two wales. Table 3 illustrates the com- protocols. Table 4 shows testing standards and characteri-
plete design of experiment, showing the structure and zations output units.
4 Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics 

Figure 2. Animated fabric view: Fleece 3:1.

Table 2. Experimental factors and levels. and ANOVA was calculated using MINITAB 18 statistical
software. Analysis of variance was calculated using a 95%
Experimental Levels
factors
confidence level; hence terms with p-value < 0.05 were
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 statistically significant and vice versa. Table 5 highlights
calculated ANOVA p-values.
Fleece pattern Fleece 1:1 Fleece 3:1 Fleece 2:2
Material Cotton Nylon Polypropylene
Physical characteristics
Table 3. Design of experiment. Physical characteristics include knitted fabric quality
parameters necessary to be evaluated after knitting. Wale
Sr. No. Fleece pattern Material per inch (WPI) indicates the number of wales in one-inch
1 Fleece 1:1 Cotton fabric width. Wales correspond to vertical warp yarns in
2 Fleece 1:1 Nylon woven fabrics. Similarly, courses per inch (CPI) determines
3 Fleece 1:1 Polypropylene the number of courses in one-inch fabric length, correspond-
4 Fleece 3:1 Cotton ing to weft yarns of woven fabrics. Stitch density is also
5 Fleece 3:1 Nylon sometimes calculated to highlight the number of stitches in
6 Fleece 3:1 Polypropylene a one-inch square area. More wale and course density leads
7 Fleece 2:2 Cotton to higher stitch density values, and the fabric cover/tightness
8 Fleece 2:2 Nylon factor is enhanced. GSM abbreviating grams per square
9 Fleece 2:2 Polypropylene meter is used to show fabric weight. More will be the GSM,
denser and thicker the fabric. Polypropylene led the highest
number of WPI; smooth fiber surface governed more inter
Results and discussion yarn slippage and shrinkage. However, fleece 3:1 has the
highest number of WPI for all materials, followed by fleece
Results of characterizations have been presented in sepa- 2:1 having medium, and fleece 1:1 with the least WPI. The
rate sections. Statistical analysis of results was performed, increasing number of miss stitches caused fabric width
Anas et al. 5

Figure 3. Specimens development and characterizations.

Table 4. Characterizations.

Sr. No. Characterization Standard Units

1 Air Permeability ASTM D737 mm/sec
2 Moisture Management AATCC 195–2009 OMMC Value
3 Thermal Resistance ASTM D7024 Km2/W
5 Pilling Resistance ASTM D4970 Pilling Grade
6 UPF Measurement AATCC TM 183–2010 UPF Value

Table 5. ANOVA p-Values. Nylon fabrics showed the highest GSM among all fleece
patterns. Stich length was kept constant in all fleece pat-
Terms Fleece pattern Material terns, 0.32 cm for ground course and 0.19 cm for the fleece
p-Value p-Value course (Figure 4).
Thickness 0.009 0.590
Air permeability 0.169 0.005 Thickness
Moisture management 0.000 0.000
Thermal resistance 0.047 0.012 Thickness measures a fabric distinction from its length
Pilling resistance 0.05 0.023 and width also called z-axis fabric dimension. Knitted
Ultraviolet protection factor 0.000 0.002 structural derivatives influence length and widthwise
dimensional changes; however, different structures gov-
ern different thicknesses. Thickness chiefly works for
reduction and WPI increased. CPI of polypropylene was incorporating comfort characteristics, performance, and
also higher than cotton and nylon. However, fleece 3:1 has ultraviolet protection factor characterization. Fleece 1:1
the least CPI, and an increasing CPI trend toward fleece 2:1 exhibited 1.40, 1.57, and 1.57 mm thickness for cotton,
and fleece 1:1. Tuck stitches in weft knitted fabrics govern nylon, and polypropylene, respectively. Fleece 2:2
lengthwise shrinkage. Hence, fleece patterns with fewer showed 1.65, 1.92, and 1.68 mm thickness; however,
tuck stitches showed less CPI regardless of material. Fleece fleece 3:1 had 2.24, 2.1, and 2.06 mm thickness for cot-
2:2, having optimum stitch density, exhibited higher GSM ton, nylon, and polypropylene (Figure 5). Main effects
for all cotton, nylon, and polypropylene knitted samples. plot in Figure 6 illustrates the thickness of fleece 3:1 is
6 Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics 

Figure 4. Physical characteristics radar plots: (a) WPI, (b) CPI, and (c) GSM.

increasing float length governing fluffiness along fabric

cross-section. Similarly, nylon showed highest mean
thickness; however, cotton and polypropylene had compa-
rable thickness values. Thickness variation w.r.t material
was observed minimum, hence was not found statistically
significant (p-value > 0.05). However, fleece pattern
influence proved to be statistically Figure 5 3D Bar Chart:
Thickness significant with p-value < 0.05 in Table 5.

Air permeability
Air permeability is a chiefly focused comfort characteris-
tic, determining air transportation efficacy through fabric.
Cotton knits showed air permeability of 170, 210, and
230 mm/s for 1:1, 3:1, and 2:2 fleece respectively. Nylon
had 104, 123, and 151 mm/s air permeability, however
polypropylene knits exhibited 289 mm/s, 474 mm/s, and
400 mm/s air permeabilities respectively for 1:1, 3:1, 2:2
fleece fabrics (Figure 7). Fleece 3:3 has highest air perme-
ability values, followed by a decreasing trend toward
Figure 5. 3D bar chart: Thickness. fleece 2:2 and 1:1. Main effects plot shown in Figure 8
verifies the trend. Increased number of floats made fabric
highest, fleece 2:2 had medium, and fleece 1:1 exhibited thinner, and more channels were provided for air transpor-
least thickness. The increasing thickness relates to tation in fleece 3:1. However, fleece 2:1 consisted of two
Anas et al. 7

Figure 6. Main effects plot: Thickness.

is lightweight and free of convolutions, polypropylene knit-

ted specimens have the highest air permeability values.
Fleece pattern variation was not found statistically signifi-
cant for air permeability (p-value < 0.05). However, mate-
rial effect was significant having p-value of 0.005. Fleece
1:1 has 63.46% increase in air permeability through chang-
ing material from cotton to nylon. An increase of 70% was
again observed shifting from nylon to polypropylene.
Fleece 3:1 showed 70.73% and 125.71% increase in air
permeability by while moving from nylon toward cotton
and polypropylene respectively. 52.31% and 73.91% air
permeability increase were observed on fleece 2:2 by
changing nylon with cotton and Figure 7 3D Bar Chart: Air
Permeability polypropylene respectively.

Moisture management
Moisture management of textiles is quantified with
OMMC value describing the overall moisture manage-
ment capability including moisture transportation and
Figure 7. 3D bar chart: Air permeability.
absorption rate etc. Fleece 1:1 showed OMMC values of
0.0061, 0.0074, and 0.0083 respectively for polypropyl-
consecutive tuck stitches compared to single alternative ene, nylon, and cotton. Fleece 3:1 had 0.0048, 0.006, and
tuck stitch in fleece 1:1. Tuck stitches being responsible 0.0069 OMMC, however fleece 2:2 showed 0.0055,
for fabric porosity enhanced air permeability, facilitating 0.0068, and 0.0075 OMMC values for polypropylene, cot-
air transportation through pores. Inherently being less ton, and nylon respectively (Figure 9). An increasing trend
breathable nylon showed least air permeability among all was observed by changing material from polypropylene to
fleece patterns. Cotton being more breathable has moderate nylon, and cotton. Main effects plot in Figure 10 illustrates
air permeability. Cotton fibrils convolutions create fiber air the trend statistically. However, influence of material was
friction hindering air transportation. While polypropylene found statistically significant during ANOVA having
8 Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics 

Figure 8. Main effects plot: Air permeability.

OMMC value governed by its porous and less fluffy struc-

ture with alternative one tuck and float stitch. Fleece 2:2
exhibited second highest OMMC followed by increasing
float length hindering moisture transportation. Hence,
fleece 3:3 showed least OMMC value with float length of
three wales. The trend could be statistically observed in
main effects plot (Figure 9). Polypropylene had 14.58%
and 10.90% increase in OMMC with changing fleece pat-
tern from 3:1 to 2:2 and 1:1, respectively. Nylon showed
13.33% and 8.82%, however cotton exhibited 8.69% and
10.67% OMMC value increase respectively by changing
Figure 9 3D Bar Chart: OMMC Value fleece pattern form
3:1 to 2:2 and 1:1.

Thermal resistance
Thermal resistance is material’s ability of heath encapsula-
tion rather than transporting. Fleece 1:1 showed 0.0170,
0.0301, and 0.0406 km2/W thermal resistance for cotton,
nylon, and polypropylene respectively. Fleece 2:2 had
0.0265, 0.0367, and 0.0575 km2/W thermal resistance,
Figure 9. 3D bar chart: OMMC value.
however fleece 3:1 exhibited 0.0338, 0.0397, and
0.0472 km2/W thermal resistance respectively for cotton,
p-value < 0.05 (Table 5). Polypropylene with least mois- nylon, and polypropylene (Figure 11). An increasing ther-
ture regain of 0.05% showed least OMMC value, nylon mal resistance trend could be observed from cotton to
with 4% moisture regain had moderate OMMC values, nylon and polypropylene. Figure 12 illustrates the trend
and cotton having highest moisture regain of 8.5% statistically. Fabrics with higher air permeability show
exhibited highest moisture management capability. lower thermal resistance, hence cotton showed least ther-
Fleece pattern variation was also found statistically mal resistance than nylon.39 However, polypropylene
significant with p-value < 0.05. Fleece 1:1 had highest showed highest thermal resistance; increasing air pockets
Anas et al. 9

Figure 10. Main effects plot: OMMC value.

exhibited highest thermal resistance. Cotton knits showed

55.88% and 27.54% increase in thermal resistance by
changing fleece pattern from 1:1 to 2:2 and 3:1. Nylon
knitted specimens had 21.92% and 8.17% increase; how-
ever, polypropylene fleece exhibited 16.25% and 21.82%
thermal resistance increase through fleece pattern change
from 1:1 to 2:2 and 3:3. Though, thermal resistance varia-
tion between fleece 2:2 and 3:1 was experienced minor,
depicting comparable thermal Figure 11 3D Bar Chart:
Thermal Resistance resistance values.

Pilling resistance
Pilling or fuzzing is a phenomenon of protruding fibers
balls formation over fabric surface. Mechanical abrasions
govern pilling, deteriorating fabric surface and perfor-
mance characteristics. Pilling performance is quantified by
pilling grades ranging from 1 to 5. Grade 1 depicts wort
pilling performance, however grade 5 illustrate excellent
performance with no fabric surface change. In the study
Figure 11. 3D Bar chart: Thermal resistance. pilling performance was assessed on Martindale abrasion
tester after 1000 rubs with 0.44 psi load. Fleece 1:1 showed
in fabric hindered heat flow.40 Effect of materials was also 3, 3.5, and 4 grade pilling performance for cotton, nylon,
found statistically significant showing p-value < 0.05. and polypropylene respectively. Fleece 3:1 had 2, 3, and
Fleece 1:1 showed least thermal resistance, governed by 3.5 pilling grades, however fleece 2:2 exhibited 2.5, 3, and
tuck stitches induced porosity. Fleece 2:2 had moderate 3 pilling grades respectively for cotton, nylon, and poly-
thermal resistance; although number of tuck stitches propylene (Figure 13). Fleece 1:1 had highest pilling
increased to two, float length also increased up to two resistance for all cotton, nylon, and polypropylene. Fleece
wales leading to thermal resistance erection. Similarly, 2:2 showed moderate, and fleece 3:1 exhibited slightly
fleece 3:1 with float length of three consecutive wales lower pilling performance. Increasing number of miss
10 Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics 

Figure 12. Main effects plot: Thermal resistance.

Figure 13. Main effects plot: Pilling grade.

stitches affected fabric integrity and pilling performance in pilling performance while changing material from cot-
compromised. Fleece pattern effect on pilling performance ton to nylon and polypropylene. Fleece 3:1 exhibited 50%
was also statistically found significant (p-value < 0.05). and 16.67% increase, and fleece 2:2 showed 20% and 0%
The trend has been statistically shown in main effects plot increase in pilling performance respectively through
(Figure 14). Fleece 1:1 had 16.67% and 14.28% increase material change from cotton to nylon and polypropylene.
Anas et al. 11

protects against 96%–97.5% radiations. Rather than fin-

ishing fabrics offer good UPF through structural varia-
tions, for example, tight weave.41 Fleece 1:1 showed 29,
33.4, and 31UPF for cotton, nylon, and polypropylene
respectively. Fleece 3:1 had 32, 35.5, 34 UPF, and fleece
2:2 exhibited UPF values of 27, 29.8, and 27.3 respec-
tively for cotton, nylon, and polypropylene knits
(Figure 15). Cotton had least UPF governed by its inher-
ent polymeric structure.42 Nylon performed better over
polypropylene. Nylon has relatively UV stable chemical
structure compared to polypropylene and cotton.43 The
increasing UPF trend toward nylon could be observed in
main effects plot Figure 16, and statistical significance has
been found with p-value < 0.05. Fleece 2:2 showed least
UPF; two consecutive tuck stitches increased porosity
reducing the cover factor. Fabrics having less cover factor
have compromised UPF.44 Fleece 1:1 with moderate poros-
ity offered enhanced UPF, and Fleece 3:1 with least amount
of tuck stitches showed highest UPF. Fleece 3:1 also had
higher thickness which supported ultraviolet perfor-
Figure 14. 3D Bar chart: Pilling Grade. mance.45 Fleece pattern had highest statistical significance
having p-value = 0.000, showing fabric structure is chiefly
responsible for ultraviolet protection. Cotton knits showed
7.40% and 10.34% increase in UPF by changing fleece
pattern from 2:2 to 1:1 and 3:1 respectively. Nylon had
12.08% and 6.28% UPF increase, and polypropylene
exhibited 13.55% and 9.67% increase in UPF through
change in respective fleece patterns. Overall UPF values
were between 25 and 35, hence the fabrics can hinder
96%–97.5% harmful ultraviolet radiations.

Conclusion
Knitwear has gained a satisfactory market value owning
satisfactory comfort characteristics. Knitted fabrics have
become a reliable choice in terms of comfort. Knitted
structural derivatives are architected, governing varia-
ble comfort and performance characteristics. Changing
weather demands season compatible clothing. Knitted
fleece fabrics are ubiquitous in winter wear, ensuring bet-
ter thermal characteristics to maintain body heat balance.
However, ultraviolet rays exposure can cause severe skin
and other health infections. Likewise, comfort characteris-
Figure 15. 3D Bar chart: UPF value. tics, the UPF performance can be altered through knitted
structural alterations. Fleece 1:1 has better pilling perfor-
Material effect has been also proved statistically signifi- mance due to fewer floating loops. However, thermal char-
cant having p-value < 0.05 in ANOVA. acteristics were not satisfactory. Fleece 2:2 offers optimum
air permeability, moisture management, and thermal resist-
ance. Consecutive tuck stitches induced porosity, reducing
Ultraviolet protection factor
fabric cover, which reduced the UPF value. However,
Ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) is a standardized meas- fleece 3:1 owned satisfactory comfort characteristics with
urement of fabrics protection against ultraviolet rays com- the highest UPF, predicting it as a suitable structure. The
ing from sun or any other source. UPF of 50 + is considered material effect was also statistically significant
excellent, protecting users from 98% of harmful radia- (p-value < 0.05), and nylon knits performed better than
tions. However, 25 to 39 UPF value is entitled very good; cotton and polypropylene.
12 Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics 

Figure 16. Main effects plot: UPF value.

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