ABSTRACT
The visual, tactile and engineering properties of a fabric are dependent upon many intrinsic as well as geometric fiber, yarn and fabric variables. Fabric properties are governed by yarn properties and by such geometric criteria as the fabric weave, number of threads per inch, degree of thread packing within the structure, and yarn crimp. The "yarn count," i.e., the number of warp and filling yarns per inch in a fabric is most easily determined by a direct count with the aid of a pick counter. The theoretical maximum density achievable if all yarn and fabric voids are removed by compression is that of the fiber itself. It is important to distinguish between the terms "percent yarn crimp" and "percent yarn take-up" or "contraction." The weaver uses percent take-up because it tells him the length of fabric he will obtain from a given length of yarn. For textile fabrics, a linear relationship exists between thermal conductivity and thickness.
