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Effect of structural parameters of injected slub

yarn on its tensile properties and abrasion
resistance

Arunangshu Mukhopadhyay, Vinay Kumar Midha & Nemai Chandra Ray

To cite this article: Arunangshu Mukhopadhyay, Vinay Kumar Midha & Nemai Chandra
Ray (2017) Effect of structural parameters of injected slub yarn on its tensile properties
and abrasion resistance, The Journal of The Textile Institute, 108:9, 1496-1503, DOI:
10.1080/00405000.2016.1258949

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/00405000.2016.1258949

Published online: 22 Nov 2016.

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The Journal of The Textile Institute, 2017
VOL. 108, NO. 9, 1496–1503
https://doi.org/10.1080/00405000.2016.1258949

Effect of structural parameters of injected slub yarn on its tensile properties and
abrasion resistance
Arunangshu Mukhopadhyay, Vinay Kumar Midha and Nemai Chandra Ray
Department of Textile Technology, National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, Jalandhar, India

ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY

In injected slub yarn, tensile and abrasion resistance are particularly very important parameters affecting Received 22 June 2015
its process performance and end-use. In single base injected slub yarn structure, slubs are developed by Accepted 6 November 2016
injecting fibres from outer side of the yarn with the sequence of untwisting base yarn followed by re-
KEYWORDS
twisting after injecting the fibres. The tensile properties and abrasion resistance of injected slub yarns Fancy injected slub yarn;
depend on the slub parameters. The surface of the yarn, especially the slub part is very much susceptible abrasion damage; slub
to damage by abrasion during usage, due to lack of fibre migration between base yarn fibres and injected frequency; tensile properties;
fibres. In this paper, an attempt has been made to see the impact of slub yarn configuration i.e. slub length, slub length; slub thickness
slub thickness and slub frequency on tensile and abrasion resistance of injected slub yarn. Empirical
models have been developed to find the dependence of these properties on slub yarn configurations.
Configuration of slubs in particular slub length and slub frequency were found to be very significant on
yarn tenacity, elongation and abrasion damage in terms of tenacity loss, elongation loss and hairiness rise
of injected slub yarn. However, the impact of slub thickness is relatively less on the aforesaid parameters.

Introduction
Fancy or effect yarns are produced with some deliberate discon-
tinuity, introduced into the colour or in the form of irregularities
during the construction of yarn with the intention of enrichment
of woven and knitted fabrics (Grabowska, Ciesieska, & Vasile,
2009; Mclntryre & Daniels, 1995; Ulku, Ortlek, & Omeroğlu,
2003). Injected slub yarn is a kind of fancy yarn with special
structure developed by injection of coloured or different types
of fibres. Effect yarns produce an enhanced aesthetic impression
as well as ornamentation in the fabric. The injected slub yarn
structure is different from normal slub yarns because of differ-
ence in slub formation techniques. In normal slub yarns, slubs
are produced with the intermittent change in draft applied on
the fibrous mass passing through the drafting rollers, where base
part and slub part of the yarn are produced from same fibrous
strand. In the case of injected slub yarn, the slubs are developed
with the injection of drafted fibres from a roving into a separate
base yarn fed directly before the delivery roller with the sequence
of untwisting base yarn followed by re-twisting after injecting
the fibres. Therefore, migration and orientation of injected fibres
within the base yarn is very much important for providing final
yarn with sufficient strength and abrasion resistance. In the final
injected slub yarn there are two parts, one is web part which is
developed by base yarn alone and the slub part which is devel-
oped in combination of base yarn and injected fibres.
During injected slub yarn manufacturing, intensity of accel-
eration and deceleration of intermittent drafting rollers (mass
decrease before and after a slub) can lead to generation of severe
weak places in the yarn (Uster tester 5, 2008). Decrease in the mass
of yarns below 30% of base yarn within a distance of 3 cm on the
left or right side of a slub is considered as a weak spot (Figure 1).
The extent of irregularity varies for different yarns with different
slub configurations, which decide the distribution of weak points
in the yarn and accordingly affects the tensile properties of yarn.
Injected slub yarn is newly introduced in the market and offers
its niche potential; refinement of structure, aesthetics and long-
term performance becomes very important. In spite of consider-
able importance of the yarn, no study on the injected slub yarn
properties has been found in the literature. The yarn structure
is still not perfected and there is need/scope of further improve-
ment in the yarn configuration for greater strength and abra-
sion resistance. Few studies related to conventional slub yarns
are available (Bian, Xu, & Wang, 2006; Grabowska, 2001; Souid,
Babay, Sahnoun, & Cheikrouhou, 2008; Lu, Gao, & Wang, 2007;
Ilhan, Babaarslan, & Vuruşkan, 2012) and other type of fancy
yarns are available in the literature (Alshukur, 2013; Jackowski, &
Grabowska, 1998; Grabowska et al., 2009; Kumpikaite, Ragaisiene,
& Barburski, 2010; Liu, Li, Lu, & Jiang, 2010; Petrulytė, 2004;
Petrulyte, 2008; Petrulyte & Petrulis, 2004; Testore & Guala,
1989). However, these studies do not provide much insight into
the performance of injected slub yarn because of structural dif-
ferences. It may be added that the slub yarn parameters like slub
length, frequency and thickness can have significant influence
on its performance. To bridge this knowledge gap and for the
prediction of injected slub yarn performance, it is important to
investigate structure–property relationship of injected slub yarns.

CONTACT  Arunangshu Mukhopadhyay  arunangshu@nitj.ac.in

© 2016 The Textile Institute
 THE JOURNAL OF THE TEXTILE INSTITUTE   1497

Figure 1. Definition of mass decreases.

Table 1. Raw material characteristics. Materials

Parameters S6 Grey (for base yarn) S6 Dyed (for injection) Different injected slub yarns of 100% cotton fibres (both base
Fibre length (mm) 30.3 31.5 yarn fibres and injected fibres are cotton fibres) were produced
Fibre fineness (mi- 4.1 4.3
cronaire)
with different slub parameters viz. slub length, slub thickness and
Fibre strength (cN/tex) 28.93 25.7 slub frequency. Table 1 shows the characteristics of the cotton
Elongation (%) 7.12 6.8 fibres evaluated through HVI. The actual values of different slub
Uniformity index 83.19 85
Short fibre index (SFI) 8.28 5.8
parameters corresponding to coded levels along with the exper-
imental plan in accordance to Box Bhenken design are given in
Tables 2 and 3 respectively. Thirteen treatment combinations
and four centre point observations were used to study the effect
Table 2. Actual values of different parameters corresponding to coded levels. of these parameters on tensile strength, elongation and abrasive
damage in terms of tenacity loss, elongation loss and rise in hair-
Levels
iness index value. The experiments are performed in a random
Factors −1 0 +1 order as the serial number in the order of 1, 8, 2, 9, 3, 17, 6, 12, 10,
Slub length (mm) X1 30 65 100 11, 16, 5, 7, 4, 14, 15, 13. Reason for randomisation is for effective
Slub thickness (%) X2 140 170 200
Slub frequency (slub/metre) X3 1.5 2.5 3.5 statistical analysis through unbiased estimation of the impact of
factors and for validity of inference drawn. Measurements are

Table 3. Mean value of response parameters under different run.

Parameters Tensile property Abrasion damage

Breaking elongation Tenacity loss (cN/ Breaking elongation
Sample X1 X2 X3 Tenacity (cN/Tex) (%) Hairiness index rise Tex) loss (%)
1 1 1 0 14.82 5.26 2.53 1.96 1.11
2 1 −1 0 16.47 6.25 1.83 2.69 1.40
3 −1 1 0 16.00 5.06 2.49 2.86 1.20
4 −1 −1 0 15.8 4.37 3.11 2.70 0.85
5 1 0 1 14.21 5.35 2.69 0.88 1.12
6 1 0 −1 14.41 5.06 2.20 2.41 1.28
7 −1 0 1 15.91 5.98 1.54 3.31 2.12
8 −1 0 −1 17.06 4.47 3.02 2.92 1.13
9 0 1 1 14.22 5.87 2.45 1.30 1.94
10 0 1 −1 16.83 4.72 2.70 2.52 1.40
11 0 −1 1 15.94 5.48 2.56 1.44 1.92
12 0 −1 −1 14.9 4.71 2.34 2.20 1.27
13 0 0 0 15.67 4.85 2.23 2.62 1.52
14 0 0 0 15.45 4.99 2.41 2.50 1.61
15 0 0 0 15.91 4.62 2.24 2.71 1.48
16 0 0 0 15.55 4.84 2.03 2.58 1.49
17 0 0 0 15.78 4.96 2.24 2.69 1.50

Note: X1: Slub length (coded), X2: Slub thickness (coded) and X3: Slub frequency (coded).
1498   A. MUKHOPADHYAY ET AL.

the draft. Base yarn twist direction was kept as ‘S’ and final yarn
twist direction was ‘Z’ to ensure Z over S direction in all the final
yarn samples. Final yarn twist level of 840 turns per metre was
Delivery package
maintained for all the samples. It is to be noted that when the
injection % increased for increasing slub length or slub thickness
or slub frequency, base yarn (web part) linear density decreased
Abrader accordingly to compensate the change in slub dimensions with-
out changing the yarn linear density.
Yarn Path

Methods
All the yarn samples were produced in ring spinning system with
Amshler technology of slub attachment. Slub parameters in the
yarn were tested on UT-5 instrument under fancy yarn profile
(Pour, 2007). Tenacity, breaking elongation and corresponding
CV% were evaluated through Uster Tensorapid-3 instrument
with a gauge length of 500 mm and at 5 m/min testing speed. To
Feed package
evaluate the performance of yarn after abrasion, the yarns were
abraded in a continuous manner using abrasive paper fixed on
the guide rod in the yarn path (between feed package to deliv-
Figure 2. Yarn abrasion testing arrangement. ery package) of a winding unit (Figure 2).The yarn abrader was
kept in the yarn path with 25° angle of inclination. The yarn
speed during winding was controlled at 550  m/min and the
Table 4. Detail of test parameters, instruments and reference standard for testing. yarn withdrawal (winding process) was repeated for 5 times in
Sl. no. Yarn parameters Instrument Ref. standard each samples. It may be added that abrasion cycles beyond five
1. Linear density Wrap reel and IS 1315 :1997 RA times lead to fall in yarn tenacity below the standard minimum
weighing balance 2005 value (70% of mean yarn tenacity) required to ensure efficient
2. Slub parameters Uster-5, Model SA ASTM D-1425 run-ability in the next stage of processing. The tenacity loss (cN/
400
3. Hairiness index Uster-5, Model SA ASTM D-5647-07 tex), breaking elongation (%) loss and increase in hairiness index
400 were evaluated based on mean value of the test results.
4. Tenacity and tenacity Uster Tensorapid-3 IS 1670-1998 All the samples were conditioned for 24 h at standard atmos-
CV (%) RA2002
5. Breaking elongation Uster Tensorapid-3 IS 1670-1991 pheric conditions (i.e. 20 ± 2 °C temperature and 65 ± 2% RH
(%) and elongation RA2002 before conducting test). Detail of test parameters, testing instru-
CV (%) ments and reference standard for testing are given in Table 4.
The data were used to carry out regression analysis and analysis
of variance. The best fitted equations for yarn tensile properties
repeated at centre points of experiments (known as replication) (tenacity and breaking elongation) and abrasion damage in terms
to help identify the sources of variation, to better estimate the of tenacity loss, breaking elongation loss and rise in hairiness
true effects of treatments, to further strengthen the experiment’s index value were generated by stepwise (backward elimination)
reliability and validity. regression analysis using P = 0.05 (Table 5).
The actual values of variables corresponding to the coded
levels are shown in Table 2. Further, normal probability plot is
used to evaluate the normality of the distribution of the output
Results and discussion
parameters. From the normal probability plots it is found that the The mean value of tensile strength, breaking elongation, strength
residuals for each output parameters are fitted close to the normal loss, breaking elongation loss and rise in hairiness value due to
distribution which validates the design of experiment followed abrasion of all the injected yarn samples is shown in Table 3.
by statistical analysis. The roving hank 0.9 Ne (656.2 Tex) was Table 5 shows the empirical relationship between the process var-
used for all the injected slub yarns and the final yarn linear den- iables and yarn properties. It has been observed that relationship
sity of 30 ± 0.5 Ne (19.7 ± 0.3 Tex) was maintained by adjusting between the process variables with yarn tensile strength, breaking

Table 5. Regression equations for tensile properties and abrasion damage.

Property Parameter Regression equation R² SE F P
Tensile properties Tenacity Y1 = 15.584 − 0.608 X1 − 0.91 X2 X3 ……….1 0.56 0.60 8.73 0.003
Elongation (%) Y2 = 5.108 + 0.465 X3 − 0.42 X1 X2 ……….2 0.54 0.38 8.08 0.005
Abrasion resistance Hairiness rise (absolute) Y3 = 2.389 + 0.330 X2 X1 + 0.492 X3 X1 ……….3 0.57 0.27 9.52 0.002
properties Tenacity loss (absolute) Y4 = 2.590 − 0.481 X1 − 0.390 X3 − 0.467 X32 − 0.480 X3 X1 ……….4 0.77 0.35 9.74 0.001
Elongation loss (absolute) Y5 = 1.570 + 0.253 X3 − 0.294 X12 − 0.288 X3 X1 ……….5 0.68 0.20 9.51 0.001

Note: X1: Slub length (coded), X2: Slub thickness (coded) and X3: Slub frequency (coded).

elongation and hairiness rise due to abrasion is relatively weak
compared to loss in tensile strength and breaking elongation of
injected slub yarn. It can be noted that all the models developed
through backward elimination regression are quite adequate for
data interpretation as evident from P value (0.001–0.005).
Effect of slub parameters on yarn tenacity
It is evident from the Table 5 that the tenacity value of injected
slub yarn decreases with the increase in slub length when other
two variables slub thickness and slub frequency remain constant.
Figure 3 shows the impact of slub length on yarn tenacity at
central level of slub thickness (X2) and slub frequency (X3). This
is due to lower twist flow in the slub part compared to base part
of the yarn during spinning. Consequently, the fibres in the slub
part possess lower cohesive forces to resist sliding of fibres during
loading. Further, as the length of slub increases, the low twisted
part in the yarn increases and the linear density of base yarn
(web part of fancy yarn) also reduces resulting in lower tenacity
in spite of greater amount of fibres in the slub.
It is also observed that slub frequency and slub thickness
do not have individual effects on slub yarn tenacity but there is
strong interaction between the two parameters. Figure 4 shows
the effect of slub thickness and slub frequency on injected slub
yarn tenacity. At low slub thickness, tenacity of injected slub
yarn increases with the increase in slub frequency. However, at
higher slub thickness, yarn tenacity decreases with the increase
in frequency. This is because of the reason that at higher slub
thickness twist flow in the slub part will be restricted. Moreover,
intermittent change in draft during slub formation leads to draft-
ing irregularities. Higher slub thickness coupled with higher slub
frequency causes frequent change in draft and therefore more
number of drafting irregularities are introduced. On the other
hand, injected slub yarn with smaller slub thickness, less inten-
sive intermittent start–stop movement of drafting roller causes
lower amount of drafting irregularities and thereby generates less
number of weak places even at higher slub frequency. Further, in
the case of higher slub frequency, if the slub thickness is less, the
difference between web count and overall yarn count becomes
less and thereby probability of thin yarn or weak place generation
(i.e. less than 30% of diameter) becomes very low and conse-
quently yarn strength remains good.
16.4
16.2
16.0
15.8
15.6
15.4
15.2
15.0
14.8
-1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0
Slub length (coded)
Figure 3. Effect of slub length on tenacity value of injected slub yarn.
THE JOURNAL OF THE TEXTILE INSTITUTE   1499
17.0
16.5
16.0
15.5
15.0
1.0
0.5
0.0
14.5
0.5 -0.5
0.0
-0.5 -1.0
-1.0
Figure 4. Interaction effect of slub thickness and slub frequency on injected slub
yarn tenacity.
Effect of slub parameters on yarn breaking
elongation
Table 5 indicates linear positive effect of slub frequency on yarn
breaking elongation. It also shows the interaction effect of slub
length (X1) and slub thickness (X2) on breaking elongation. It
may be added that the nature of relationship is distinctly dif-
ferent for tenacity and breaking elongation. Figure 5 shows the
effect of slub frequency on breaking elongation at central level
of slub length and slub thickness. As slub frequency increases,
yarn breaking elongation increases due to proper binding of base
fibres by injected fibres. This leads to controlled sliding of fibres
on loading at the position of slub. It is also observed that the
effect of interaction of slub length (X1) and slub thickness (X2)
upon breaking elongation is very prominent (Figure 6). At lower
slub thickness, breaking elongation value of injected slub yarn
increases with the increase in slub length; however at higher slub
thickness, it shows opposite trend. It may be due to the fact that at
lower slub thickness, the twist differential between slub part and
web part is lower and the yarn structure is more regular. At lower
slub thickness, with the increase in slub length, more regular and
compact structure of slub provides more inter fibre cohesion to
resist fibre slippage and ensure controlled stretch before attaining
breaking point and thus results in higher breaking elongation
value. But at higher slub thickness, twist flow in the slub part is
restricted and the structure becomes less compact. The irregu-
larity in twist distribution increases further with the increase in
slub length. This causes lowering of cohesive force between fibres
in the slubs which promotes easy sliding/slippage of fibres on
application of load resulting in lower breaking elongation. For
the same reason, breaking elongation decreases as slub thickness
increases at higher level of slub length.
Effect of slub parameters on abrasion damage of
injected slub yarn
1.5
The general relationship between slub parameters with abrasion
damage of injected slub yarn is given in Table 5. It is observed
that slub length, slub thickness and slub frequency do not have
1500   A. MUKHOPADHYAY ET AL.

5.8

5.6
2.8
5.4
2.7
5.2
2.6
5.0
2.5

4.8
2.4

4.6
2.3

4.4 2.2
-1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5
1.0
Slub frequency (coded) 2.1
0.5
2.0 0.0

Figure 5. Effect of slub frequency on breaking elongation of injected slub yarn. 0.5 -0.5
0.0
-0.5 -1.0
-1.0

5.6
(a)

5.4
3.0

5.2 2.8

2.6
5.0

2.4

4.8
1.0
2.2
0.5
0.0
4.6 2.0 1.0
-0.5
0.5
0.0 0.5
-0.5 -1.0
-1.0 1.8 0.0
0.5 -0.5
0.0
-0.5 -1.0
-1.0
Figure 6.  Interaction effect of slub thickness and slub length on breaking
elongation of injected slub yarn.
(b)

individual effects on slub yarn hairiness rise due to abrasion;
however, abrasion damage of injected slub yarns in terms of hair-
iness rise is influenced by the interaction effect of slub length
(X1) and slub thickness (X2) as well as interaction effect of slub
length (X1) and slub frequency (X3). It is seen from Figure 7 that
at longer slub length with the increase in either slub thickness
or slub frequency, hairiness index value increases (Figure 8) i.e.
abrasion damage increases; however at smaller slub length the
change in hairiness value follows the reverse trend (Figure 9),
i.e. abrasion damage in terms of hairiness index value reduces.
This is because of the fact that in case of longer length of slub,
more amount of injected fibres are present in slub part of the
yarns which are pulled out easily on abrasion because of having
lower amount of twist in the slub part. The intensity of abrasion
will be higher when above parameter is coupled with higher slub
thickness and slub frequency. It is to be noted that at slub part
cohesion among the fibres in the yarn is less because of having
comparatively lesser amount of twist as compared to base part
of the yarn. This cohesive force further reduces with increase in
slub thickness and thus abrasion damage in terms of hairiness
Figure 7. Abrasive damage of injected slub yarn in terms of rise in yarn hairiness
index value (a) Effect of slub length and slub thickness, (b) Effect of slub length and
slub frequency.
index value increases. But in case of smaller slub length lesser
amount of surface fibres/injected fibres are available as com-
pared to longer length of slub to produce hairs during abrasion.
Moreover, in the case of smaller slub length, further increase in
slub thickness or slub frequency leads to marginal increase in
injected fibres, consequently these injected fibres can wrap and
migrate well inside the base yarn during slub formation and thus
cause less rise in hairiness index value.
Regression equation in Table 5 shows that the tenacity loss
is affected by slub length, slub frequency and their interaction
effect. The effect of slub length and slub frequency on abra-
sive damage in terms of tenacity loss of injected slub yarns are
shown in Figures 10 and 11 respectively. With the increase in
slub length, abrasion damage in terms of tenacity loss decreases.
This can be explained with the structural change in yarn surface
during abrasion. In case of longer slubs, presence of number
 THE JOURNAL OF THE TEXTILE INSTITUTE   1501

(a) Before abrasion After abrasion

After abrasion
(b) Before abrasion

Figure 8. Effect of slub thickness on abrasive damage of injected slub yarn with longer slub length (slub length 100 mm, slub frequency 2.5 per metre) (a) slub thickness
140% and (b) slub thickness 200%.

(a) Before abrasion After abrasion

(b) Before abrasion After abrasion

Figure 9. Effect of slub thickness on abrasive damage of injected slub yarn with smaller slub length (slub length 30 mm, slub frequency 2.5 per metre) (a) slub thickness
140% and (b) slub thickness 200%.

3.2 2.8

3.0 2.6

2.8 2.4

2.6 2.2

2.4 2.0

2.2 1.8

2.0 1.6
-1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 -1.5 -1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5
Slub length (coded) Slub frequency (coded)

Figure 10. Effect of slub length on abrasive damage of injected slub yarn in terms Figure 11.  Effect of slub frequency on abrasive damage of injected slub yarn in
of tenacity loss. terms of tenacity loss.

of fibres being higher, abrasive force developed per unit mass
of fibre during abrasion is less and therefore fibre ends are not
pulled out completely from the yarn body and appears as une-
ven loops not as an opened end (Figure 12) and therefore, in
spite of rise in hairiness index value, loss in tenacity value is less.
On loading, these loops first stretched and contribute towards
strength, resulting less loss in tenacity value. It indicates that
abrasion could also lead to hairiness rise without having signif-
icant influence on lowering of tenacity value. It may be added
that the correlation coefficient (r = −0.31) between tenacity loss
and hairiness rise is very less. Tenacity loss on abrasion initially
increases marginally with the increase in slub frequency and then
reduces with further increase in slub frequency (Figure 8(b)).
Marginal rise in tenacity loss at lower slub frequency may be due
1502   A. MUKHOPADHYAY ET AL.
Before abrasion
Figure 12. Change in yarn structure of injected slub yarn with longer slub length on abrasion.
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.5 -0.5
0.0
-0.5 -1.0
-1.0
Figure 13. Effect of slub length and slub frequency on abrasion damage of injected
slub yarn in terms of tenacity loss.
to the counter effect of other parameters like slub thickness and
slub length. On further increase in slub frequency, the amount
of injected fibres in the slub part increases and therefore abrasive
force per unit fibre mass decreases and thus causes less loss of
tenacity value on abrasion.
The interaction effect of slub length (X1) and slub frequency
(X3) on yarn abrasion damage in terms of tenacity loss is shown
in Figure 13. At higher slub frequency level, there is large reduc-
tion in yarn tenacity loss with the increase in slub length; whereas
the impact of slub length is marginal at low level of slub fre-
quency. It is due to the phenomenon that at higher level of slub
frequency, with the increase in slub length, number of fibres in
the slub part of the yarn under abrasion to share the abrasive
force increases and therefore abrasive force per unit fibre mass
reduces, which causes less damage to the yarn in terms of tenacity
loss. However, it is observed that at low frequency level, with the
increase in slub length, increase in the amount of injected fibres
is lesser as compared to the case of higher slub frequency and
the abrasive force per unit fibre mass changes marginally causing
small change in yarn tenacity loss.
Slub length shows parabolic relationship with abrasion dam-
age of yarn in terms of elongation loss (Table 5). Initially with
the increase in slub length (X1), elongation loss increases and
beyond a certain level, further increase in slub length causes drop
in elongation loss i.e. abrasion damage reduces. Slub thickness do
not show any influence on yarn elongation loss due to abrasion.
Interaction effect of slub length (X1) and slub frequency (X3)
on yarn abrasion damage in terms of elongation loss is shown
in Figure 14. It can be seen that at low slub length (X1), abrasion
After abrasion
2.2
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
1.0
0.5 0.8 1.0
0.5
0.0
0.0
0.6 -0.5
0.5 0.0
-0.5 -1.0
-1.0
Figure 14. Effect of slub length and slub frequency on abrasion damage of injected
slub yarn in terms of elongation loss (%).
damage increases in terms of elongation loss with the increase
in slub frequency (X3). However, at higher slub length (X1),
reduction in elongation loss is observed with the increase in slub
frequency (X3). This is because of the phenomenon of surface
roughness of the yarn under abrasion. At smaller slub length
surface roughness increases with the increase in slub frequency
resulting in more damage to the fibres in the yarn and hence
elongation loss% increases. However, longer length of slub with
same slub frequency provide smooth surface as well as higher
no of injected fibres comes under abrader and therefore abrasive
force per unit fibre mass reduces, resulting in less damage of yarn
in terms of elongation loss.
Conclusions
In this study, the structural parameters of injected slub yarn
that should have an effect on its tensile properties and abra-
sion resistance were investigated. Deciding the dimensional
parameters is important to improve the performance of injected
slub yarn during its process and products made out of it. It is
observed that as slub length increases, tenacity of slub yarn
decreases. Slub thickness and slub frequency have interactive
effects on tenacity of slub yarns. At low slub thickness, tenac-
ity of injected slub yarn increases with the increase in slub
frequency. However, at higher slub thickness, yarn tenacity
decreases with the increase in frequency. This can be explained
on the basis of twist flow in the slub part besides the effect of
drafting irregularities. Moreover, in the case of higher slub fre-
quency, if the slub thickness is less, the difference between web

count and overall yarn count becomes less and thereby proba-
bility of thin yarn or weak place generation (i.e. less than 30%
of diameter) becomes very low and consequently yarn strength
remains good. In case of breaking elongation of injected slub
yarn, interaction effect of slub length and slub thickness has
been observed unlike their effect on yarn tenacity.
Moreover, injected slub yarn is very much susceptible to abra-
sive damage as the effect fibres are mostly wrapped round the
base yarn. Abrasion damage of yarn in terms of rise in hairi-
ness and loss in tenacity and breaking elongation are commonly
influenced by the interaction effect of slub length and slub fre-
quency. Structural study reveals that at longer slub length with
the increase in either slub thickness or slub frequency, hairiness
value increases; however at smaller slub length the change in
hairiness value follows the reverse trend. All these effects can
be explained on the basis of twist differential, surface rough-
ness and quantity of injected fibres at the position of slub. The
results also indicate that abrasion could also lead to hairiness
rise without having significant influence on lowering of tenacity
value. Further, it is observed that the impact of slub thickness
is relatively less than the effect of slub length and frequency on
yarn abrasive damage.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
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