The effect of using mohair on physical and handle properties of woolen fabrics

In this study, the differences of the fabric properties produced from wool and mohair fibres were investigated. Therefore, wool and mohair fibres were supplied in similar microns. To produce 100% wool and 100% mohair yarns, fibres were processed under the same conditions on the same machines. By using 100% wool yarns and 100% mohair yarns separately in warp direction and the same yarns in the weft direction with different sequences, six types of fabrics containing different ratios of wool and mohair fibres having the same pattern, warp and weft densities were produced. In order to measure the handle properties of the fabrics, the fabrics were tested with SiroFAST. The results showed that thickness of the fabrics made of mohair was higher than that of woollen fabrics and the fabric thickness increased as the mohair proportion in the composition of the fabrics increased. Due to the higher volume of mohair yarns compared to that of wool yarns, bending rigidity both in the warp and weft directions of the fabrics produced with 100% mohair was higher than that of 100% woollen fabrics. It has been observed that the strength of 100% wool fabrics is higher than that of 100% mohair fabric, and tear strength values increase as the mohair rate increases. In general, the fabrics produced from mohair have better pilling values than those produced from wool. Elongation values of the woollen fabrics both in the weft and the warp directions were higher than those of the fabrics produced with mohair yarns. When the shear rigidity values of the fabrics were considered, the highest shear rigidity was obtained in the 100 % wool fabric. The results of relaxation shrinkage and hygral expansion showed that there was no consistent relationship found between the results of the fabrics with regard to the fibre type.