DEVELOPMENT OF LOW GSM COTTON BATH TOWELS SUITABLE FOR

CONSUMER COMFORTS AND DESIGNING FABRIC GEOMETRY ON FEEDBACK

STUDIES
GUIDE:- P.MATHI AZHAGAN Scientist D,CSTRI,Bangalore

MOHAN KUMAR, RAGHU HONNOLLI, PRASANNA BENNUR, SHARANABASAPPA HUNAGUND GSKSJTI Bangalore.

ABSTRACT

Cotton bath towels are available in the market mostly of higher GSM /fabric area which are
construed to be having high water absorption and sustain more washes. Considering the higher
wiping force required for handling high GSM terry towels, slower drying effect and travel carrying
demerits, development of low GSM terry towels was conceived. Although the primary need of bath
towels on water absorbency cannot be ignored, yet, parameters like wiping force, quick drying and
travel carrying should not also be left out. The consumer should have the choice of selecting his/her
own need among the different GSM bath towels.

There is no systematic study on low GSM bath towels as most of the literature focus on water
absorbency, linear density, yarn twist, pile yarn etc. overlooking equally important parameters like
wiping force, quick drying and travel carrying. Similarly the consumers demand and need have to be
addressed with changing life style as the urban and semi urban consumers choice of selection have
also to be considered.

In this background, the proposed study is initiated to develop low GSM bath towels using
different linear density, yarn twist etc, for warp weft and pile. The probe includes designing fabric
geometry, Wicking effect, cost calculation for different GSM bath towels, number of washes -
sustainable, durability consumer feedback studies etc. It is planned to collaborate with a leading
cotton terry bath towel manufacturer so that the feedback studies could be presented to them as
guideline to alter their manufacturing pattern. Considering the wide and divergent categories of
consumers using cotton terry towels for various purpose like bathing, swimming pools, gym halls,
sports, kitchen etc, the proposed study will enumerate respective specifications needed through
systematic experiments and textile parameter testing on fabric analysis, water absorbency, wiping
force, rate of drying etc.

Keywords: GSM, wicking, fabric geometry, wiping force, drying effect, water absorbancy.

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References:

1. Raul Fangueiroa* etal , “Study of moisture absorption characteristics of cotton terry towel
fabrics”, Science Director Procedia engineering no 200(2017)389-398,3rd international
conference on natural fibres : advance materials for a greener world, icnf 2017,21-23june
2017, praga , Portugal
2. J.P. Singh and B.K.Behera*, “Performance of terry towel- A critical review’’, Part-1 water
absorbency, JTATM (Journal of textile and apparel technology and management), volume 9,
Issue 1, Fall2014