Jawaharlal Nehru Government Engineering College,

Sundernagar

Presentation
Topic:-Moisture regain and Moisture content
Submitted to:- Er. Priya Jaswal(A.P. Textile Dept.)
Submitted by:- Pawan kumar yadav (1612614703),
T.E.-5th sem.
Moisture regain and Moisture content
 Introduction
The properties of textile fibers are strongly affected by the
atmospheric moisture content. Moisture and humidity influenced
on the results of testing of textile materials.

Many fibers, particularly the natural fibers are hygroscopic in

nature and they will absorb moisture if kept in a humid
atmosphere.

Conversely, they will tend to lose moisture in a dry atmosphere (a

process known as desorption.)

Hydrophobic fibers (e.g. polyester) are those which do not absorb

moisture if kept in a humid atmosphere.
 Significance of moisture absorption

The importance of moisture relations cannot be overstated.

Almost all the physical properties of fibers, yarns and fabrics
are influenced by the presence of moisture.

The presence or absence of moisture can effect dimensions,

mechanical strength, elastic recovery, rigidity and so on.
 Mechanisms of moisture absorption
Moisture absorption in textile fibers occurs through the
interaction of water molecules with polar groups within the
structure (e.g. OH, -COOH).

In ordered (crystalline) parts of the structure, these polar groups

are not attached but in disordered (amorphous) regions there can
be very free groups which can act as hooks with which the
water molecules can link through hydrogen bonding.

Thus the absorption of moisture takes place in the amorphous

regions only.
 Atmospheric conditions and humidity
The amount of water take up by a textile fiber can be expressed in
terms of its regain. The regain depends on the atmosphere
surrounding the material, i.e. humidity and temperature. Therefore it
is vital to specify the atmospheric conditions when carry out testing.

Humidity

The amount of moisture in air is called as humidity. There are two

types of humidity

1. Absolute humidity

2. Relative humidity
1. Absolute Humidity

The actual amount of water vapour present in a specific

volume of air is expressed in terms of absolute humidity
(AH).

AH = Mass of water present per unit volume of air

The basic unit of absolute humidity is Kgm-3

2. Relative Humidity
The 'relative humidity' (RH) of an atmosphere has two
alternative (though almost equivalent) definitions:

a) The ratio of the AH of the air to that of air saturated with

water vapour at the same temperature & pressure;

b) The ratio of the actual vapour pressure (VP) to the saturated

vapour pressure (SVP) of the air at the same temperature,
expressed as a percentage

R.h = vp/svp x100%

 Atmosphere

The relative humidity, temperature and pressure of the

surroundings are termed as atmosphere.

1) Saturated atmosphere

2) Standard atmosphere

3) Testing atmosphere
 Atmosphere
1. Saturated atmosphere:

The atmosphere saturated with moisture is called as

saturated atmosphere.

2. Standard atmosphere:

If the atmosphere has the following specifications then it is

called as standard atmosphere;

RH = 65%

Temperature = 20 0C (at atmospheric pressure)

 Atmosphere
3. Testing atmosphere:

It is an atmosphere in which we performs the tests of the

textile products.

If the atmosphere has the following specifications then it is

called as standard testing atmosphere;

RH = 65 + 2 %

Temperature = 20 + 2 0C (27 + 2 0C in tropics and sub-

tropics)
 REGAIN & MOISTURE CONTENT

The amount of the moisture in a sample of material may be

expressed in terms of regain or moisture content.

Moisture Regain

The 'Moisture Regain' of a textile fiber is defined as: The

equilibrium weight of water contained by a specimen
expressed as a percentage of its oven-dry weight. That is,

R=100(Ws-Wd)/Wd %
 REGAIN & MOISTURE CONTENT

Moisture content:

The Moisture Content of a textile fiber is defined as:

The equilibrium weight of water contained by a specimen

expressed as a percentage of its total weight (i.e. including the
water). That is,

M=100(Ws-Wd)/Ws %
 REGAIN & MOISTURE CONTENT

Regain is more commonly used than moisture content.

The regain of any given fiber type gives a very good indication
of how sensitive that fibers towards moisture.

Its actual value will clearly depends on the humidity of the

surroundings.
Regain-Humidity Relations of Textiles
If a piece of fabric or other textiles materials is placed in a
room in which the humidity is constant, then it will eventually
come to equilibrium by absorbing or desorbing moisture as
necessary until it reaches a state of constant regain.

If the air humidity is in the normal range (around 65%rh) then

wet fabric would become drier, whereas a dry fabric would
gradually become wetter.

The rate of wetting or drying is rapid at first, becoming slower

as equilibrium is approached.
Regain-Humidity Relations of Textiles
Hysteresis:
If we plot regain VS time for wet and dry samples of the same material, both
tend to be mirror image of one another as indicated in the following
diagram.
 Regain-Humidity Relations of Textiles
Hysteresis:

However the two curves do not come together at equilibrium, the

equilibrium regain value of the two curve is different.

specifically, the initially wet sample will end up somewhat wetter than
the initially dry sample, no matter how long the two samples remain
in the conditioned atmosphere.

This is an example of Hysteresis, and is very important where samples

have to be conditioned for testing or other purposes.

It implies that the approach to equilibrium should always be from the

same direction (i.e. either from wet to dry, or else from dry to wet).
 Regain VS Relative Humidity Curve
Mostly the plots of Regain VS Relative Humidity (RH) are S-shaped (often
described as sigmoidal). Because of Hysteresis, any given material will
produce two different curves; the absorption curve and the desorption curve
(desorption curve is always higher).

Curve A is the absorption curve, that is, the regain-r.h. percentage relation as
a material takes up moisture.

Curve D is the desorption curve.

For instance, point a is the equilibrium condition at 65 % relative humidity

when approached from the wet side, and point a is the equilibrium regain
when approached from the dry side. this is the hysteresis effect.
Regain VS Relative Humidity Curve
Regain VS Relative Humidity Curve
 Factors Affecting the Regain of Textile
Materials

There are different factors that effect the regain of the textile
materials, such as;

1. Relative Humidity

2. Time

3. Temperature

4. The Previous History of The Sample

 Factors Affecting the Regain of Textile
Materials
1. Relative Humidity:
Relative humidity is the most important factor that affects the regain
of textile materials. If the relative humidity in the air is more then
there will be more moisture regain or more rate of conditioning of
textile materials and vice versa.
2. Time:
A material placed in a given atmosphere takes a certain time to
reach equilibrium. The rate of conditioning depends on several
factors, such as;
a) The size and form of sample
b) The type of material
c) External conditions
 Factors Affecting the Regain of Textile
Materials

3. Temperature:

The effect of temperature on regain is not important. A change

of 10 0C will give a change in regain of cotton of about 0.3
percent. This effect can be ignored.

4. The previous history of the sample:

The previous history of the sample can affect the equilibrium

regain of the sample. The hysteresis is a good example.
Processing can also change the regain. When oils, waxes and
other impurities are removed then regain may change.
 EFFECTS OF REGAIN ON FIBER
PROPERTIES

There are basically four effects of regain on fiber properties,

such as;

1. Dimensions

2. Mechanical properties

3. Electrical properties

4. Thermal effects
 (1) Dimensions of The Fiber

Moisture causes swelling of textile fibers. Because the fiber

structure is essentially aligned along the fiber axis, the effect
of the water molecules is to push the polymer chains apart
laterally, so that the fiber diameter increases by a far greater
fraction than does the length. In woven fabrics, swelling of the
fibers very often causes a tightening up of the structure,
resulting in an overall shrinkage.
(1) Dimensions of The Fiber
 (1) Dimensions of The Fiber

Shrinkage due to swelling is not the only problem: a

phenomenon known as 'hygral expansion' may also be
encountered. This effect is partly due to the reduction in
stiffness which accompanies the absorption of water, so that
the fibers become more easily stretched.
 (2) Mechanical Properties
Generally, the presence of water molecules in the fiber
structure reduces the strength of the bonds holding the
polymer chains together, thus reducing fiber strength.
Exceptions to this include the vegetable fibers, such as cotton,
in which water actually increases the strength.
 (2) Mechanical Properties
In general, the shapes of fiber stress-strain curves are
changed. The yield point may be dramatically lowered.

Other effects include changes in:

Crease recovery

Extensibility

Flexibility

Setting ability by finishing process

 (3) Electrical Properties

Most textile fibers when dry have very high electrical

resistance, but this can fall by factors of hundreds of
thousands at elevated regains.

Dielectric characteristics are also influenced by humidity, as

is susceptibility to electrostatic problems.
 (3) Electrical Properties

Changes in dielectric properties can be a source of error in

measuring the uniformity of slivers, rovings, etc, when
capacitance-type instruments are used.

Where strict control of regain is required (e.g. in warp sizing)

dielectric effects can be used in the design of the control
system
 (4) Thermal Effects
Just like electrical resistance, the thermal resistance (or
insulating ability) of fiber is reduced on increasing humidity.

Thus, a garment made form hygroscopic fibers gives better

protection against cold in dry atmosphere than a damp one
(humid atm.).

It is not really the fibers themselves which provide real

thermal effects, but the air that is trapped within the fabric
surface (Air has very thermal conductivity).
 (4) Thermal Effects
On the other hand, some fibers actually liberate heat when they
absorb water. For example, in the case of wool this can be
quite considerable. This is reason that why woolen sweaters
are so popular in cold and damp climates.
Thank you!