Low-stress mechanical properties of pashmina shawls prepared from pure hand-spun, machine spun and pashmina-wool blend yarn.

Abstract

The low-stress mechanical properties of the shawl made up of pashmina hand spun, machine spun and pashmina-wool blend yarns are determined by fabric assurance by simple testing system. The compression, extension and bending properties of shawls made by pashmina hand spun and machine spun yarns are comparable. However, the dimensional properties of pashmina hand spun shawl are superior to other two groups. A significant difference is observed between pure pashmina and pashmina blend shawls for majority of the low-stress mechanical properties. The thickness, weight, bending rigidity and hygral expansion in weft direction significantly differ among the three groups and they are influenced by a fibre mix as well as by the yarn-manufacturing method. It is attempted to define the control limits of different low-stress mechanical properties for different pashmina shawl qualities which may differentiate pure pashmina shawls from the others.