What is tissue density?

In order to choose a good, long-serving thing from the fabric, from underwear to curtains, you must own at least a minimum amount of information about the quality characteristics of the material purchased.

The main of such indicators are the composition and density of tissues, which are discussed in more detail in this article.

Separation of tissues by the origin of composite fibers

This moment is one of the main in determining the quality of the fabric, its operational and consumer properties.

Before we start to consider the density of tissues, we will spend a little time on their composition, which plays one of the important roles in the strength and quality of fabric products.

According to the composition of raw materials, from which fabric is made, you can divide them into:

• Natural (linen, cotton, wool);
• Synthetic (polyester, polyamide, acetate, acrylic);
• Mixed.

Polyamide fibers

Let's consider more in detail synthetic polyamide fibers of fabrics, to them it is possible to carry such popular all over the world, as nylon or kapron (so these fibers in the USSR were called). Materials made of such fibers have good physical and chemical properties: high strength, uniformity, remarkable colorability, low weight, durability. But the low density of the threads in the fabric makes it thin.

Polyamide occupies a leading position in the use for the manufacture of various yarns.

But along with such positive characteristics this material has two significant drawbacks:

• Is afraid of sunlight (or rather, loses its strength from direct hit);
• When wet, it stretches very much.

Polyester fibers

Polyester fibers (polyester) endow the fabric with lightness, low moisture absorption coefficient, and such fabrics do not stretch, they are resistant to ultraviolet rays, they have high strength.

Density of fabrics from polyester fibers is higher than that of capron.

Disadvantages they also have, and are as follows: stiffness, high degree of flammability and electrification.

To natural fibers it is best to add a small percentage of synthetic fabrics to better preserve the shape.

Mechanical properties of tissues

In addition to the composition on the label of the product, you need to pay attention to a number of density indicators, which in their combination and combination form the mechanical properties of the canvas.

These characteristics are influenced in the main measure by the structure and density of the tissue (g / m square).

The fabric structure is a way of weaving threads in its canvas.

Density of the fabric (g / m2) refers to the main indicators of its structure. Density affects the mass, air permeability, stiffness, heat-shielding properties, fabric drape. And all these characteristics affect already the finished thing, whether it's a raincoat, an umbrella or a tablecloth.

The density of the fabric is measured as the number of warp and weft threads that fall by ten centimeters of the fabric.

Separate and separately calculate the density of threads along the weft and the density of warp threads.

Depending on the ratio of these two densities, the materials are divided into equally dense and non-uniform.

There are also absolute, maximum and relative density of tissue.

Absolute density

Absolute - density, which refers to the actual number of threads, per one centimeter of material. This indicator varies in large limits, for tissues with different composition is very different. For example, in coarse linen fabrics, it is within fifty yarns per one centimeter of fabric, in silk fabrics - a thousand threads per the same one centimeter.

This indicator does not make it clear how close the threads are to each other. For example, in a piece of cloth with an area of one centimeter of thin thread can be very much, but they can be located at a great distance from each other. But thick threads can be small, but they can touch or crush each other, tightly pressing against each other.

Maximum density

In order to compare the density of materials that are made of threads of different thickness, and the concepts of maximum and relative density were introduced.

The maximum density of the web is the maximum possible number of filaments, laid in a cloth of one centimeter square, provided that all these threads have the same diameter, are located without shifting and crushing at the same distance from each other.

Relative density

Linear (relative) tissue density - the ratio of the actual and maximum density, which is determined by the percentage.

In the case where the maximum density is equal to the actual density, the surface density is equal to 100%, the filaments in such material are located without crushing and shifting, touching each other with the same distance.

But when the relative density is above one hundred percent, the threads will shift, contract or flatten.

And if this figure is less than one hundred percent, then the filaments are a short distance from each other.

The indicator of linear filling or relative density can vary from 25 to 150 percent.

The higher the value of linear filling, the higher the characteristics, such as strength, rigidity, wind resistance, elasticity, wear resistance. The surface density of the tissue also increases.

But along with this fall, such indicators as vapor tightness, airtightness and extensibility.

Cloths that have a linear filling index above one hundred percent are almost not deformed, poorly liable to wet and heat treatment. Therefore, things from such materials are difficult to wash and iron, they are also tough and draped badly.

Surface tissue density

Another important indicator of the strength of the material is its surface density, which shows how many grams of tissue in one centimeter of its square area, it determines the material consumption of fabric products.

This indicator depends on the linear density and type, structure and nature of the finishing of yarns and cloths.

For textile materials, the density index is regulated by GOST. Density of the fabric is characterized by considerable variety for specific types of clothing, and therefore it affects the choice of material for a particular product.

The index of the surface density of tissue is determined by weighing a piece of tissue and then calculating it according to the formula: P = m / L * B, where:

• M is the actual mass;
• L * B - the area of the fabric (the length is multiplied by the width of the piece of fabric).

In order for the indicators to be as close to real as possible, the materials are kept in normal conditions for two days before weighing. This is due to the fact that materials for clothing have the ability to absorb moisture, thus gaining a large mass and changing some of their properties.

The heaviest materials are used for sewing a coat, and the lightest ones are used for clothes such as light dresses and scarves.

What is the density of the fabric for bed linen?

The first thing you should pay attention to when buying bed linen is the composition and density.

From these two indicators depends the durability and strength of bed linen.

If we consider the strength, then there are two indicators that affect the density of bed tissues: linear and surface density.

Below is a list of tissues and their linear density:

• Baptiste (has a low index of only 20-30 threads per 100 mm of material);
• Coarse calico (has a density below the average - 35-40 threads);
• Flax (the average linear density is 50-55 strands);
• Ranfors (this figure is above the average for the fabric and is about 70 yarns);
• Poplin and satin (high linear density - from 85 to 120 threads per 100 mm of material);
• Jacquard and percale (champions in the linear density, which is in the range from 130 to 280 threads per 100 mm of material).

An important role in bed linen is played not only by the number of threads per square, but also by their grammage, that is, the twisting of filaments, the density of their adherence, the way of weaving.

The most common and traditional fabric for bed linen in the countries of the former Soviet Union is coarse calico, which consists of 100% cotton (according to GOST in Russia), has a cross weave of fairly thick threads.

Choosing a bed of this type of material, you need to pay attention to the surface density. The higher it is, the better the quality of the canvas. An example of the best and most popular tissue density is an index in the range of 130 to 160 grams per tissue area.

Bed sets of calico have an ideal balance of quality and price. This fabric is ideal for those who love naturalness and do not pay attention to the softness and elasticity.