Study of friction mechanisms of hairy textile fabrics

The surfaces of fibrous materials like textiles are characterised by emergent superficial fibres forming hairiness. Hairiness is an important factor for the frictional and tactile properties of fabrics. In this study, we investigated the friction mechanisms of hairy fabrics by sliding probes with varying geometry over the textile surfaces. The total friction between a hairy fabric and a cuboid-shaped slider is given by two main contributions—one due to the contact of hairs with the front of the slider and the other one resulting from the hairiness underneath the slider. By changing the slider geometry, the relative importance of these two contributions can be systematically varied, so that conclusions about adhesion and deformation mechanisms involved in the friction of hairy fabrics can be drawn. For a given slider area and a given normal load, the force underneath the slider was found to be independent of the slider width while the force in front of the slider increased linearly with the slider width. The major contribution of the force underneath the slider is highlighted. This force is influenced by the material and surface roughness of the slider, indicating that adhesion mechanisms play a significant role in the friction.