General Knitted Fabrics versus Woven Fabrics

At ATEX we can leverage the inherent properties of basic weave and knit constructs to enhance performance associated with a specific feature. For example, weaving is accomplished by interlacing yarns that are oriented perpendicular to one another. Knitting, on the other hand, interlaces yarn by pulling fiber loops through adjacent loops creating a “chain-like” structure. This interlacing loop structure is more open and gives inherent elasticity to the knit as opposed to the weave. A warp knit typically resists unravel without a heat aided cut, unlike a weave which is prone to fraying. On the other hand, since a weave can offer structural stability without the bulkiness associated with stable knits, they tend to provide a lower profile component given the same yarn size. A plain weave offers high strength and abrasion resistance. That said, our engineers can flip properties such as elasticity simply by adding a crimp to the weave, for example. Because of this ability to manipulate the inherent features, both weaving and knitting are capable of being used for complex 3 dimensional structures.

Direct Comparison of 2 Comparable Low Profile Knit and Woven Sheets

In this example we see two comparable low-profile sheets. The one on the left is a woven material that is ~100 microns thick and pore size of ~130 microns. The cloth on the right is a knit with comparable thickness and pore size. Although two different textile manufacturing technologies have been used to make similar items, the two will have rather different performance attributes. In this case, the main differentiators become elasticity and resistance to unraveling with a scissor cut. In general, the knitted product will have greater conformability for shaping and greater tear resistance than the woven version.

Complex Knit and Woven Structures

In this example, we see a similar component design made with the two different technologies of knitting and weaving. The version on the left is a woven component and the version on the right is knit. As you might imagine, the woven version tends to have lower elasticity, lower porosity and abrasion resistance than the knitted one. The knit component has greater elasticity and higher porosity but they both show similar resistance to unraveling. Both meet the same dimensional requirements and are compatible with our many textile fabrication and enhancement capabilities such as marking and advance laser cutting. Depending on the performance objectives (keeping the end in mind) we can determine the best technology platform for the job the component must do, which is why early design input is critical.

To further understand how product features can be defined, the following characteristics can be manipulated to enhance 2D and 3D component performance.