Model-Based Simulation Analysis of Wicking Behavior in Hygroscopic Cotton Fabric

Hygroscopic knitted cotton fabric was found to spontaneously absorb water showing a significantly wide concentration gradient in the absorption direction. A semi-empirical diffusion model was introduced to describe how the wicking behavior compared to the classical capillary model (Washburn's equation), which has been widely used in the textiles industry. The capillary sorption curve and the permeability coefficient, which are key variables for the model equations, were measured using an electronic balance. The concentration profile as a function of the wicking distance and the elapsed time was derived, based on the diffusion model. From the concentration profile, the wicking distance detectable by the human eye or a digital camera with the aid of an image-analysis system, could be described realistically as a function of the time. The classical capillary model could be modified by introducing the tortuous correction factor to match the diffusion model. Wicking models and data-processing techniques in the work could provide useful tools for objectively evaluating the textile's wicking performances.