An approach to improve the pilling resistance properties of three thread polyester cotton blended fleece fabric.

Pilling is a common surface defect in fleece fabrics made of chief value cotton (CVC) and polyester cotton (PC). The term "Chief Value Cotton" refers to fabrics produced by mixing cotton and synthetic fiber such as polyester where cotton typically makes up more than half of the overall combination of polyester. Customers nowadays want polyester cotton blended fleece fabric with excellent pilling resistance, but it is difficult to improve pilling properties in polyester cotton blended fleece fabric. A variety of studies have been conducted to improve the pilling properties of single jersey CVC knit fabric. The primary goal of this study is to eliminate pilling in fleece fabrics made of three-thread polyester cotton blends. In this analysis, singeing with a heat setting was used to increase pilling resistance. According to this experimental study, the pilling resistance properties improve from grade 1 to grade 4, which is extraordinary. This method can be used to successfully solve the pilling problem in three thread polyester cotton blended fleece fabrics in the textile knitting industry.

Modelling photovoltaic soiling losses through optical characterization.

The accumulation of soiling on photovoltaic (PV) modules affects PV systems worldwide. Soiling consists of mineral dust, soot particles, aerosols, pollen, fungi and/or other contaminants that deposit on the surface of PV modules. Soiling absorbs, scatters, and reflects a fraction of the incoming sunlight, reducing the intensity that reaches the active part of the solar cell. Here, we report on the comparison of naturally accumulated soiling on coupons of PV glass soiled at seven locations worldwide. The spectral hemispherical transmittance was measured. It was found that natural soiling disproportionately impacts the blue and ultraviolet (UV) portions of the spectrum compared to the visible and infrared (IR). Also, the general shape of the transmittance spectra was similar at all the studied sites and could adequately be described by a modified form of the Ångström turbidity equation. In addition, the distribution of particles sizes was found to follow the IEST-STD-CC 1246E cleanliness standard. The fractional coverage of the glass surface by particles could be determined directly or indirectly and, as expected, has a linear correlation with the transmittance. It thus becomes feasible to estimate the optical consequences of the soiling of PV modules from the particle size distribution and the cleanliness value.