The density of woven fabric refers to how many yarns are contained within 1 inch (2.54cm). The more yarns within 1 inch, the higher the fabric density, and the fewer yarns, the lower the fabric density. Density has a comprehensive impact on appearance, style, price, and physical properties, making it an important factor in weaving fabrics.

 

What is the specific difference between high-density and low-density fabrics? The fabric varies due to the characteristics and organizational structure of the yarn (plain weave, twill weave, etc.), so only fabrics using the same yarn and organizational structure will be compared here.

 

✦

style

It can be imagined that the higher the fabric density, the harder the texture, but hardness is not necessarily a disadvantage because a hard texture can make the finished product appear wider. If fine yarn is used, low density may cause the fabric to become too loose and collapse, making it appear cheap. Therefore, yarn, organizational structure, density, and processing methods all affect the final style of the fabric, so adjustments need to be made according to the target effect.

 

✦

Perspective sensation

Perspective sense means that the higher the density, the lower the perspective, and the lower the density, the easier it is to see through. The fabric used in products such as pants cannot be transparent, and it is better to use high-density fabric that is not easily transparent even when moved. Fabric that is not easy to see through also has UV resistance. On the contrary, fabrics with strong perspective can be woven by reducing density, using fine yarn, or using high perspective yarn. When making interior items that have a cool appearance and can be seen when layered, it is necessary to use fabrics with strong perspective.

 

✦

Weight in grams

The higher the density, the heavier the fabric; the lower the density, the lighter the weight. High density and heavy fabrics not only give people a sense of stability, but also have a high-end and wide visual experience. If you want to make jackets and other products with a certain thickness, in addition to using coarse yarn, you can also adjust the density to achieve it. On the contrary, lightweight fabrics are suitable for making sportswear and daily wear that allows for free movement. In recent years, the popularity of lightweight and easy to carry storage clothing has increased significantly, and clothing similar to outerwear that can adjust indoor air conditioning and outdoor heat in summer has also been highly praised. Due to its lightweight and fatigue resistant properties, it has become a popular fabric in many sports such as hiking and running.

 

✦

Cost price

High density means that more yarn is used, resulting in higher prices, and high density leads to low production efficiency, inevitably causing an increase in costs. On the contrary, the production efficiency of low-density fabrics will also be improved, the amount of yarn used will be reduced, and under the premise that there are no problems with the fabric style and physical properties, reducing the density can compress the production cost, thereby reducing the price.

 

✦

Breathability

High density results in low breathability, while low density leads to larger gaps between yarns, resulting in better breathability. The low breathability of high-density fabrics may not necessarily be a disadvantage. To some extent, it can be used as a fabric for making windproof jackets and down jackets to prevent breathability. Low density fabrics are prone to causing down and cotton to slip out of the fabric, making high-density fabrics more useful. Low density fabrics have the advantages of increasing breathability, eliminating uncomfortable stuffiness, and being easy to dry when damp.

 

✦

Waterproof performance

When the fabric density is high enough, it can prevent water from seeping into the interior through the fabric. If waterproof treatment is carried out, such as coating, composite processing, etc., it can also avoid the risk of resin and adhesive leakage in the coating due to low density. Therefore, in order to increase the waterproof performance of the fabric, it is necessary to increase the density to a certain extent.

 

✦

Tear fastness

Tear strength refers to one of the physical property testing methods for determining the difficulty of tearing a fabric during stretching. Can test the strength of the fabric. And often the higher the density, the worse the tear fastness, while low-density fabrics are less likely to tear. Tear strength is easily affected by the hardness of the fabric. High hardness fabrics are more prone to tearing, while soft fabrics can disperse strength and are less likely to tear. High density fabrics will present a paper like texture, especially thin and dense ones, which are more prone to become fragile like paper and easily torn. If the yarn is thick enough and has a certain strength, there is no need to worry about tearing during daily use, so not all high-density fabrics are easily torn. However, when using outdoor sports and camping equipment in mountainous areas with trees, high durability fabrics are required to prevent them from being hooked and torn.

 

✦

Seam slippage

Slippage refers to the slippage of the seam of the fabric (the movement of the eyelet and the coil). The degree of movement of the fabric eye at the seam during fabric stretching is used to evaluate the difficulty of fabric slippage. When the value is poor, it indicates that it is prone to deformation and collapse. The seam slip stability of high-density fabrics is good, while there are gaps between the yarns of low-density fabrics, making it easy for the weaving eyes to slide. Therefore, when wearing, it is easy to cause clothing deformation and collapse, and the yarns will also move and twist.

 

✦

elastic

The gaps in high-density fabrics are filled with yarn, resulting in lower elasticity, while the gaps between the yarns in low-density fabrics result in better elasticity. Even when using elastic fibers such as spandex, their elasticity may decrease due to their high density. Therefore, if we want to improve elasticity, low-density fabrics may be more suitable, but this may also lead to physical risks such as seam slippage.

 

✦

Wear resistance

High density fabrics have better wear resistance. The gaps between the yarns are relatively small, so they are not easily affected by friction. Generally, high-density fabrics are less prone to fuzzing and pilling (the phenomenon of pilling formed on the fabric surface when fibers are tangled). Because fuzzing and pilling can easily affect the cleanliness, using wear-resistant fabrics can extend the lifespan of the product.

 

Weaving factories and fabric suppliers consider and design density based on the purpose and processing method of the fabric. Density has a significant impact on the finished product. Both high-density and low-density fabrics have their own advantages and disadvantages. According to the different types of yarns used, organizational structures, and processing methods, different styles of fabrics will be presented, which is not only the charm of fiber technology, but also its difficulty.