{"id":{"repo_id":"de-montfort","oai_identifier":"oai:dora.dmu.ac.uk:2086/23782"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/de-montfort/oai:dora.dmu.ac.uk:2086/23782","repository":{"repo_id":"de-montfort","name":"De Montfort University","base_url":"https://dora.dmu.ac.uk/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"The behaviour of liquid movement in three dimensional weft knitted spacer fabrics","abstract":"With an ageing population, the incidence of pressure sores and incontinence is becoming an increasing burden on the healthcare sector and requires new forms of intervention. Usually two separate types of intervention are employed, a pressure mattress and a disposable bed pad. Sustainability issues suggest that a combined product with a degree of reuse (launderability) could be beneficial. 3D knitted spacer fabrics can afford a range of properties including an open structure to allow moisture and heat to be expelled, particularly for use against the skin for medical applications. Due to their flexible nature and compression resisting properties spacer fabrics can be used for weight dissipation in mattresses to reduce pressure sore development. Weft knitted spacer structures offer patterning possibilities to aid liquid dispersal. Fabrics were engineered with the appropriate choice of yarns and the incorporation of inlay material into the core to meet a range of product specifications. Initial work evaluated spacer yarn thickness for compression resistance/comfort followed by careful selection of surface yarn and patterning to allow rapid movement of liquid into the fabric and away from the surface. Focusing on bulk liquid absorption, a range of 3D weft knitted spacer fabrics were produced containing absorbent medium in roving (Tencel® and Viscostar®) and yarn (Tencel® and Oasis superabsorbent). Materials were evaluated for high absorbency using standard methods. Liquid spreading on the surface of the fabric was measured using conventional test methods, however to map spatial liquid movement a new test method was designed. This method used arrays of conductive sensors, with spacer plates which enabled the sensor tips to be positioned at set heights through the fabric to detect liquid spreading throughout its thickness. Evaluation proved that the method was reliable and was compared to other methods for the two outer surfaces. The new test method revealed that spacer fabrics demonstrated very different liquid spreading characteristics, between each other and through the thickness of the individual fabrics. The best performing fabric contained Tencel® roving and offered high absorbency and the ability to direct liquid into a controlled area, which is a key requirement of an absorbent incontinence product.","abstract_html":"With an ageing population, the incidence of pressure sores and incontinence is becoming an increasing burden on the healthcare sector and requires new forms of intervention. Usually two separate types of intervention are employed, a pressure mattress and a disposable bed pad. Sustainability issues suggest that a combined product with a degree of reuse (launderability) could be beneficial. 3D knitted spacer fabrics can afford a range of properties including an open structure to allow moisture and heat to be expelled, particularly for use against the skin for medical applications. Due to their flexible nature and compression resisting properties spacer fabrics can be used for weight dissipation in mattresses to reduce pressure sore development. Weft knitted spacer structures offer patterning possibilities to aid liquid dispersal. Fabrics were engineered with the appropriate choice of yarns and the incorporation of inlay material into the core to meet a range of product specifications. Initial work evaluated spacer yarn thickness for compression resistance/comfort followed by careful selection of surface yarn and patterning to allow rapid movement of liquid into the fabric and away from the surface. Focusing on bulk liquid absorption, a range of 3D weft knitted spacer fabrics were produced containing absorbent medium in roving (Tencel® and Viscostar®) and yarn (Tencel® and Oasis superabsorbent). Materials were evaluated for high absorbency using standard methods. Liquid spreading on the surface of the fabric was measured using conventional test methods, however to map spatial liquid movement a new test method was designed. This method used arrays of conductive sensors, with spacer plates which enabled the sensor tips to be positioned at set heights through the fabric to detect liquid spreading throughout its thickness. Evaluation proved that the method was reliable and was compared to other methods for the two outer surfaces. The new test method revealed that spacer fabrics demonstrated very different liquid spreading characteristics, between each other and through the thickness of the individual fabrics. The best performing fabric contained Tencel® roving and offered high absorbency and the ability to direct liquid into a controlled area, which is a key requirement of an absorbent incontinence product.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Davies, Angela"],"institution":"De Montfort University","degree_name":"PhD","degree_level":"Doctoral","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009-12","date_published":"2009-12","updated_at":"2026-07-24T06:18:42Z","subjects":[],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":["https://dora.dmu.ac.uk/bitstreams/d03d8458-1f1e-4238-beee-c44313da528d/download"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":null,"outbound_label":null,"outbound_source":null},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Davies, Angela"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2009-12"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.department","label":"Dc Publisher Department","values":["Faculty of Arts, Design and Humanities"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["De Montfort University"]},{"key":"dc:relation.isreferencedby","label":"Dc Relation Isreferencedby","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/2086/23782"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis or dissertation"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Doctoral"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationname","label":"Dc Type Qualificationname","values":["PhD"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["https://dora.dmu.ac.uk/bitstreams/d03d8458-1f1e-4238-beee-c44313da528d/download"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://dora.dmu.ac.uk/bitstreams/2ba50807-a075-4bbf-b446-be22c1b267e7/download"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["With an ageing population, the incidence of pressure sores and incontinence is becoming an increasing burden on the healthcare sector and requires new forms of intervention. Usually two separate types of intervention are employed, a pressure mattress and a disposable bed pad. Sustainability issues suggest that a combined product with a degree of reuse (launderability) could be beneficial. 3D knitted spacer fabrics can afford a range of properties including an open structure to allow moisture and heat to be expelled, particularly for use against the skin for medical applications. Due to their flexible nature and compression resisting properties spacer fabrics can be used for weight dissipation in mattresses to reduce pressure sore development. Weft knitted spacer structures offer patterning possibilities to aid liquid dispersal. Fabrics were engineered with the appropriate choice of yarns and the incorporation of inlay material into the core to meet a range of product specifications. Initial work evaluated spacer yarn thickness for compression resistance/comfort followed by careful selection of surface yarn and patterning to allow rapid movement of liquid into the fabric and away from the surface. Focusing on bulk liquid absorption, a range of 3D weft knitted spacer fabrics were produced containing absorbent medium in roving (Tencel® and Viscostar®) and yarn (Tencel® and Oasis superabsorbent). Materials were evaluated for high absorbency using standard methods. Liquid spreading on the surface of the fabric was measured using conventional test methods, however to map spatial liquid movement a new test method was designed. This method used arrays of conductive sensors, with spacer plates which enabled the sensor tips to be positioned at set heights through the fabric to detect liquid spreading throughout its thickness. Evaluation proved that the method was reliable and was compared to other methods for the two outer surfaces. The new test method revealed that spacer fabrics demonstrated very different liquid spreading characteristics, between each other and through the thickness of the individual fabrics. The best performing fabric contained Tencel® roving and offered high absorbency and the ability to direct liquid into a controlled area, which is a key requirement of an absorbent incontinence product."]},{"key":"dc:format.checksum.md5","label":"Dc Format Checksum Md5","values":["bd41181d9a4c38b5ebacc69a027024d9","03a8e225697d963cb278aecc0b350ce7","63c4a36e32d6dd867140317710c3a05a"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The behaviour of liquid movement in three dimensional weft knitted spacer fabrics"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Davies, Angela"],"dc:date.issued":["2009-12"],"dc:description.abstract":["With an ageing population, the incidence of pressure sores and incontinence is becoming an increasing burden on the healthcare sector and requires new forms of intervention. 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