Application of Profilometric Measurements in an Assessment of Woven Fabrics Surface Geometry

The surface roughness of the textile materials is one of the crucial features influencing the appearance and functionality of fabrics and products made of them. The surface roughness of textile materials can be measured using the contact or non-contact methods. In the presented work, the non-contact method using the MicroSpy (R) Profile profilometer was applied to assess the quality of surface of the cotton woven fabrics of plain and 3/1S twill weave. Determination of surface geometry parameters and functions was done using the Mark III software according to the DIN EN ISO 4287 standard. Results showed that the twill woven fabric is characterized by greater roughness than the plain woven fabric. The profiles created along the warp and weft have different shapes dependably on fabric weave. The autocorrelation function reflects the weave pattern of the woven fabrics. Performed investigations confirmed that the non-contact method of measurement of fabric surface geometry by means of the profilometer provides very detailed and complex data about the fabrics' surface quality.