Study of Aramid Yarns Sizing

The process and efficiency of sizing aramid yarns before the weaving process was studied. The sizing was carried out under different conditions, with and without the pre-wetting of the threads before the actual sizing process. Two groups of yarns were tested. The first group consisted of five yarn samples that were blended with 95% meta-aramid and 5% para-aramid in counts of 20 × 2, 17 × 2, 14 × 2 and 12.5 × 2 tex. The second group of yarns consisted of three yarn samples that were blended with 93% meta-aramid, 5% para-aramid and 2% carbon in counts of 20, 20 × 2 and 17 × 2 tex. The inlet moisture of the yarn before sizing was 40% (with pre-wetting) and 4% (without pre-wetting), and the outlet moisture after drying was 4%. In order to carry out such tests to reproduce them, the sizing was carried out on a laboratory-sizing machine with the possibility of adapting to industrial conditions. According to the obtained results related to the properties of yarn before and after sizing, it can be concluded that sizing of aramid yarns is justified. When sizing the yarn without pre-wetting, the mechanical properties improved, especially breaking force, strength and abrasion resistance. Irregularity and hairiness were also reduced, especially when sizing with pre-wetting. Yarn hairiness or the frequency of protruding fibres also decreased with sizing in almost all samples and sizing conditions. The second group of yarns with a carbon fibre content mostly showed better mechanical properties before sizing, which continued after sizing. In general, the aramid yarn sized with pre-wetting showed certain deformations caused by stretching in the wet state and thus reduced the size pick-up, which caused less breaking forces and strength. Sizing with pre-wetting resulted in a slightly better smoothness of the thread and its higher evenness. It can be concluded that the aramid yarn should be sized with a lower size percentage (up to 4.5%), i.e., without pre-wetting in order to minimise the deformation of the yarn during sizing and thus improve the mechanical properties in the weaving process.