Abstract
For the purpose of enhancing the quality of artificial suede, a fiber web was prepared using chopped seaisland type micro fibers dispersed in the water bath. An apparatus equipped with a laser beam was developed to evaluate state of the fiber dispersion in the water. A woven scrim fabric was sandwiched between these isotropic fiber webs produced through this method and then this was interlaced by water jet punching method. To dissolve the sea part of the micro fibers, alkaline finishing was applied on this composite and then the artificial suede primary fabric was prepared. For comparison, the other artificial suede primary fabrics were prepared such as applying carding method for the preparation of fiber web and needle punching method for the interlacing. After that, alkaline treatment was done for this fabric same as the above ones. The tensile properties, tear properties, surface and cross-sectional structures of these primary fabrics were studied. The hand values of these were also compared using KES-F system. The artificial suedes made of fiber webs by wet method interlaced through spunlacing showed superior isotropicity and hand values than the fiber webs made by carding method interlaced through needle punching.