**5. Experimental**

The study focused on 100% cotton fabrics and their constituent cotton yarns, which included plied yarn for the warp and single yarn for the weft. During the preparation of the yarns, three (3) different counts, namely 20s, 30s and 40s Ne, were prepared from 0.9 s Ne cotton roving using a TRYTEX Miniature Ring Spinning machine for specific TM values of 4 (in indirect cotton count system), ensuring that the helix angle of fibres remained constant in all yarn structures. For all of the yarns, machine parameters such as the ring frame machine's spindle speed were set to 10,000 rpm.

Second, after necessary assembly winding and a portable laboratory winder, the yarns in the 20s, 30s and 40s were made 2-ply each using a TRYTEX Miniature TFO machine. Then, using 2-ply of each count as warp and single yarn of each count as weft, 1/1 plain and 2/1 twill weave fabric samples were produced, with their respective sample codes provided in **Table 1**.

Thus, a total of six yarn samples and six fabric samples were prepared for this study. All the yarn (single and plied) and fabric (plain and twill) samples had undergone a scouring process with the standard recipe as wicking is highly correlated to wetting so it is a prerequisite that the sample should be as hydrophilic as much as possible. All the scoured samples (yarns and fabrics) were subsequently used for testing of wicking phenomena after conditioning the fabric in standard atmospheric conditions for 48 h. The basic parameters of fabrics are determined in **Table 2**.

After setting up the experimental set-up in the testing centre, all of the yarn and fabric samples were evaluated for wicking parameters. Different yarn and fabric samples are initially built up in accordance with DIN 53924. Fabric pieces of 200 mm 25 mm were used in the experiment. A beaker was placed beneath the yarn


**Table 1.** *Fabric sample and used codes.*


**Table 2.**

*Thread density and cloth cover factor of respective fabric samples.*

and fabric strip such that the yarn and fabric strip's end was dipped into the water. **Figures 3** and **4** demonstrate how yarns and fabric samples were hung in a stand by a clip. The laboratory travelling microscope was placed at the water level, and readings of the water level were taken at regular intervals.
