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Style

It is conceivable that the higher the fabric density, the harder the texture. However, hardness is not necessarily a drawback, because a hard texture can make the finished product more crisp. If fine yarns are used, low density may cause the fabric to be too loose and flimsy, appearing cheap. Therefore, yarn, structure, density, and processing methods will all affect the final style of the fabric, so adjustments need to be made according to the target effect.

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Transparency

Transparency means that the higher the density, the lower the transparency, and the lower the density, the easier it is to be seen through. For example, the fabric used for products such as trousers cannot be transparent, and it is best to use high-density fabric that is not easily seen through even when moving. Fabrics that are not easily seen through also have UV resistance. Conversely, fabrics with high transparency can be woven by reducing density, using fine yarns, or using yarns with high transparency. When making fabrics that look cool and allow inner items to be seen when layered, fabrics with high transparency should be used.

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Weight

The higher the density, the heavier the fabric; the lower the density, the lighter the weight. High-density, heavy fabrics, in addition to giving a sense of stability, also have a high-end, crisp visual effect. If you want to make a jacket of a certain thickness, in addition to using coarse yarns, you can also achieve this by adjusting the density. Conversely, lightweight fabrics are suitable for making comfortable sportswear and everyday wear. In recent years, packable clothing that is lightweight and easy to carry has become increasingly popular, and clothing such as outerwear that can regulate indoor air conditioning and outdoor heat in summer is also highly sought after. Due to the lightweight and fatigue-resistant properties of the fabric, it has become a popular fabric in many sports such as mountaineering and running.

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Cost

High density means more yarn usage, so the price will be higher, and high density leads to low production efficiency, resulting in an inevitable increase in cost. Conversely, low-density fabrics will also improve production efficiency, reduce yarn usage, and if there are no problems with fabric style and physical properties, then reducing density can reduce production costs and thus lower prices.

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Breathability

High density means low breathability, while low density means large gaps between yarns, resulting in better breathability. The low breathability of high-density fabrics is not necessarily a drawback. To a certain extent, preventing breathability can be used to make fabrics for windproof jackets and down jackets. Low-density fabrics can easily cause down and cotton to penetrate the fabric, so high-density fabrics are more useful in this case. Low-density fabrics, on the other hand, can increase breathability, eliminate unpleasant stuffiness, and have the advantage of drying easily when damp.

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Water Resistance

When the fabric density is high enough, it can prevent water from penetrating the fabric. If waterproof treatment such as coating or lamination is carried out, the risk of resin and adhesive leakage due to low density can also be avoided. Therefore, to increase the waterproof performance of the fabric, it is necessary to increase the density to a certain extent.

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Tear Strength

Tear strength is one of the physical testing methods for the ease of tearing when a fabric is stretched. It can test the strength of the fabric. Often, the higher the density, the lower the tear strength, while low-density fabrics are less likely to tear. Tear strength is easily affected by the hardness of the fabric. Hard fabrics are easier to tear, while soft fabrics can disperse force and are less likely to tear. High-density fabrics will have a paper-like texture, especially thin and dense ones, which are more likely to become as fragile as paper and easy to tear. If the yarn is thick enough and has a certain strength, there is no need to worry about tearing during daily use, so not all high-density fabrics are easy to tear. However, for outdoor sports and camping equipment that needs to be used in mountainous areas with trees, high-durability fabrics are needed to prevent tearing from snagging.

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Seam slippage

Slippage refers to seam slippage (movement of weaves and loops) of the fabric. When the fabric is stretched, the degree of movement of the weaves at the seam is used to evaluate the ease of slippage of the fabric. Poor values indicate that it is easy to deform and collapse. High-density fabrics have good seam slippage stability, while low-density fabrics have gaps between the yarns, and the weaves are easy to slide, so wearing them can easily cause the garment to deform and collapse, and the yarns will also move and twist.

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Elasticity

High-density fabrics have gaps filled with yarn, so they have low elasticity, while low-density fabrics have gaps between the yarns, so they have better elasticity. Even when using elastic fibers such as spandex, high density can reduce elasticity. Therefore, if you want to improve elasticity, low-density fabrics may be more suitable, but this may also lead to risks in terms of physical properties such as seam slippage.

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Abrasion Resistance

High-density fabrics have better abrasion resistance. There are fewer gaps between the yarns, so they are not easily affected by friction. High-density fabrics generally do not easily produce pilling (fuzz balls formed on the fabric surface when fibers tangle). Because pilling can affect the sense of cleanliness, using abrasion-resistant fabrics can extend the life of the product.

Weaving factories and fabric suppliers consider and design density according to the use and processing methods of the fabric. Density has an important impact on the finished product. High-density and low-density fabrics both have their advantages and disadvantages. Different types of yarns, structures, and processing methods will produce fabrics with different styles. Therefore, this is not only the charm of fiber technology, but also its difficulty.