Development Of Polymer Optical Fiber Jacquard Fabrics Based On Weaving Technique Design

Polymer optical fiber jacquard fabrics are made by interlacing polymer optical fibers (POFs) and conventional textile yarns on a jacquard weaving machine to create luminous patterns on the fabric using the side-emitting properties of POFs and hence, the subject covers textiles technology, art design, electronics, materials science, etc. In this thesis, we studied the effects of weaving process and weave structure on the side-emitting properties of POF fabrics, and then produced a type of POF jacquard fabrics, which are capable of displaying dynamic patterns by combining with pattern and circuit designs.It was very important to understand the mechanical motion configuration and different types of forces exerted on the fabric during the manufacturing process to enable successful weaving of the optical fibers. The POFs were damaged mainly in the process of take-up due to the take-up roll with tough surface put much stress on the fibers to wind up the cloth. In such a way, elementary weaves fabrics could obtain favorable side-illumination effect. The result indicated that the side-emitting intensity was no longer increased when the weave repeat increased to repeat of16due to the POFs were close to the largest contact area with take-up roll. However, POF jacquard fabrics, which were complicated in structure, with uneven surface were not able to obtain uniformity of side-emitting intensity during weaving process. Therefore the POFs should be protected in the process, and the side-illumination effect to the fabric was imparted by bending of POFs in different jacquard weaves. To avoid the damage to the POFs, separation was an effective approach. POFs were separated from the take-up roll during weaving process by a "protective layer" which formed by warp threads, weft threads or a top layer of fabric based on weave construction design.Bending of POF caused the light rays in the core did not meet the condition for total internal reflection, and the light rays emitted from the outside of the bend section. In this thesis, the relationship between bending radius and side-emitting intensity of POF was deduced. The equation showed that the side-emitting intensity is positively associated with the core radius and inversely associated with the bending radius. The theory deduction was hardly difference between the results of simulation experiments and fabric experiments. However, the side-emitting intensity of POF fabric was also depended on POF float. The bending radius is increased in proportion to the float in woven fabric, but the benefits for side-emitting intensity of POF fabric in inverse proportion. Therefore, the two factors must be considered synthetically during the POF jacquard fabrics design.Based on the above mentioned factors, the designed POF jacquard fabrics not only have decorative effect just as traditional jacquard fabrics, but also have animation effect.