LAUSR

Regenerated bamboo fibres are preferred for towels, underwear, home textiles and especially in sportswear for its moisture regain, wicking and antibacterial properties. This fibre may be used in pure (%100) form or may be blended with cotton or polyester in the market, in general. There are some studies regarding the fibre, yarn and fabric properties of bamboo and bamboo-cotton blends. Ozgen reviewed and discussed the new biodegradable fibres, yarn properties and their applications in textiles [1]. Prakash et al. investigated the effect of blend ratio on the imperfections, tenacity and hairiness of regenerated bamboo/cotton blended yarns [2]. Sekerden also investigated the unevenness and tenacity properties of regenerated bamboo/cotton blends. In both studies, it was found that increasing bamboo content in the blend affected the quality parameters [3]. Li and Yan studied the tensile properties of regenerated bamboo yarn in different tensile speeds [4]. Majumdar investigated the diameter, tensile, evenness and hairiness properties of cottonbamboo blended yarns. They found that hairiness increases with increasing bamboo content in the yarn [5]. Erdumlu and Ozipek (2008) investigated the quality parameters bamboo, viscose, carded and combed ring spun yarns in pure form. They found that fibre and yarn characteristics of bamboo fibre are quite similar to viscose fibre [6]. Koc and Demiryurek investigated the breaking strength properties of polyester-viscose blended open-end rotor yarns [7]. The fabric properties of bamboo blended yarns were also studied in some papers. Hussain et al. investigated the comfort and mechanical properties of polyester/bamboo and polyester/cotton blended knitted fabrics [8]. The tribological performance of modified bamboo fibre in brake composites was studied by He et al. [9]. They found that heat treatment of bamboo fibres at 140 °C for 4 hours makes the friction and wear characteristics of brake composite more stable than untreated ones. Kobayashi et al. examined the frictional wear characteristics of the rubber-bamboo fibre composites. Wear characteristics and tensile strength increased in a range that fibre content is lower than 10% [10]. Ma et al. investigated the friction and wear properties of bamboo (Phyllostachys heterocycla) fibre reinforced materials. Their results show that carbonized bamboo fibre could reduce the specific wear rate and the noise. In addition it provided stable friction coefficient [11]. Kuhm et al. used capstan equation for examining the fabric friction behavior [12]. Yarn friction is a very important characteristic of yarns in addition to the traditional yarn properties. Fibre type, molecular orientation, fibre surface roughness, yarn linear density, yarn twist, spinning method, yarn unevenness and hairiness may affect the frictional property of the yarns. Balci and Sular reviewed the