Naslov
Spectra : one of the latest sailcloth "wonder fibre"

Autori
Vujasinović, Edita ; Čunko, Ružica

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u zbornicima skupova, cjeloviti rad (in extenso), znanstveni

Izvornik
1st AUTEX Conference (TECHNITEX 2001) Technical textiles : Designing Textiles for Technical Applications : proceedings / Araújo, Mário - Minho : The University of Minho, 2001, 313-320

Skup
Technical textiles : Designing Textiles for Technical Applications (1 ; 2001)

Mjesto i datum
Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal, 26.06.2001. - 29.06.2001

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
spectra fibre; sailcloth; testing

Sažetak
Ever since sailing began, design and manufacture of sails seems to have almost more important role than the techniques of sailing itself. Maximum sail performance can be achieved only through optimal aerodynamic shape of the sails, stability of the initial shape of the sail, its air impermeability and its smooth surface. Sailmakers should shape their foils by balancing the forces of the wind with the tension in the sail, which is a difficult and ever-changing task to be solved. The forces or pressure distribution of the wind changes constantly and are defined by the shape of the sail, while the shape of the sail, through cloth stretch and flexing, is affected by the pressure distribution of the wind. For this reasons, manufacturing a sail is a process of constant optimisation, not concerned only with sail design and construction, but also with manufacture of a suitable sailcloth fabric and yarns, as sailmakers can design the best shape of sail based on experience, but the permanence of the shape under different wind conditions depends upon the fabric used, e.g. its construction and geometry (warp, weft and bias), stretch resistance, strength, cloth weight, flexibility, tear strength, porosity, water absorption and UV stability. Above are the requirements that started so called revolution in sailmaking business at the beginning of the fifties, introducing man-made fibres as a replacement for cotton. Polyester fibre (Dacron) has been one of the most common and popular fibres in sailcloth manufacture ever since, but a number of other new and exclusive fibres have also become available and now constitute an important part of laminated sailcloths - Kevlar, Vectran, HM Twaron, Spectra and PBO. After one of the most exciting America's Cup (which is usually, beside competition, a promotion of innovation in sails) in the year 1992, Spectra e.g. ultrastrong PE has become one of the latest sailcloth wonder fibres. Through the strength and other properties of these exclusive fibres, incorporated in laminated sailcloth, far superior fabrics, extremely strong and light, can be created and used in more demanding applications such as racing and offshore cruising. Only a part of comprehensive investigations are presented in this paper, concerned with the possibilities of objective characterisation of sailcloth fabrics, and primarily with testing the sailcloths for the manufacture of racing-olympic sails, with Spectra fibres used as a scrim in laminates. Systematic physical and mechanical investigations done, as well as a comparative analysis of the results obtained (both experimental and based on experience) clearly indicate that sail manufacture is a science in its own partly, and party an art. It is inevitable to balance these two approaches in sail manufacture is a winning sail is to be produced.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Tekstilna tehnologija

POVEZANOST RADA