What is the difference between dry quick yarns and traditional cotton yarns?
Through chemical modification and structural design (e.g., shaped fibers, hydrophobic treatment), dry quick yarns achieve active moisture conduction, with significantly higher drying speed and breathability than traditional cotton yarns. Cotton yarns, on the other hand, still dominate the daily comfort market due to their natural skin friendliness. Users can choose flexibly according to the sports intensity, environmental humidity and budget.
I. Material and chemical properties
dry quick yarns: the main component is polyester fiber (polyester) or polypropylene fiber (polypropylene), through the modification process to enhance the moisture conductivity, some high-end products use shaped cross-section fibers (e.g., Y-shaped, cross-shaped) or hollow structure.
Traditional Cotton Yarn: Natural cotton fiber is the main fiber, the fiber is hollow structure, moisture absorption is easy to expand resulting in a decrease in air permeability.
dry quick yarns accelerate moisture transfer through hydrophobic treatment or fiber cross-section design (e.g. groove structure), creating a capillary effect;
Cotton yarn relies on the hydrophilicity of the fiber to passively absorb moisture, but the moisture is easy to be retained inside the fiber, slow drying.
II. Performance and function comparison
Drying speed: Quick-drying yarn is 50% faster than cotton (under the same conditions); traditional cotton yarn takes longer to dry after absorbing moisture.
Moisture absorption and perspiration: fast drying yarn active moisture conduction (moisture diffusion from the inside to the outside); traditional cotton passive moisture absorption (moisture retention within the fiber)
Breathability: Quick-drying yarns are dynamically breathable and return to dryness after moisture evaporates; traditional cotton yarns lose breathability after absorbing moisture.
Skin-friendly: Fast-drying yarns need to be blended with cotton/spandex to enhance comfort; traditional cotton yarns are naturally soft and have better skin-friendliness.
III. Applicable scenes and durability
dry quick yarns: suitable for high-intensity sports (e.g. running, hiking), can quickly remove sweat to avoid stickiness, and some products still maintain their performance after more than 50 washes;
Traditional cotton yarn: easy to stick to the skin after absorbing sweat, easy to cause discomfort when wet for a long time, only suitable for low-intensity daily wear.
dry quick yarns: abrasion-resistant, wrinkle-resistant, corrosion-resistant, better shape retention than cotton yarns;
Traditional cotton yarn: easy to wrinkle and shrink, easy to mold in humid environment.
IV. The comprehensive cost-effective
dry quick yarns: higher cost (especially the original yarn type process is complex), but outstanding functionality, suitable for professional sports or high temperature environment;
Traditional cotton yarn: cost-effective, suitable for daily leisure scenes, but need to be replaced frequently to maintain comfort.
