This work was adopted to enhance the electrical conductivity of knitted polyester fabrics by
incorporation of zinc oxide nanoparticle (NPs) into the fibre vicinity. Five structures of
PIQUE knitted polyester fabric of variable loop length were treated with ZnO NPs using
exhaustion technique. The treated fabrics were sewn using two types of stitches: namely three
thread overedge (504) and five thread full overedge (516). The comfort attributes of the treated
fabrics; Viz. electrical conductivity, air permeability, and water permeability were assessed.
Physico-mechanical properties of the different treated and untreated fabrics were also evaluated.
Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to trace the amounts of zinc ions incorporated onto the
different treated structures. The alteration in the functional groups of the modified samples was
monitored by FTIR spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive
X-ray spectroscopy/elemental mapping were adopted to confirm the inclusion and distribution of
ZnO NPs onto the modified polyester fabric. The treated polyester knitted fabrics showed
enhanced electrical conductivity with improved comfort properties without adverse effect on their
performance and appearance attributes.