Abstract: Spacer fabrics' protection capabilities for human body (support) under particular impact energy were investigated in the paper. The samples were 6 warp-knitted spacer fabrics with different structures, i.e. different moving needles of spacer guide bars, spacer-yarns' diameters and fabric thicknesses, which were produced on double-needle-bed Raschel knitting machine. The characteristic of stress, energy and energy-absorption efficiency were analyzed and the results show that: With the decreasing of moving needles of spacer guide bars and increasing of spacer-yarns' diameters, the peak stress drops, absorbed energy and energy-absorption efficiency rise accordingly. However, fabrics with too vertical spacer yarns do not benefit for protection as they are inclined to collapse. Fabrics with higher thicknesses can be used to absorb more energy thus produce less peak stress, while those with moderate thicknesses are of higher peak efficiency. Although fabrics with larger rigidity and thickness have lower peak stress, which are good for body protection, comfortability should be taken into consideration as well.

Key words: warp knitted spacer fabric, impact property, stress, energy, protection