A fabric system and manufacturing method for achieving higher fiber crimp
in selected fibers to reduce initial fabric modulus (gain higher
elongation) in the thread-line direction. The fabric system and method
utilizes processing yarns of higher shrinkage than the product reinforcing
yarns. The processing yarns are woven together with the reinforcing yarns
in various patterns and combinations dependent on the desired fabric
characteristics. The fabric is processed thermally or otherwise to impart
crimp into the reinforcing yarns by the differential shrinkage of the
processing yarns. By adjusting the ratio of reinforcing yarns to
processing yarns, a unique set of characteristics in the fabric is
created, specifically a lower modulus, higher initial elongation in the
thread-line direction of the reinforcing yarn.