Abstract
Experimental design method and principal component analyses were used to determine the most relevant parameters for the mechanical properties and the appearance of wet-spliced cotton/ elastane yarns. The results proved that a high-quality splice could be obtained in optimal conditions. Yarn linear density influenced both the mechanical properties and the splice appearance. The splice strength was improved when joining air duration was increased. In contrast with the classical yarns, the increase in the length of the yarn tails had no effect on the splice strength. Moreover, increasing the joining water duration and the yarn tail length, respectively improved the splice appearance.