Effect of physical and sorption properties of the fabric on the amount of the absorbed sweat in the garment

Abstract

The paper explores the impact of physical and sorption properties of fabric on the amount of the absorbed sweat in clothing. For research five fabrics of different raw materials, but of nearly identical structural characteristics (linen, cotton, polyester fabrics as well as fabrics made of linen/polyester and cotton/polyester blends) were used to make women‘s summer clothing. The research includes two parts. In the first part tests of certain properties of the fabric significant for the thermo physiological prediction of comfort and sweat absorption - were carried out. In the second part the mentioned fabrics were used to make two models of women‘s summer clothing followed by testing wear comfort. For this purpose, measurements of physiological parameters of persons wearing some models (amount of excreted sweat) and sorption characteristics of clothing (amount of absorbed sweat) were carried out. All tests were performed with a constant temperature of 35 °C and relative humidity of 40 %, and at three different air velocities v, = 0.2, 0.5 and 1.2 m s4. The purpose of this study was to determine the appropriate relationship between the examined characteristics of fabrics, such as mass per unit area, air permeability, water retention capacity and amount of sweat absorbed in clothing obtained by experiments in artificially air-conditioning conditions in the climatic chamber.