Journal Published Online: 21 March 2024
Volume 52, Issue 4

Thermal Effusivity Assessment of Sportswear Fabrics in the Dry State: Stacked and Air-Hoop Methods

CODEN: JTEVAB

Abstract

In recent years, thermal effusivity, a property that describes the warm or cool touch perception, has gained significant attention in the apparel industry as it contributes to human thermophysiological comfort. The current study aims to explore the thermal effusivity of 27 sportswear fabrics, including woven and knitted structures with various fiber contents, using the stacked method (according to ASTM D7984-21, Standard Test Method for Measurement of Thermal Effusivity of Fabrics Using a Modified Transient Plane Source (MTPS) Instrument) and a modified air-hoop method. The results obtained revealed that the pressure range specified in ASTM D7984-21 (10–50 kPa) may cause fabric compression, resulting in the measurement of a material-based thermal effusivity rather than the fabric thermal effusivity. A pressure of 1 kPa was found to be more appropriate for obtaining accurate measurements of sportswear fabrics without altering their three-dimensional structure. Furthermore, a strong correlation was observed between the stacked and air-hoop methods for fabrics with thicknesses close to or greater than 0.4 mm. The air-hoop method simulates the configuration when the fabric is worn as part of a garment. The new knowledge provided by this research will enhance the accuracy of the thermal effusivity measurement of sportswear fabrics. It will contribute to the development of more comfortable fabrics considering realistic garment use scenarios.

Author Information

Islam, Md. Rashedul
Department of Human Ecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Gholamreza, Farzan
School of Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Golovin, Kevin
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Dolez, Patricia I.
Department of Human Ecology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Pages: 15
Price: $25.00
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Details
Stock #: JTE20230614
ISSN: 0090-3973
DOI: 10.1520/JTE20230614