Abstract
Purpose: This study is aimed at developing of the flex resistance testing process at low temperature with the waterproof fabric to suit the military environment, and is designed to fit for the purpose of the waterproof materials in order to optimize the test method by finding out matters to improve from existing the test method and through previous studies. Methods: The test method, which has been applied to flex resistance of existing water-repellent materials, was improved and consequently, differentiated test results could be obtained according to the test temperature, sample size, and flexing method. Results: The testing of the total of 8 samples revealed that performance of the military requirement could hardly be met just by presenting the materials or 2~3 layers when the quality criteria for high functional water repellent fabrics were applied. PTFE(Polytetrafluoroethylene) is preferred to PU(Polyurethane) to be used in the extremely low-temperature environment, but durability under the low-temperature environment may be varied depending on film thickness or laminating technique even if the materials of waterproof films are identical. Therefore, in addition to the material or texture, the test method capable of reflecting durability under the low-temperature environment shall be suggested, and the newly designed test method proposed in this study was shown to suggest differentiated quality criteria by the material. Conclusion: The water resistance measurement and the test method following flex resistance with expanded range of flex will enable the differentiable test of the samples according to the number of repetition. This study is meaningful in that it suggests a differentiable test method capable of establishing a basis of deciding suitable material when selecting military goods made of water repellent material by properly improving the test method.