• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.342-353
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate far-infrared clothing (FIR condition) with non-far-infrared clothing (Control condition) to assess the effects of FIR on thermo-physiological responses. Eight young healthy males (23.0±2.3 yr, 176.5±3.7 cm, and 69.0±4.3 kg) participated in this experimental trial, which consisted of a 20 min rest followed by a 40 min walk (4.0 km·hr^-1) and a 20 min recovery at 20℃ with 50%RH. The results showed that finger skin blood flow and mean skin temperature were significantly higher for the FIR condition than the control during exercise and recovery (p<.001). Clothing microclimate temperature of the FIR condition was 0.5℃ higher on the back (p=.001) and 0.4℃ higher on the thigh (p=.015) during recovery. Clothing microclimate relative humidity of the FIR condition was 13% higher on the chest (p=.006) and 19% higher on the back (p<.001) during exercise than control. Subjects felt warmer and more comfortable in the FIR condition than in the control (p<.05). Perceived skin wettedness (%BSA) was less in the FIR condition than in the control (p=.001). These results indicate that ceramic-embedded clothing had significant effects on thermoregulatory responses for light activity in an indoor environment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.577-592
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• 2023

In this study, nanofiber-based textile sensors were developed for motion detection and monitoring. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibers containing zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and silver nanowires (AgNW) were fabricated using electrospinning. PVDF was chosen as a piezoelectric polymer, zinc oxide as a piezoelectric ceramic, and AgNW as a metal to improve electric conductivity. The PVDF/ZnO/AgNW nanocomposite fibers were used to develop a textile sensor, which was then incorporated into an elbow band to develop a wearable smart band. Changes in the output voltage and peak-to-peak voltage (V_p-p) generated by the joint's flexion and extension were investigated using a dummy elbow. The β-phase crystallinity of pure PVDF nanofibers was 58% when analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; however, the β-phase crystallinity increased to 70% in PVDF nanofibers containing ZnO and to 78% in PVDF nanocomposite fibers containing both ZnO and AgNW. The textile sensor's output voltage values varied with joint-bending angle; upon increasing the joint angle from 45° to 90° to 150°, the V_p-p value increased from 0.321 V_p-p to 0.542 V_p-p to 0.660 V_p-p respectively. This suggests that the textile sensor can be used to detect and monitor body movements.