• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.928-939
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• 2012

This study evaluates wear comforts of water-vapor-permeable (WVP) garments through a measurement of various parameters such as skin and rectal temperatures, microclimate between skin and clothing, sweat rate, and subjective sensations (thermal, wet and comfort sensations) to correlate the physiological responses of the human body with its comfort feeling. Wear comfort during a specific exercise on a treadmill in a climatic chamber (temperature T = $20{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity H = $50{\pm}10%$) were studied using eight men wearing seven sportswear outfits (a long sleeve shirts and a long pants) made with seven different WVP fabrics. A comfort sensation was found to be highly correlated with skin T (p<.001), microclimate (T and H) between skin and clothing (p<.001) and sweat rate (p<.05). A regression model correlating comfort sensations and physiological responses obtained from wearer trials could be established: Y = 14.167 - 0.362 ${\times}$ X1 + 0.424 ${\times}$ X2 - 0.238 ${\times}$ X3 - 0.561 ${\times}$ X4 + 0.253 ${\times}$ X5 + 0.214 ${\times}$ X6 - 0.393 ${\times}$ X7 + 0.023 ${\times}$ X8 - 0.043 ${\times}$ X9. (Y = comfort sensation, X1 = forehead skin T, X2 = forearm skin T, X3 = hand skin T, X4 = thigh skin T, X5 = T of chest microclimate, X6 = T of thigh microclimate, X7 = chest sweat rate, X8 = H of back microclimate, X9 = H of thigh microclimate. The regression model obtained in this work can be used by manufacturers to objectively estimate the comfort sensation of sportswear before it is introduced to the consumer market. This study provides salient information to sportswear manufacturers and sportswear consumers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.1095-1106
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• 2013

This study evaluated the wear comfort properties of water-vapor-permeable (WVP) garments using a movable sweating thermal manikin. Manikin tests were performed in a climatic chamber (temperature T=20, $35{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity $H=50{\pm}10%$) using seven sportswear outfits (a long sleeve shirts and a long pants) made with seven different WVP fabrics. Physiological responses of wear trials could be correlated with measurement parameters of the thermal manikin experiment; subsequently, a regression model that represented a final comfort sensation could be obtained. The regression model developed in this work is based on thermal manikin measurements; consequently, it provides an independent comfort sensation level in a relatively short time at a low cost while maintaining the reproducibility of results. It translates into more actual choices for sportswear manufacturers and sportswear consumers.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.153-158
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• 2002

A series of waterborne polyurethanes (WBPU) were prepared from 4,4-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate ($H_{12}$MDI),2,2-bis(hydroxylmethyl) propionic acid (DMPA), othylenediarnine (EDA), triethylamine (TEA), and triblock glycol [TBG, ($\varepsilon$-caprolactone)$_{4.5}$-poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol (MW= 2000)-($\varepsilon$-caprolactone)$_{4.5}$: $(CL)_{4.5}$-PTMG-$(CL)_{4.5}$, MW=3000] as a soft segment. Two melting peaks of TBG at about 14$^{\circ}C$ and 38$^{\circ}C$ were observed indicating the presence of two different crystalline domains composed of CL and PTMG dominant component. The effect of soft segment content (60-75 wt%) on the colloidal properties of dispersion, and thermal and mechanical properties of WBPU films, the water vapor permeability (WVP) and water resistance (WR) of WBPU-coated Nylon fabrics, and the adhesive strength of WBPU- coated layer and Nylon fabrics was investigated. As soft segment contents increased, the water vapor permeability of WBPU- coated Nylon fabrics increased from 3615 to 4502 g/$m^2$day, however, the water resistances decreased from 1300 to 500 mm$H_2$O.O.