• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.123-128
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• 2006

For the purpose of examining the relationship of physiological and subjective responses to different exercise intensities and varied types of sportswear material, under environmental condition $20{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ $50{\pm}3%$RH, five men who wear four different kinds of sportswear which have same clothing cover area. The subjects exercised for 20 min with a 20 min pre-exercise rest period and another 20 min post-exercise recovery period. Throughout the 60 min. duration, we monitored the local skin temperature, rectal temperature, clothing microclimate and subjective sensation. The mean skin temperature was recorded to range from $33.5{\sim}34.1^{\circ}C$ for the entire duration of the experiment with the highest temperature observed at the 7th min after starting the exercise. During the exercise intensity at THR 20, the lowest recorded temperature was at the 5th min of the recovery time and stabilized at the 10th min. However, in the exercise intensity condition at THR 70, the temperature declined steadily until the end of the experiment. With regard to clothing materials, cotton 100% and Polyester/Cotton blended fabrics knit(35/65) was $0.5{\sim}0.7^{\circ}C$ maintained lower than Polyester 100% and polyester/Cotton blended woven fabrics (65/35). In the case of the rectal temperature at THR 70 in case of PET 100%, Polyester/Cotton blended woven fabrics (35/65) was higher $0.2{\sim}0.5^{\circ}C$ than other sportswear throughout the duration of the experiment.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.606-617
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• 2019

The present study newly developed a firefighters' protective jacket and pants using a Nomex honeycomb structured layer (HPC) in cases of being exposed to flashover or flameover. This study evaluated the protective and comfort functions of an HPC compared to the current KFI firefighters' protective clothing (FPC). The results are as follows. First, thermal protective performance (TPP) of fabric layers was 2.75 times greater for HPC than FPC at $125kW/m^2$. Second, the predicted second and third degree burn areas were smaller for HPC than FPC when using a flame manikin. Third, thermal insulation using a thermal manikin was 0.2 clo greater for HPC than FPC. Fourth, there were no marked differences in maximal performance, mobility, and microclimate temperature/humidity between FPC and HPC through human wear trials. The thermal insulation of HPC was higher than that of FPC; however, any negative effect of HPC thermal insulation on the comfort functions for firefighters was not found. In conclusion, the newly-developed HPC provided more protection in reducing burn injuries from $125kW/m^2$, while no negative impact on maximal performance, mobility and thermal comfort functions of firefighters, which is appropriate for quick-evasive tactics at the flashover, flameover or back draft fires.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.29 no.8 s.145
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• pp.1176-1187
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of cooling vests developed for farm workers harvesting red pepper in summer. The study was performed using the following two steps: 1) Climatic chamber test, 2) Field test. For the chamber test, a work environment was simulated as $33^{\circ}C$ and $65\%$RH, and the thermo-physiological and subjective responses were measured with and without cooling vests. Twelve young males participated as subjects. For the field test, three farmers participated while harvesting red pepper on the form, in summer. The measurements used were same as in the chamber test. Subjects were tested without any cooling vests, as a control. They were tested wearing vests with 2 frozen gel packs (CV2: Cooling area, $308cm^2$), and vests with 4 frozen gel packs (CV4: Sooting area, $616cm^2$). As a result of the chamber test, rectal temperature($T_{re}$) and mean skin temperature( $T_{sk}$) were lower in both CVs than in Control, and this tendency was statistically significant in CV4 (p<.05). Clothing microclimate temperature ($T_{clo}$) and total sweat rate (TSR) were significantly lower when wearing cooling vests (p<.05) Heart rate (HR) was also lower in wearing cooling vests than in Control, and the speed of recovery to the comfort level was faster when the subjects wore cooling vests. In addition, subjects felt 'less hot, less humid, and less uncomfortable' in both CVs than in Control. Field tests showed a similar tendency with the chamber tests. In particular, wearing the cooling vest was effective in restraining the raise of $T_{clo}$ on the back. It can be concluded that the cooling vest was effective in alleviating heat strain and discomfort in both the chamber test and the field test, despite the cooling area of the cooling vest being just $3.4\%$ of the body surface area ($616cm^2$).

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of two kinds of underwear material on subjects exercising and resting in an ambient temperature of $20^{\circ}C$, a relative humidity of 60% and an air velocity of 0.13m $see^{-1}$. Two kinds of underwear ensemble were tested, differing in their hygroscopic properties: 100% wool (W) with higher moisture regain and 100% cotton (C) with lower moisture regain. Five young females served as subjects. The experiments comprised two repeated periods of 15 min exercise on a treadmill with a speed of 6km $h^{-1}$ followed by 10 min rest. The main results were as follows: 1) Mean skin temperature was significantly higher in W than in C throughout the whole experimental period (p<0.05). 2) The temperature and humidity of the microclimate between the skin and underwear provided by the first layer of clothing was higher in W than in C (p<0.1 and p<0.05, for temperature and humidity, respectively). 3) Heart rate was significantly higher in W than in C (p<0.05). 4) Subjects felt warmer during the second exercise session when wearing wool rather than cotton (p<0.05), and they also reported more increased wetness during the second exercise and rest periods in W than in C (p<0.05). These results suggest that underwear made of wool with higher moisture regain might not act as effectively as cotton to transfer exercise-induced heat from the body to the surrounding air when light exercise is taken in a thermally-neutral environment.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.549-556
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• 2014

This study evaluates the thermal insulation and evaporative resistance of a waterproof and breathable garment system and determines the factors influencing its thermal performance. The experimental garments were composed of underwear (shirts with 100% wool and 100% polyester) and outerwear (jackets and pants with a vapor-permeable membrane and a vapor-impermeable membrane). Data on clothing insulation in a dry condition ($10^{\circ}C$) and a wet condition ($10^{\circ}C$, 40% R.H.), evaporative resistance ($34^{\circ}C$, 40% R.H., and $10^{\circ}C$, 40% R.H.), and microclimate vapor pressure were collected and analyzed. According to the results, the thermal insulation of the experimental garment system ranged 1.27~1.40 in the dry condition and 0.40~0.89 in the wet condition at $10^{\circ}C$. Evaporative resistance ranged $41{\sim}525m^2Pa/W$. A decrease in thermal insulation by wetting underwear ranged 31~67% in the cold condition ($10^{\circ}C$). The breathability of the outer garment influenced the decrease in thermal insulation by wetting. The type of underwear fiber influenced the decrease in thermal insulation only when it was used with breathable outerwear. The vapor-permeable outerwear sample with polyester underwear (P_Perm) showed a larger decrease in insulation than that with wool (W_Perm). The evaporative resistance of the vapor-permeable ensemble showed no effect of underwear in the warm condition ($34^{\circ}C$), but polyester underwear showed lower evaporative resistance than wool in the cold condition ($10^{\circ}C$). The vapor-impermeable ensemble showed no difference in evaporative resistance between polyester underwear and wool underwear in both conditions. Future research should consider various clothing ensemble combinations and environmental conditions and evaluate wear comfort by using human subjects.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.193-205
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• 2002

To evaluate farmers' workload during harvesting grapes in summer, this study investigated farmers' physiological, psychological responses, work postures and thermal environment around in the field. This field study was conducted in the Anseong County of Kyonggi Province at the end of August. Five career farmers (1 male, 4 females) volunteered as subjects. Three of them were over their sixties. During harvesting grapes in the field, physiological responses were monitored continuously. 1. Air temperature (T/sub a/), air humidity(H/sub a/), black globe temperature(T/sub g/), air velocity and WBGT around the grape field were 26.9℃, 77.7%RH, 32.8℃, 0.08㎧ and 26.3℃, respectively. Because farmers started the harvesting task in early morning, thermal environments weren't conditions to give farmers severe heat strain. 2. The percentage of the work postures was larger in order of standing, walking, and bending one's back posture. Particularly, the percentage of standing posture with raising both arms above shoulder of two farmers was up to 29% and 61% of the total work duration. 3. Rectal temperature (T/sub re/), mean skin temperature (T/sub sk/), clothing microclimate temperature (T/sub cl/) on the chest and the back, heart rate (HR) and energy expenditure (EE) were 37.2℃, 33.1℃, 32.0℃, 32.4℃, 88bpm and 1.3 Kca1/㎡/min respectively. In the point of these physiological results, we evaluated that the harvesting task was a moderate work. 4. All farmers expressed‘hard, hot, humid and slightly uncomfortable’ at the end of works for each subjective questionnaire. The grape harvesting tasks were not evaluated as a very hard work in the point of physiological work standards. But we considered 1) inappropriate work posture (standing posture with raising both arms above shoulder) and 2) farmers' age as burden factors. These findings suggest that adding adequate protective clothing/equipments for farmers may contribute to maintain their body temperature within the normal range, stabilize HR and decrease psychological strain.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.520-533
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• 2023

The present study developed a test protocol for evaluating the mobility of firefighting chemical and flame personal protective equipment (PPE) for the National 119 Rescue Headquarters in Korea and suggested ergonomic design factors to improve their mobility and performance. Six types of PPE were employed, including three types for flame protective PPE (5 ~ 6 kg excluding the self-contained breathing apparatus), and three types for chemical and flame protective PPE (8 ~ 11 kg). These PPEs are used by the 119 Rescue firefighters. Three male firefighters (34.3 ± 1.2 y in age, 175 ± 8 cm in height, 81 ± 13 kg in body weight) participated in the mobility test and interview. A mobility test protocol consisting of 16 components (nine postures and seven motions including a dexterity test) along with a visibility test were developed based on pre-interviews and literature reviews. The findings indicated that the clothing microclimate humidity on the neck and chest exceeded 85%RH on average for all the six PPE conditions, with the chest area reaching as high as 98%RH. This high humidity caused fogging inside the visor and impaired visibility. The requirements for improving the PPE design in terms of mobility varied depending on whether it was the separated types or all-in-one types, particularly regarding the hood and gloves design. The findings of this study can be applied to improve the design of Level A_PPE for firefighters. The mobility test protocol and visibility test developed in this study can also be applied to other types of Level A impermeable PPE.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.37 no.12 s.142
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• pp.193-203
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• 1999

This study was executed to show influence of material and property of sportswear to physiological responses of body and comfort sensation and to supply basic research data about comfortable sportswear Trainning wear was manufactured with cotton(C) and hygroscopically treated polyester material (FP), and its properties of material were measured. Then rectal temperature, skin temperature, heart rate, weight loss, clothing microclimate and subjective sensation was estimated with study of wearing with these sportswear and examined the influence that it got to physiological responses of body and sensation. Health adult men were selected for subjects and executed at climatic chamber of temperature, $20\pm2^{\circ}C and humidity, $60\pm5%$ R.H. Conclusively sportswear of hygroscopically treated polyester is a favorable functional material. So far factor that affect to physiological comfort sensation has been explained mostly by moisture regain but in our experiment, it turned out that air permeability, water absorption velocity and dynamic oater absorption etc. were affecting factors. So according to this result, air permeability and moisture permeability should be considered with transmittance of temperature moisture for development of comfort material.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.285-295
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• 2015

To identify optimized thermal properties of mold brassiere cup for improved thermal comfort during summer, we compared the thermal resistance and the water vapor permeability of Polyurethane (PU) foam, 3D spacer fabric and the two combined materials of the PU foam and the 3D spacer fabric. Four experimental mold brassieres were made of the materials for wearing test. Six women in their twenties evaluated the wearing sensation in the hot and humid environment. The changes in microclimate temperature and humidity while wearing test brassiere cups were measured. Results indicate that thermal resistance increased as more PU foam were combined, while the water vapor permeability was higher as the content of the 3D spacer fabric increased at thickness of 18mm and over. However, in the wear test, the PU foam brassiere was the most preferred in all ambient conditions due to its soft, flexible and smooth texture, despite its high thermal resistance and low water vapor permeability. This indicates that the textures of mold foams are more dominant properties than thermal properties for mold foams in determining the wear comfort of mold brassieres.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1700-1709
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between thermo-physiological factors and the insensible loss of body weight(IL) of resting women wearing seasonal comfortable clothing. Air temperature was maintained at a mean of 22.5, 24.7, and 16.8 for spring/fall, summer and winter, respectively. We selected a total of 26 clothing ensembles(8 ensembles for spring/fall, 7 ensembles for summer, and 11 ensembles for winter). The results showed that 1) IL was $19{\pm}5g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}hr$ for spring/fall environment, $21{\pm}5g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}hr$ for summer, $18{\pm}6{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}hr$ for winter(p<.001). 2) Insensible water loss through respiratory passage(IWR) showed the reverse tendency to IL. IWR was $6{\pm}1g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}hr$ for winter and $5{\pm}1g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}hr$ for summer. This difference was significant(p<.001). 3) The proportion of IWR out of whole insensible water loss(IW), had a mean of the mean 28% for summer and 38% for winter(p<.001). 4) In comfort, the heat loss by IW out of heat production had a mean of 25% for spring/fall, 27% for summer, and 23% for winter. 5) There was a weak negative correlation between It and clothing insulation/body surface area covered by clothing. 6) There were significant correlations between IL and air temperature$(T_a)$, air humidity$(H_a)$, energy metabolism, ventilation, mean skin temperature $\={T}_{sk})$ and clothing microclimate humidity$(H_{clo})$. However, the coefficients were less than 0.5. In conclusion, there were weak relationships between the IL and thermo-physiological factors. However, when subjects rested in thermal comfort, the IL was maintained in a narrow range even though the clothing insulation and air temperature were diverse.