• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.1050-1057
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• 2012

This study helps develop a cool body armor that maintains a tight-fit configuration to the body surface and evaluates the performance of newly developed body armor in a wear test. Three types of body armor were used for evaluation. One was a tight fitting body armor that was constructed to improve the degree of fit and ease of movement for Korean soldier using 3D technology. Another was ventilating body armor with attached spacers on the shoulder to reduce the thermal stress on the soldier. The third was a prevailing body armor produced by a Korean body armor company. In order to evaluate the performance of the body armor, a human wear test, a thermal mannequin test, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) were executed. Five subjects participated in the wear test. Subjective wear sensation, total amount of sweat and dynamic change of clothing microclimate were observed during and after exercise on a treadmill; subsequently, it was found that subjects rated tight fitting body armor and ventilating body armor lighter, drier, and easier to move than the conventional body armor (p<.05). Total amount of sweat was the least in the case of ventilating body armor. The thermal resistance and vapor resistance of the ventilating body armor were improved remarkably. In addition, the skin temperature of the ventilating body armor with spacers was lower than the tight fitting body armor by at least $1^{\circ}C$ in the CFD result. It is noted that thermal-wet comfort of the 3D body armor with ventilating feature is superior to the conventional body armor, especially when the ventilating channel is not closed due to a backpack.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.517-528
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• 2015

This study investigates actual wearing conditions and satisfaction based on qualitative research for rifle shooting clothing. The survey was conducted in two ways: in-depth interviews of 4 rifle shooting experts and subjective questionnaires for 18 active rifle shooters. They agreed on the importance of rifle shooting wear to minimize body sway and contribute to a balanced body posture. Most rifle shooters purchase made-to-measure rifle shooting clothing at a domestic store, but the clothing often needs extra adjustments due to an uncomfortable fit. Current fabric for rifle shooting clothing consists of a cotton canvas with a polyester mix; however, rifle shooters are unsatisfied with its stiffness in hot and wet conditions. Due to the specific fabric features, rifle shooting clothing should not be washed despite year-round use that represents another point of dissatisfaction. Rifle shooters always wear specially designed underclothes to improve shooting skills and comfort sensation. In conclusion, it is necessary to develop well fitted and comfort rifle shooting clothing that could improve shooters skills based upon this study.

• Fibers and Polymers
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.343-347
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the appropriate amounts of phase change materials to give objective and subjective wear sensations. Vapor-permeable water-repellent fabrics with (WR-PCM) and without (WR) octadecane containing microcapsules were obtained by wet-porous coating process. Then, calculating the area of the WR-PCM treated clothes, we estimated the total calories of the clothing by multiplying the heat of fusion and heat of crystallization of PCM to the calculated area. Wear tests were conducted in both warm environment $(30^{\circ}C,\;65\%\;RH)$ and cold environment $(5^{\circ}C,\;65\%\;RH)$ with sports warm up style experimental garments made with WR and WR-PCM fabrics. Rectal, skin, and clothing microclimate temperatures, saliva and subjective evaluation measurements were done during the wear test. There was no difference of rectal and mean skin temperatures between WR and WR-PCM, but the clothing microclimate temperature of WR-PCM under warm environment was slightly lower than that of WR. In cold environment, WR-PCM showed much higher temperature than in WR. Saliva change did not appear between clothes, but did between two environments. Although subjective sensation between WR and WR-PCM was not significantly different, WR-PCM was rated as cooler than WR in warm environment and as warmer than WR in cold environment. The results of this study indicated that octadecane containing microcapsules in water-repellent fabric provide cooling effect.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.190-204
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• 2010

Understanding awareness and wearing behavior of functional textiles for silver generation is expected to contribute to clothing products development to improve and maintain their health and marketing strategy fit for user characteristics. For empirical research, a survey was developed and the aged 50 and above were 332 respondents. The results of the study are as follows. First, the level of awareness for both comfort-oriented and health/safetyoriented functional fabrics in high health-conscious group was much higher than that in low health-conscious group. In number of wearing times, health body and high-conscious group wear comfort-oriented fabrics more frequently, while weak body group wear health/safety-oriented fabrics more often. The health-consciousness significantly influenced the possession of active sportswear with various functions. Second, the awareness of functional fabrics in exercise activities groups was much higher than that in exercise-conscious groups. High exercise activities group know more about the wet sensation-related fabrics and clothing materials for outdoor activities. Low exercise-conscious group put on health/comfort-oriented fabrics for casuals more frequent than functional fabrics for sportswear. High exercise activities group preferred to wear sportswear suitable for outdoor activities. The aged people have a lot of health/comfort-oriented functional casual wear appropriate for indoor activities regardless of exercise-consciousness. However, the more they enjoy exercise activities the more they are interested in functional sportswear. Even though they were unconcerned with exercise, older people are interested in functional casual clothes. As a conclusion, the high interest in health and exuberant activities in silver generation arose the necessity of new multi-functional clothing products.