Parameters related to clothing comfort-A new approach for measuring moisture transport through fabrics

Abstract

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:="" calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;="" mso-bidi-font-family:"times="" new="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">A new experimental set-up to measure water vapour transmission through fabrics under ambient temperature has been designed and fabricated. The moisture transfer through fabrics has been characterized in terms of the time required to reach a certain RH in a dry chamber on passing moisture. The results of the new test method are compared with that of the standard control dish method. Fabrics having widely different constructions and fibre types were analyzed. In cotton fabrics, the moisture transfer time strongly depended on fabric thickness and fabric weight whereas in polyester fabrics, the cover factor seemed more important. It is observed that if the combined influence of fabric parameters on moisture transfer time can be kept constant, moisture transfer would be adversely affected by the polyester content in blended fabrics.</span>