title: A dynamic tester to evaluate the thermal and moisture behaviour of the surface of textiles.
abstract: The thermal and moisture behaviour of the microclimate of textiles is crucial in determining the physiological comfort of apparel, but it has not been investigated sufficiently due to the lack of particular evaluation techniques. Based on sensing, temperature controlling and wireless communicating technology, a specially designed tester has been developed in this study to evaluate the thermal and moisture behaviour of the surface of textiles in moving status. A temperature acquisition system and a temperature controllable hotplate have been established to test temperature and simulate the heat of human body, respectively. Relative humidity of the surface of fabric in the dynamic process has been successfully tested through sensing. Meanwhile, wireless communication technology was applied to transport the acquired data of temperature and humidity to computer for further processing. Continuous power supply was achieved by intensive contact between an elastic copper plate and copper ring on the rotating shaft. This tester provides the platform to evaluate the thermal and moisture behaviour of textiles. It enables users to conduct a dynamic analysis on the temperature and humidity together with the thermal and moisture transport behaviour of the surface of fabric in moving condition. Development of this tester opens the door of investigation on the micro-climate of textiles in real time service, and eventually benefits the understanding of the sensation comfort and wellbeing of apparel wearers.
authors.affiliation: College of Textile, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China; School of Textile Science and Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, China.
authors.forename: Wenbin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Textile Science and Engineering, Wuhan Textile University, Wuhan 430200, China.
authors.forename: Weilin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba 4350, Australia.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University, Melbourne 3056, Australia. Electronic address: xin.wang@rmit.edu.au.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D006813:Humidity; D008834:Microclimate; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D013784:Textiles; D013817:Thermography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Dynamic tester; Microclimate; Moisture; Thermal