PWO-projectaanvraag.docVIP

COVER: Clothing Comfort Virtual Engineering Alexandra De Raeve1, Peter Van Ransbeeck2, Joris Cools1, Mathias Vermeulen2, Benjamin Van Der Smissen2 Alexandra.deraeve@hogent.be 1 University College Ghent, Faculty of Science and Nature, Department of Fashion, Textile and Wood Technology, V. Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Gent, 2 University College Ghent, Faculty of Science and Nature, Department of Mechatronics, V. Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Gent Abstract Clothing comfort and more specific thermo-regulation is a fundamental and universal need for end users of PPE. Thermo-physiological comfort relates to the ability of the garment to maintain the thermal balance of the human body. There are four main characteristics in clothing that provide thermo-regulation. First is insulation. The garment must have a good insulation value to supplement the air gap on the surface of the skin. The second characteristic is moisture vapour permeability. The retention of water must be as close to zero as possible and there should be a mechanism to ensure that the moisture is moved away from the skin. Third is windproofing and fourth is waterproofing. These requirements are competing with one another and the design of a garment which can be worn in adverse weather and activity conditions is therefore a matter of compromise. Certainly the fabric will greatly influence the wear comfort of clothing, but garment construction parameters such as design, fit, sizing and assembly technique will contribute for over 50 % to the feeling of comfort experienced by the wearer. Current test methods to assess thermo-physiological comfort of textile materials are: heat and moisture transport of fabrics, (e.g. sweating hot plate), air permeability, penetration resistance, liquid repellency. Limitations of the above mentioned methods are the translation to protective garments and to human physiological properties. Improved methods for assessing thermo-physiological comfort of protective garments are: heat and