Thermo-Physiological Comfort Properties of Sportswear with Different Combination of Inner and Outer Layers

Abstract

Consumers expect high-performance functionality from sportswear. To meet athletic and leisure-time activity requirements, further research needs to be carried out. Sportswear layers and their specific thermal qualities, as well as the set and air layer between materials, are all important factors in sports clothing. This research aims to examine the thermal properties of sports fabrics, and how they are affected by structure parameters and maintained with different layers. Three inner and four outer layers of fabric were used to make 12 sets of sportswear in this study. Before the combination of outer and inner layers, thermal properties were measured for each individual layer. Finally, the thermal resistance, thermal conductivity, thermal absorptivity, peak heat flow density ratio, stationary heat flow density, and water vapor permeability of bi-layered sportswear were evaluated and analyzed. The findings show that sportswear made from a 60% cotton/30% polyester/10% elastane inner layer and a 100% polyester outer layer had the maximum thermal resistance of 61.16 (×10³ K·m² W^-1). This performance was followed by the sample made from a 90% polyester/10% elastane inner layer and a 100% polyester outer layer, and the sample composed of a 100% elastane inner layer and a 100% polyester outer layer, which achieved a thermal resistance value of 60.41 and 59.41 (×10³ K·m² W^-1), respectively. These results can be explained by the fact that thicker textiles have a higher thermal resistance. This high-thermal-resistance sportswear fabric is appropriate for the winter season. Sportswear with a 90% polyester/10% elastane inner layer had worse water vapor resistance than sportswear with a 60% cotton/30% polyester/10% elastane and a 100% elastane layer. Therefore, these sports clothes have a higher breathability and can provide the wearers with very good comfort. According to the findings, water vapor permeability of bi-layered sportswear is influenced by geometric characteristics and material properties.

Keywords: bi-layered sportswear; peak heat flow density ratio; sportswear; stationary heat flow density; thermal absorptivity; thermal conductivity; thermal resistance; water vapor permeability.

Figure 1

Bi-layer fabric construction.

Figure 2

Thermal resistance of sportswear. The thermal resistance is a measurement of a material’s ability to resist heat flow. Samples S8, S4, and S12 recorded the highest thermal resistance values, respectively, while S2 documented the lowest thermal resistance.

Figure 3

Thermal conductivity of sportswear. Thermal conductivity is the capability of a material (bi-layer sportswear in this study) to conduct heat, and it represents the quantity of thermal energy that flows per unit time through a unit area. Sample S5 recorded the highest while S10 recorded the lowest result.

Figure 4

Thermal absorptivity of sportswear. Thermal absorptivity is the quantity of heat penetrating a sportswear fabric during the time period when the temperature is raised rapidly. This measure indicates the warm–cool feelings of the sportswear.

Figure 5

Ratio of maximum and stationary heat flow q_max/q_s.

Figure 6

Stationary heat flow density. Sample S3 had a higher value of stationary heat flow density, indicating that when the percentage of polyester increases, the stationary heat flow density increases proportionally. This indicates that hydrophobicity affects heat flow.

Figure 7

Water vapor resistance of sportswear. Sportswear fabric made from polyamide and polyester fabric prevents the passage of water more than the one made from cotton fabrics (see S7, S9, and S11).