Moisture Vapor Permeability and Thermal Wear Comfort of Ecofriendly Fiber-Embedded Woven Fabrics for High-Performance Clothing

This study examined the moisture vapor permeability and thermal wear comfort of ecofriendly fiber-embedded woven fabrics in terms of the yarn structure and the constituent fiber characteristics according to two measuring methods. The moisture vapor permeability measured using the upright cup (CaCl2) method (JIS L 1099A-1) was primarily dependent on the hygroscopicity of the ecofriendly constituent fibers in the yarns and partly influenced by the pore size in the fabric because of the yarn structure. On the other hand, the moisture vapor resistance measured using the sweating guarded hot plate method (ISO 11092) was governed mainly by the fabric pore size and partly by the hygroscopicity of the constituent ecofriendly fibers. The difference between the two measuring methods was attributed to the different mechanisms in the measuring method. The thermal conductivity as a measure of the thermal wear comfort of the composite yarn fabrics was governed primarily by the pore size in the fabric and partly by the thermal characteristics of the constituent fibers in the yarns. Lastly, considering market applications, the Coolmax®/Tencel sheath/core fabric appears useful for winter warm feeling clothing because of its the good breathability with low thermal conductivity. The bamboo and Coolmax®/bamboo fabrics are suitable for summer clothing with a cool feel because of their high thermal conductivity with good breathability. Overall, ecofriendly fibers (bamboo and Tencel) are of practical use for marketing environmentallyfriendly high-performance clothing.

Textile-based fiber optic sensors for health monitoring: A systematic and citation network analysis review

Receptivity towards textile-based fiber optic sensors that are used to monitor physical health is increasing as they have good flexibility, are light in weight, provide wear comfort, have electromagnetic immunity, and are electrically safe. Their superior performance has facilitated their use for obtaining close to body measurements. However, there are many related studies in the literature, so it is challenging to identify the knowledge structure and research trends. Therefore, this article aims to provide an objective and systematic literature review on textile-based fiber optic sensors that are used for monitoring health issues and to analyze their trends through a citation network analysis. A full-text search of journal articles was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection, and a total of 625 studies was found, with 47 that were used as the sample. Also, CitNetExplorer was used for analyzing the research domains and trends. Three research domains were identified, among them, “Flexible sensors for vital signs monitoring” is the largest research cluster, and most of the articles in this cluster focus on respiratory monitoring. Therefore, this area of study should probably be on the academic radar. The collection of data on textile-based fiber optic sensors is invaluable for evaluating degree of rehabilitation, detecting diseases, preventing accidents, as well as gauging the performance and training successfulness of athletes.

Proof of Concept for the Detection of Local Pressure Marks in Prosthesis Sockets Using Structural Dynamics Measurement

The wear comfort of a prosthesis is of great importance for amputee patients. The wear comfort can be affected by changes in the interface between the residual limb and prosthesis socket, which can be caused by time-dependent volume fluctuations of the tissue, leading to unwanted local pressure marks. The basis to ensure time-independent wear comfort of a prosthesis is to identify these changes. Common techniques for identifying these variations have a negative impact on the sensitive interface between the residual limb and prosthesis. The following paper contains a proof of concept for the detection of local pressure marks without affecting the described interface using structural dynamics measurements, exemplarily shown at a prosthetic socket for transfemoral amputees in a test bench scenario. The dynamical behaviour of the investigated system is analysed in the form of frequency response functions acquired for different pressure locations and preloads using an impact hammer for excitation and a triaxial acceleration sensor. The frequency response functions show major changes for the various boundary conditions with respect to their frequency-dependent compositions. The results demonstrate how the utilised method enables the identification of changes in local pressure marks regarding the variation of position and magnitude.

Influence of the mechanical stretch property of fabrics on the wear comfort of men’s suit pants

The stretch property of fabrics is one of the most important factors that provide comfort to wearers. It is expected that tension building up in the fabric can be relaxed and the garment pressure on the body can be reduced by appropriately exploiting its stretch property. Currently, the stretch property is predominantly realized using spandex. However, weaving or knitting elastic threads cannot be employed for the worsted fabric used to design men’s suits because of their effects on the mechanical properties of the fabric (e.g., embrittlement), which deteriorate with time. In this study, worsted fabric with a graded mechanical stretch property was produced, and the effect of the mechanical stretch property on comfort was verified. The mechanical stretch property is developed from the tension relaxation and fabric shrinkage along the weft yarn during the crabbing, scouring, and drying stages of the finishing process. Then, the form of the fabric is set by heating. In this study, the worsted fabric had an elongation ratio varying from 5.9% to 16.1% along the weft direction that was produced without using elastic thread. Furthermore, men’s suit pants were made from the fabrics. The effect of the stretch property on the garment comfort was verified through sensory evaluation and garment pressure measurement. The contribution of the mechanical stretch property in improving the garment comfort of men’s suit pants is discussed.

A Review on the Performance and Comfort of Stab Protection Armor

Stab-protective clothing is the most important component of safety equipment and it helps to save the lives of its wearers; therefore, it is designed to resist knife, nail, or needle attacks, especially to the upper body. In this paper, the essential requirements for stab-resistant armor are investigated based on an in-depth review of previous research and prototype test results. The combination of protection and comfort in armor vests is a particularly challenging task. Review of the state of the art technology responsible for the manufacture of stab-resistant clothes has revealed that their design and development should encompass the elements of comfort, freedom of movement, permeability, absorption, evaporation, and weight reductions to ensure excellent ergonomics and high wear comfort. The design as well as the production, weight, thickness, material types and properties, and the arrangement of scales determine the level of protection and comfort offered by stab-resistant vests. Currently, the production of stab-proof gear-based 3D printing technology is evaluated, using lightweight materials (aramid) in the form of segmented scales inspired by nature. As the protection performance and wear comfort of stab-proof gear is enhanced, the willingness of security, control, transport, custom, and correction officers to wear them can be significantly increased in an endeavor to ensure that fatal injuries will decrease significantly.

Pemanfaatan Teknik Pemodelan Digital untuk Meningkatkan Kualitas Bentuk dan Ergonomi pada shoe last Sepatu

ABSTRAKPada produk sepatu, kenyaman pakai merupakan faktor penting yang harus diperhatikan. Oleh karena itu sepatu yang baik akan memperhatikan kualitas bentuk dan ukuran shoe last pada saat pembuatannya. Ketidaksesuaian bentuk dan ukuran sepatu yang pakai pada kaki akan beresiko menyebabkan cedera secara temporer, bahkan untuk penggunaan dalam waktu lama dapat menimbulkan kecacatan pada kaki. Namun di industri kecil/menengah (IKM) alas kaki penentuan bentuk dan ukuran produk shoe last umumnya tidak melalui prosedur verifikasi yang baku. Penggunaan teknologi pemodelan digital pada pembuatan shoe last akan dapat membantu meningkatkan kualitas bentuk dan ukuran yang dihasilkannya. Melalui metode eksperimentasi digital yang didukung dengan data antropometri anatomi kaki responden lokal diharapkan akan menghasilkan sebuah metode baku perancangan shoe last tersebut. Metode perancangan digital untuk produk shoe last ini diharapkan akan bermanfaat bagi para pelaku usaha kecil alas kaki agar kualitas kenyamanan sepatu yang dibuatnya menjadi lebih baik dan berstandar.Kata kunci: Pemodelan digital, shoe last, IKM, kualitas kenyamanan ABSTRACTIn shoe products, wear comfort is an important factor that must be considered. Therefore, good shoes will pay attention to the quality of the shape and size of the last shoe at the time of manufacture. The improper shape and size of the shoes that are used on the feet will risk causing temporary injury, even for prolonged use, it can cause disability in the feet. However, in the small / medium-sized footwear industry (IKM), determining the shape and size of shoe last products generally does not go through a standard verification procedure. The use of digital modeling technology in making shoe lasts will help improve the quality of the shape and size it produces. Through the digital experimentation method that is supported by anthropometric data on the anatomy of the local respondents' feet, it is hoped that it will produce a standard method of designing the shoe last. It is hoped that this digital design method for shoe last products will be useful for small footwear entrepreneurs so that the quality of the comfort of the shoes they make becomes better and standard.Keywords: Digital modeling, shoe last, SMEs, comfort quality

Effects of hip protective clothing on thermal wear comfort of clothing ensembles

Purpose This paper aims to examine the influence of hip protective clothing on ensemble performance attributes related to thermal comfort. It also explores the effect on protective pads of various materials and the arrangements of material. The thermal comfort characteristics are thermal insulation and moisture vapour resistance. Design/methodology/approach For this research, four ensembles of clothing were used: one ensemble without hip protective clothing and three ensembles with hip protective clothing. A thermal manikin was used to test the thermal insulation and moisture vapour resistance of the ensembles. Findings The findings revealed that incorporating hip protective clothing into the clothing ensembles influenced the thermal resistance and moisture vapour resistance of the ensemble. In the “all zones group,” the influence of the hip protective clothing depended on clothing style, with hipster-style clothing producing insignificant changes. In the “hip zones group” and “stomach and hip zones group,” hip protective clothing strongly influenced the thermal comfort attributes of ensembles. Pad material and volume play important roles in these changes in thermal comfort attributes. Originality/value These outcomes are useful for the design and engineering of hip protective clothing, where maximizing protection while minimizing thermal and moisture vapour resistance is critical for wear comfort and adherence in warm or hot conditions. The designer should consider that material, volume and thickness of protective pad affect the overall thermal comfort attributes of the hip protective clothing.