A Comprehensive Thermophysiological Comfort Analysis of Breathable Membrane Laminated Fabrics

Abstract

In this study, the comfort properties of water-proof but breathable (water vapour permeable) textile fabrics having the composite structure containing a membrane layer or a coating layer are examined. In the present study, parameters such as ambient conditions, the air gap between body and garment, thickness of materials used in the production of garments and composite structure affecting the comfort properties of the structures mentioned above were examined. After the selection and obtaining the samples; water vapour permeability, air permeability, waterproofness tests were respectively applied and the results were interpreted in a way that producers and related scientists could benefit. The most important results achieved here are that the water vapour permeability decreases as the thickness of the membrane/coating in which the fabrics are coated/laminated increases, the air gap between the body and the garment reduces the water vapour permeability greatly, the membrane character (microporous / non-porous) has different effects on the water vapour permeability in different ambient conditions. These results sound promising for future studies.

Keywords

• Comfort
• Breathable fabrics
• Membranes
• Thermophysiology
• Sem analysis

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