Effect of Mutual Bonding of Textile Layers on Thermal Insulation and Thermal Contact Properties of Fabric Assemblies

Abstract

This paper deals with thermal insulation and thermal contact properties of woven fabric assemblies used to produce men's jackets. An important part of the paper is the description of the new computer-controlled instrument, the Alambeta, to measure insulation and thermal contact properties of fabrics. The heat flow passing between the textile sample and measuring head during thermal contact is measured directly by a special thin sensor, whose thermal inertia is similar to that of human skin. Thus, the instrument's warm-cool feeling sensitivity aproximates human skin. Spotbonding the outer fabric interlining and lining together reduces the total thermal resistance of the assembly and simultaneously increases (makes cooler) thermal absorptivity, a new parameter used to describe the warm-cool feeling of fabric. The meaning of this pa rameter, which mainly reflects the surface properties of the fabrics and whose level does not depend on experimental conditions, is explained in detail. The effect of temperature drop on the thermal properties of the fabric assemblies is also investigated. The increased resulting thermal conductivity with the average temperature of the assembly is a consequence of the increased portion of the heat transferred through the system by radiation.