Moisture Vapor Resistance of Coated and Laminated Breathable Fabrics Using Evaporative Wet Heat Transfer Method

Hyun-Ah Kim

doi:10.3390/coatings11101157

Abstract

This study examined the effects of the fiber materials, fabric structural parameters, and surface modification method on the moisture vapor resistance of coated and laminated fabrics according to the measuring method in comparison with evaporative wet heat transfer method. The moisture vapor resistance (Ref) of the coated and laminated fabrics measured using evaporative wet heat transfer method was much more precise than water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and water vapor permeability (WVP) measured using American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) methods. The correlation coefficient between Ref and WVTR in the laminated and coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric specimens was the highest, i.e., −0.833, and −0.715, in coated fabric specimens. Hence, selecting an appropriate measuring method according to the fabric materials and surface modification method is very critical. According to curvilinear regression analysis, the influential factor affecting breathability of the PET fabric specimens measured using evaporative wet heat transfer method was fabric weight (R2 = 0.847) and fabric thickness (R2 = 0.872) in the laminated fabric specimens. Meanwhile, as per multiple linear regression, the most influential fabric structural parameters affecting the breathability of laminated fabric specimens measured using evaporative wet heat transfer method were the fabric density, weight/thickness, and weight followed by the fabric thickness (R2 = 0.943). These results would be valid for laminated breathable fabrics with characteristics within the range of this study and are of practical use for engineering laminated fabrics with high breathability.

Highlights

IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
Gorjanc et al [5] reported that the correlation coefficient between the water cup method [27] and Permetest method [28] for eight types of cotton fabrics was >0.9, which was in contrast to the present findings and other studies. These results suggest that the measured breathability of the coated and laminated woven fabrics differs according to the measuring method, fabric materials, and surface modification method of fabrics, resulting in different correlation coefficients between the measuring methods according to the fabric materials and surface modification method
Selecting an appropriate measuring method according to the fabric materials and surface modification method is very important

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Clothing plays a very important role in maintaining the equilibrium of heat and moisture transfer for the wearer [1]. The water vapor permeability (WVP) while wearing clothing is a critical property for wear comfort. A high WVP allows the human body to cool down due to perspiration and evaporation. Minimizing sweat build-up in clothing is important in cold environments [2]. Many workers exposed to different atmospheric environments due to the nature of their work are critically influenced by the wear comfort of their work wear.

Methods

Results

Conclusion