A vertical sweating skin model is developed and changes in vapor pressure within a clothing system are measured to investigate the effects of fiber type, air layer thickness, and garment openings on the microclimate. Cotton broadcloth, polyester broadcloth and cotton canvas are considered. Openings of a garment, such as neck, armhole and waist, are simulated, and the total openness is controlled at 0, 10, 20, 40, and 60%. To evaluate changes in the microclimate of the clothing system, a buffering index Kd and the efficiency of openness are determined. Results show that the buffering index of polyester is higher than that of cotton. As the thickness of the air layer increases, the buffering index increases but an unnecessarily large air gap does not increase the buffering capacity efficiently. As the openness increases, the effect of fabrics on the microclimate decreases gradually, losing its effect at 60% and approached the value of nude skin.
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