Evaluation of fabric liquid and moisture management properties at simulated skin and sweat temperatures using an advanced novel sweating simulator

Abstract

The moisture management performance of fabrics under profuse sweating (i.e. the ability to sweat absorb, spread, evaporate, drip, and dry) is crucial to the wearer’s comfort and performance, and should therefore be accurately and realistically tested for quality evaluation and product development. However, it is challenging to measure these properties simultaneously under realistic conditions using current evaluation techniques or testing standards. In this article an advanced version of the novel sweating simulator (NSS) is presented with which the skin temperature, sweat temperature, active body posture, and varying sweating rates can be simulated and multiple fabric moisture management properties including liquid sweat accumulation rate, multi-directional spreading rates, variations in downflow rates caused by increasing liquid accumulation, discharge rate, evaporation rate, drying rate, and drying time can be measured concurrently and in real-time during the simulated sweating and drying phases. The high accuracy and excellent reproducibility of NSS measurements were demonstrated through testing eight different kinds of commercial moisture management fabrics to show the potential applications of the NSS. It is believed that the novel sweating simulator, owing to its comprehensive testing capability, will play a key role in the development of next-generation moisture management fabrics for numerous apparel and technical applications.