Investigation of clothing comfort using physical analysis and “thermal suits”

Abstract

Each individual has a different feeling of the temperature and humidity of the environment where he/she performs its work duties and where they live. The intensity of these changes affects human behavior as well as comfort. Changes in temperature and humidity that one feels on the skin surface and in the microenvironment of the suit depends on the clothing system which one wears while performing their work duties, mostly on the first textile layer that is in contact with the skin. To make a comfortable clothing system, it is necessary to acquire a detailed knowledge of textile materials integrated into a particular type of garments and knowledge of the physiology of individuals and the physical processes of heat exchange between man and environment. Connecting the aforementioned areas of research is necessary in the development of products for personal protection as well as for clothing for intense sports activities. The paper presents a study of thermal comfort on seven subjects with the help of a developed system of “thermal suits” with integrated tubes that are filled with water of different temperatures. Test subjects were dressed in various underwear and according to temperature changes they determined their own thermal comfort level. The studies used different fireproof underwear, which is applied as part of the fire protective suit and affects the comfort of firefighters. The results obtained during the studies indicate that even small changes in temperature can be felt and for a longer time they create zones or levels of their own (in) convenience. It is assumed that such research can optimize the overall clothing systems with different purposes of use.