Improving Comfort in Clothing

Dr Guowen Song lectures in human ecology at the University of Alberta, Canada. His research concentrates on the protection and comfort of textile materials and garments with particular emphasis on the understanding and modelling of heat and moisture transfer in clothing.

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Woodhead Publishing Series in Textiles

Preface

Part I: Fundamentals of comfort and assessment

Chapter 1: Factors affecting comfort: human physiology and the role of clothing

Abstract:

1.1 Definition of comfort

1.2 Human physiological aspect of comfort

1.3 Energy metabolism and physical work

1.4 Human heat balance

1.5 Clothing as near environment

1.6 Various aspects of clothing comfort

1.7 Comfort variables

1.8 Effective temperature and the comfort chart

1.9 Response to extreme temperature

1.10 Development of heat stress and its control

1.11 Protective clothing

1.12 Future trends and further information and advice

Chapter 2: Properties of fibers and fabrics that contribute to human comfort

Abstract:

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Comfort properties of fibers

2.3 Physical modification of fibers

2.4 Comfort properties of yarns

2.5 Comfort properties of fabric structures

2.6 Conclusions

Chapter 3: Wool and garment comfort

Abstract:

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Wool quality

3.3 Benchmarking: wool quality in retail garments

3.4 Comfort in wool garments: a new assessment protocol

3.5 Wool garment comfort assessment

3.6 Comfort response of individuals

3.7 Wool quality and garment comfort

3.8 Conclusions

3.9 Sources of further information and advice

3.10 Acknowledgments

Chapter 4: How consumers perceive comfort in apparel

Abstract:

4.1 Introduction

4.2 How humans sense comfort

4.3 The Nervous System

4.4 Human brain

4.5 Skin and its functions

4.6 Structure of the skin

4.7 Senses and sensory receptors

4.8 Skin and senses

4.9 Sensations and fabrics

4.10 Psychological factors and overall comfort perception

4.11 Conclusions

Chapter 5: Laboratory measurement of thermo-physiological comfort

Abstract:

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Thermo-physiological comfort

5.3 Thermal resistance

5.4 Water vapour transport

5.5 Air permeability

5.6 Wicking, buffering and absorbency

5.7 New developments and future trends

Chapter 6: Testing, analyzing and predicting the comfort properties of textiles

Abstract:

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Characterization of comfort

6.3 Testing, analyzing and predicting neurophysiological comfort

6.4 Testing, analyzing and predicting thermophysiological comfort

6.5 Design-oriented comfort model

6.6 Future trends

Part II: Improving comfort in apparel

Chapter 7: Improving thermal comfort in apparel

Abstract:

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Different approaches for improving the thermal comfort of clothing

7.3 Conclusions

Chapter 8: Improving moisture management in apparel

Abstract:

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Transport of perspiration

8.3 Fundamentals of moisture transfer between the human body and the environment

8.4 Factors influencing moisture transport

8.5 Improving moisture transport

8.6 Clothing requirements for different environmental conditions

8.7 Developments in moisture management

8.8 Future trends

Chapter 9: Improving tactile comfort in fabrics and clothing

Abstract:

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Comfort and neurophysiology

9.3 Human tactile sensation

9.4 Fabric mechanical properties and tactile-pressure sensations

9.5 Warmth or coolness to the touch of fabrics

9.6 Improving the textile surface properties for tactile sensation

9.7 Predictability of sensory comfort

9.8 Improving electrostatic propensity

9.9 Future trends

9.10 Conclusions

Chapter 10: Garment pattern design and comfort

Abstract:

10.1 Introduction: fundamental principles of fit in apparel

10.2 Clothing comfort and fit

10.3 Manual and mechanical stretch testing

Results

10.4 Stretch pattern development

10.5 Future trends

10.6 Conclusions

10.7 Sources of further information and advice

Chapter 11: Improving body movement comfort in apparel

Abstract:

11.1 Introduction: fundamental principles of movement in apparel

11.2 Fashion and functional apparel: aesthetics, protection, performance and movement

11.3 Materials and design strategies to provide appropriate movement performance

11.4 Movement and garment stretch/pressure/compression

11.5 Research and testing of prototype designs for comfort and movement

11.6 Future trends

11.7 Sources of further information and advice

Part III: Improving comfort in particular types of clothing

Chapter 12: Evaluating the heat stress and comfort of firefighter and emergency responder protective clothing

Abstract:

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Background

12.3 Laboratory tests for clothing heat stress

12.4 Laboratory tests for clothing comfort

12.5 Research needs

Chapter 13: Improving comfort in military protective clothing

Abstract:

13.1 Introduction

13.2 Historical perspective

13.3 Threat level and concept of operations

13.4 Understanding system level whole-body protection: baseline performance

13.5 Civilian style protective systems

13.6 Adsorptive undergarments

13.7 Cold War individual protective equipment

13.8 Post-Gulf War individual protective equipment

13.9 Asymmetric operations (individual protective equipment)

13.10 Conclusions

13.11 Future trends

13.12 Acknowledgements

Chapter 14: Balancing comfort and function in textiles worn by medical personnel

Abstract:

14.1 Introduction

14.2 Surgical gowns

14.3 Surgical gloves

14.4 Surgical masks

14.5 Future trends

Chapter 15: Improving comfort in sports and leisure wear

Abstract:

15.1 Introduction

15.2 Market share of sports and leisure wear and affected group of users

15.3 Definition of sports and leisure wear

15.4 Influence of sportswear on everyday and leisure wear fashion

15.5 Physiological demands on sports, everyday and leisure wear

15.6 Testing sports, everyday and leisure wear comfort

15.7 Textile constructions for sports, everyday and leisure wear

15.8 Application examples

15.9 Recent and future trends in sports, everyday and leisure wear

15.10 Future trends in testing comfort of sports, everyday and leisure wear

15.11 Conclusions

15.12 Sources of further information and advice

Chapter 16: Cold weather clothing and comfort

Abstract:

16.1 Introduction

16.2 Thermal comfort and heat balance

16.3 Requirements for comfort in the cold

16.4 Principles for cold weather clothing

16.5 Future trends

Chapter 17: Achieving comfort in intimate apparel

Abstract:

17.1 Introduction

17.2 Sensorial comfort for intimate apparel

17.3 Thermal comfort for intimate apparel

17.4 Motion comfort for intimate apparel

17.5 Aesthetic comfort for intimate apparel

17.6 Hygienic comfort for intimate apparel

17.7 Acknowledgement

17.8 Sources of further information and advice

Index