Analysis of thermal and wet comfort properties of hygroscopic and exothermic knitted fabrics

Clothing thermal and wet comfort relates to the heat and moisture transport properties of clothing as one of the most important factors in determining whether or not a garment is desirable to customers. It is important to develop winter textiles by optimally combined technology of hygroscopic heat generation and moisture management to maintain warm dry skin for the active wearer. In this work, six multilayer hygroscopic and exothermic fabrics made up of different functional yarn compositions were designed and fabricated based on ergonomic principles. Their thermal wet comfort properties were investigated compared with seven plain knitted fabrics. Air permeability, moisture management characteristics, thermal physiological properties, and hygroscopic heat generation performances were used to assess thermal and wet comfort properties. Their correlations with yarn composition were explored. Multilayer knitted fabrics with a designed knitted structure and wettability gradient demonstrated evenly hygroscopic exothermic properties and excellent directional moisture transport performances. This has the potential to reduce the phenomena of high temperature and heat concentration following moisture absorption The fabric made up of profiled polyester and a low proportion of cotton blend as an inner layer and a high proportion of modified polyacrylate and viscose blend as a middle layer was verified to have superior moisture management characteristics and evenly hygroscopic exothermic properties.