Initial, transient and steady state evaporative resistance of impermeable protective clothing

• The measured water vapour resistances of clothing ensembles differ among laboratories particularly for impermeable clothing. Due to the moisture transfer in the clothing ensemble, evaporative heat losses in initial, transient and steady state phases are different. The purpose of this study was to investigate moisture absorption inside underwear and outer layer as a function of time, to quantify the difference of water vapour resistance of protective clothing (impermeable outer layer and cotton underwear) in initial, transient and steady state. Manikin Tore was used by wearing wet ‘skin’ to simulate sweating. The evaporative resistance is found to be more than two times higher in the initial phase than that in the saturation phase. The moisture content is gained exponentially in the clothing ensemble. On the contrary, mass loss directly from the wet skin decreases exponentially. These may partly explain the poor reproducibility while measuring the evaporative resistance of impermeable clothing for a short period.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Produktionsteknik, arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

water vapour resistances

Manikin Tore

Clothing ensemble

climatic chamber

sweating test

Publication and Content Type

kon (subject category)

ref (subject category)