Effect of clothing ventilation on thermal insulation and vapor resistance

Abstract: In this study, ventilation of clothing microenvironment, thermal insulation and vapor resistance of two jackets made of different materials were measured locally at front, back, side and arm by using an articulated thermal manikin in a controlled climate chamber (29±1°C, 40±10%RH). The various conditions of microenvironment ventilation were created by making the manikin stand and walk, combined with three wind speeds of <0.15, 0.4 and 2.0m/s respectively. The analysis of the measurement results showed that clothing ventilation affected vapor resistance more than it did thermal insulation. The effects of ventilation also varied because of different ways of ventilation arising: penetration through the fabric was proven to be the most effective way in vapor diffusion although it does not seem helpful for heat diffusion