Investigation of moisture vapor permeability and thermal comfort properties of ceramic embedded fabrics for protective clothing

This study examined the water and moisture vapor permeable and thermal wear comfort of different ceramic imbedded fabrics for workwear protective clothing, and the results are discussed in terms of the thermal radiation and the emissivity characteristics of these fabrics. The water and moisture vapor permeable and thermal wear comfort properties of the ceramic-imbedded fabrics incorporating aluminum oxide (Al2O3)/graphite, zinc oxide (ZnO)/zirconium carbide (ZrC) and ZnO/antimony tin oxide (ATO) were superior to those of the regular polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabrics due to the greater heat emission of the ceramic-imbedded fabrics. Of three ceramic imbedded fabrics, ZnO/ATO-imbedded fabric exhibited poorer water absorbing and drying properties than those of the Al2O3/graphite and ZnO/ZrC ceramic-imbedded fabrics. The heat retention rate and breathability were also inferior to those of the Al2O3/graphite and ZnO/ZrC ceramic-imbedded fabrics, which were due to the lower far-infrared (FIR) emissivity of the ZnO/ATO-imbedded fabrics. Summarizing the water and moisture vapor permeable and thermal wear comfort properties with heat release characteristics of the different ceramic imbedded PET fabrics, Al2O3 and ZrC ceramic particles imparted a good wear comfort characteristics with superior heat release property, whereas, the ZnO and ATO ceramic particles imbedded fabrics exhibited inferior water and moisture vapor permeable and thermal wear comfort due to the lower heat release of ZnO particles and the heat shielding effect of ATO particles, which is supposed to impart an uncomfortable feeling while wearing workwear protective clothing in cold/dry environments in cold weather regions. These findings suggest that ZnO and ATO particles need to be mixed with ZrC and Al2O3 particles in the yarns to enhance wear comfort of workwear protective clothing.