THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY AND RESISTANCE OF NOMEX FABRICS EXPOSED TO SALTY WATER

The most important parameters characterizing thermophysiological comfort of clothing are thermal conductivity and thermal resistance. Protective and sport clothing is often used in wet state, which influences their comfort properties. Wet state of clothing can be caused due to the absorption of sweat or moisture from humid environment. This effect was particularly applies to people staying on the sea - sailors, seamen as well as marine soldiers. In this paper, Alambeta fast working PC controlled tester, was used for determination of thermal resistance and thermal conductivity of five different woven fabrics and one knitted fabric containing 93-100% of Nomex fibres, both in dry and wet state. Moreover, the effect of salinity of real sweat or sea water was simulated, by adding 1%, 2% and 3% of salt into the testing liquid (distilled water). As follows from the original results, even small content of the sodium chloride salt influences thermal comfort properties of the wetted fabrics.