Some Thermal Properties of Fabrics

Part I: The Effect of Fiber Arrangement

1. Herman Bogaty
1. Harris Research Laboratories, Inc., Washigton, D.C.
1. Norman R. S. Hollies
1. Harris Research Laboratories, Inc., Washigton, D.C.
1. Milton Harris
1. Harris Research Laboratories, Inc., Washigton, D.C.

Abstract
Examination of the thermal conductivity of fabrics in terms of the
fiber conductance and fabric density shows that fabric insulation is
determined by fiber arrangement as well as by fabric thicknes. Fiber
arrangement is interpreted in terms of fibers lying parallel and
perpendicular to the fabric surface, and it is shown that fabrics differ
appreciably in this respect. For the smooth surfaced fabrics of
cotton, nylon, and Orlon studied, the in crease in specific
conductivity with applied pressure can be attributed mainly to an in
crease in fabric density as there is very little change in fiber
arrangement in such fabrics. For fuzzy surfaced fabrics of wool or
blends containing wool, the change in density with applied pressure
is counterbalanced by changes in the fiber arrangement. At low pres
sures a substantial portion of the fibers lie perpendicular to the
fabric surface but are bent over as the pressure is increased. At high
pressures the fibers lie mamly parallel to the surface, but the fabric
conducts less effectively because of the air layers between each
fiber along the conducting path. Accordingly the specific
conductivity of wool and wool-type fabrics is relatively insensitive to
changes in applied pressure and this appears to be a direct result of
the random arrangement of the fibers in these fabrics.