Measurements of Moisture Transport within Multi-layer Clothing Assemblies Consisting of Different Types of Batting: A Factorial Design Analysis

A three-level two-factor (32) full factorial design was conducted to examine the effects of the batting constructions (e.g. batting types and positions) on moisture transport through multi-layer clothing assemblies consisting of different types of batting under subzero environmental conditions. The amounts of moisture accumulated within and transmitted through the different batting constructions during a 24 h period at -20oC were measured on a developed sweating guarded hot plate. The factorial analysis on the experimental results showed that the inner batting type had the most significant influence on moisture accumulation and transmission within the clothing assemblies, although the effects of the outer batting type and the interaction between the inner and outer batting types were also significant. The analysis showed that placing wool batting instead of down batting in the inner region could efficiently minimize the moisture accumulation within the batting constructions and consequently upgrade the thermal comfort of the cold protective clothing systems. © 2008, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.