Temperature-sensitive wicking performance of plant-cool knitted fabric

The wicking performance of fabrics is crucial for the thermal comfort of the human body and significantly affects the fabric’s overall moisture management properties. This study aims to illustrate the impact of varying liquid temperatures on the wicking performance of Plant-Cool knitted fabric from experimentally and numerically. Experimental results indicate that as the liquid temperature increases (from 5°C to 65°C), the wicking height in the fabrics consistently increases. However, different fabric compositions exhibit varying sensitivities to temperature changes. The fabric with the best wicking performance (Fabric A) shows the least sensitivity to temperature changes, with wicking curves at different temperatures being very close to each other. The fabric with moderate wicking performance (Fabric B) has a moderate sensitivity to temperature changes but shows insensitivity under low-temperature conditions. The fabric with the poorest wicking performance (Fabric C) is the most sensitive to temperature changes, although its sensitivity is less pronounced under high-temperature conditions. The Laughlin-Davies model has proven to be successful in describing the wicking process of fabrics. Additionally, simulations conducted using COMSOL have been effective, offering a deeper understanding of the wicking process in fabrics.