EFFECT OF WICKING FINISHES AND WATER REPELLENT TREATMENTS ON SWEAT MANAGEMENT AND THERMAL BALANCE OF MTLITARY UNIFORM FABRICS

摘要

Several durable water-repellent (DWR) treatments based on nanotechnology approaches were evaluated on fabrics used for the Advanced Combat Uniform (ACU) and the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU). Soldiers' duty and combat uniforms can be made water-resistant and retain the same air permeability and "breathability" properties as the untreated wicking fabric. Several questions arose as a result of this work. What are the physiological implications of changing the BDU fabric from a wicking fabric to a non-wicking fabric? Will the fabric still be comfortable when a soldier is sweating heavily? Will liquid sweat now remain on the skin underneath the faric, and is this bad or good?