This study aimed to clarify the effects of moisture-absorption processing using silk-protein on the performance of seat covers. The sample covers used were three sorts of fabrics and four sorts of leathers. The fabric samples were made from 100 polyester, one without processing which was used as a blank, and then, two with processing which different in the concentration of silk-protein. The leather samples used were one of natural cow leather, and three of PVC leather, one without processing and two with processing which different in the contents of silk-protein. To investigate the effects, we measured the moisture regain, the thermal and mechanical properties, and carried out sedentary tests using five subjects. The results are summarized as follows. 1) The moisture regain of the covers increased with the contents of silk-protein and the quantity of silk-protein ahered to the materials. In the leather samples, the increase in moisture regain brought about an increase in the water vapor transmissin. 2) In the sweating and perspiration simulation tests, the latent heat loss of the samples with the processing was higher than the blank sample without processing. In the sedentary tests, the samples with the processing showed significantly lower humidity between the seat covers and the human body than the blank sample. 3) The characteristic properties of the leather samples with the moisture-absorption processing tended to be similar to those of the natural leather in the compressive properties and bending rigidity and the maximum values of initial heat flux. The samples with the processing had lower the stickly feeling than blank sample.
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