Evaluation of Staple Polyester/Microfibrous Polyolefin Blended Batting as a Potential Thermal Insulating Material for clothing

摘要

The use of a new batting (composed of a blend of 43% polyester staple fibers and 57% polyolefin microfibers without binders) in lieu of the standard batting (composed of 100% staple polyester fiber with 10% resin binder) within the U.S. Army jacket and trouser liners was investigated. Initial laboratory characterization indicated that the new batting afforded thermal insulative protection equal to an equivalent weight of uncompressed standard polyester batting but half the thickness (bulk). However, this relationship did not translate into actual liner composite testing. The addition of cover fabrics and quilting changed the proportion and rate of radiative, convective, and conductive heat energy transfer thru these assemblies. Thus, at equivalent areal density (i.e., oz/yd sq.), the new material in unquilted panel form exhibited thermal resistance values ranging from 15 to 45% greater than that of the standard polyester batting in quilted panel form. Coincidently, the thickness of the unquilted new batting and quilted standard batting liner panels were equivalent. With laundering, the decrease in the thermal resistance values of the new batting composites coupled with a slight increase in that of the standard resulted in a basic equivalence of thermal insulative protection. Furthermore, surface area shrinkage ranged from 8 to 13% with the new batting composites versus 4% for the standard. It is concluded that this new batting is not a suitable substitute filling media within US Army field jacket and trouser lines. (Author)