COMFORT PROPERTIES OF FUNCTIONAL DOUBLE BED KNITTED FABRIC FOR FIREFIGHTERS UNDERWEAR

Abstract

The comfort properties of fabrics are closely related to their structural parameters. Various material and construction changes affect thermal insulation, permeability properties, wetting and water vapour permeability, which are the most important properties related to the comfort of textiles. Thermal comfort evaluation plays a crucial role in the development of textiles and is mainly carried out in the three aspects of breathability, heat transfer and moisture transfer. The aim of the research is to investigate the comfort and flame retardant properties of knitted fabrics made of four different materials: three conventional (cotton, Tencel and Micromodal) and one flame retardant material (blend of Tencel, polyacrylate, Modacryl-Tayrilan) that can be used for firefighter underwear. All materials were knitted in three different constructions of double jersey. It was found that the blend of Tencel, polyacrylate and Modacryl-Tayrilan is a truly flame retardant material suitable for firefighter underwear and has good comfort properties.