1998 Volume 12 Issue 4 Pages 198-204
ln order to design thermally desirable pillows, we must quantitatively evaluate the heat, moisture and air transport properties of the padding materials. ln this study, we measured the effective thermal conductivity, air resistance and heat transfer property combined with moisture transfer for some fibrous materials such as polyester and wool, feather, buckwheat chaff, some types of polyethylene pipe and hollow bead, gravel, red beans, etc. These measurements clarified the range of the values for these properties and the characteristics of each type of padding, for example, we found that fibrous materials had smaller values for effective thermal conductivity and larger values for air resistance, while hollow beads had smaller values for air resistance. The relation between these properties and the shape and composition of the padding, and its air spaces were discussed from the viewpoint of the design of the padding materials.