In order to determine the effect of air temperature on the touch sensation for underwear fabrics, eleven different types of underwear fabrics (5 for summer use, 5 for winter use and cotton knit fabric as a control) were evaluated based on the touch sensation of the hand using the semantic differential evaluation method at air temperatures of 22°C, 28°C and 34°C. The subjects consisted of 16 young women. The results obtained were as follows: 1) The fabrics for summer-use were rough, unsticky and dry tactile sensations, while the fabrics for winter-use were rather smooth, soft, heavy and warm sensations: 2) Cold sensations of the hands of three fabrics were significantly affected by air temperature, while other tactile sensations were scarcely affected by it. Comfort and preferred sensations were slightly affected by air temperature. For example, the fabrics for summer-use were preferred more at 34°C than at 22 °C and the fabrics for winter-use were preferred more at 22°C than at 34°C. These facts were discussed in relation to body temperature regulation, especially to the drastic changes in skin temperature and to the scarce changes in sweat rate on the palm with air temperature change: 3) As a result of multiple regression analysis, the comfort sensation of fabrics could be significantly estimated from the tactile sensations of smoothness, softness and stickiness of the fabrics despite the change in air temperature: 4) The results of factor analysis showed that the touch sensation of the hand consisted of factors expressing the feelings of comfort and smoothness, lightness, coolness and coldness. It was confirmed on the scatter diagram of 1^st and 2^nd factor loadings that the air temperature scarcely affected the touch sensation of the hand.

View full abstract