| Sports bras as a kind of women sportswear usually tight-fit and made of elastic materials are used to provide firm support to the breast and reduce the displacement during movement. Sports bra is multi-layer that consists of shell fabric and cup pad, they prevent the diffusion of heat and moisture especially during exercise. So, it is necessary to study about the thermal comfort of sports bras and materials.In this study, the sports bras and materials were provided by a bra manufacture, wear trial experiment was carried out under two paired conditions: the bra without cup and with sponge pad; the bra with two different pads. Five female college students volunteered to participate in wearing bras and running at a medium speed for 13 min. During the experiment, skin temperature on subject’ bust, oxygen uptake,metabolic equivalent of energy and heart rate were measured. Moreover, air permeability,water vapor transmission, wicking ability of the fabrics and air permeability, evaporative resistance of the pad materials were measured.Through analyzing the data, the following results were obtained:The thermal comfort of bra without cup pad was significant better than the bra with sponge pad, and no significant difference was found between two pads bras. It is indicated that cup pad is a big barrier to prevent the diffusion of heat and moisture.The air permeability of fabric less weight density was higher, the air permeability mesh fabric was even higher. Such fabrics can be used in side panel and back strap to increase heat lost.The air permeability and water vapor transmission of cup pads thinner thickness were higher when they had same pad material. The air permeability and water vapor transmission of cup pads smaller density were higher when they had different pad materials.The air permeability and water vapor transmission of the new develop 3D pad washigher than common pads. It is hoped to be used in sports bra design to improve thermal comfort. |
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