Dynamic Sweat Management in Functional Textiles:,A Quantitative SAR/SER Descriptor

Authors:
  • YWYuxi Wu
    Yuxi Wu
  • ASAmir Shahzad
    Amir Shahzad
  • LYLuning Yuan
    Luning Yuan
  • HZHanchao Zhang
    Hanchao Zhang
  • SJShoukun Jiang
    Shoukun Jiang
  • JLJiahao Liang
    Jiahao Liang
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Abstract
Human comfort is a multidimensional, complex, and transient subjective perception shaped by the interaction between the body’s microclimate and the surrounding environment. Yet, industrial and engineering practice still relies on simplified, static and steady-state material indices to predict human wearing comfort. Here, we combine a novel Sweat Management Tester with continuous perceptual tracking during intermittent exercise to quantify the relationship between skin–clothing microclimate and human discomfort under a high sweat-flux condition of 660 g m⁻² h⁻¹. Across the tested fabrics and discomfort modalities, discomfort intensity was well described by a sensation-specific power-law relationship with the ratio of sweat accumulation rate to evaporation rate,DS=k(SAR/SER)ϑ.The exponent ϑ varied among discomfort sensations, indicating that different perceptual dimensions respond differently to moisture accumulation. Discomfort increased rapidly at low SAR/SER values and approached a plateau as the ratio increased further. Validation with functional fabrics of distinct microstructure and surface pattern designs showed that the SAR/SER sensitively captured differences in sweat transport, accumulation, and evaporation, and was closely associated with the resulting perceptual responses. These findings establish SAR/SER as a quantitative descriptor for linking fabric microstructure, skin–clothing microclimate, and dynamic wet discomfort, providing a practical basis for designing high-performance apparel for heat-stress and heavy-sweating conditions.

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