Jintu Fan

Currently, the mass transfer optimization of tree-like patterns is mainly focused on mass transfer within circular channels in three-dimensional structures. In this work, a tree-like pattern for optimizing liquid water transport inside double-jersey knitted fabric is proposed for, it is believed, the first time, from both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives. Darcy’s law and the Hagen–Poiseuille equation are respectively used to investigate the optimal volume flow rate of two-dimensional tree-like patterns (with the width much larger than the thickness) under constant external pressure; this is further verified by a finite-element model based on experimental data. The results show that the liquid flow rate in the branches reaches its maximum at a fractal dimension of 1, deviating from the prediction of Murray’s law. In addition, a finite-element model with an error range of less than 5% is established based on experimental parameters and results. By comparing the liquid water transport efficiency inside the tree-like pattern under different fractal dimensions, it is found that the calculated results of the finite-element model are in good agreement with the theoretical results, providing a theoretical basis for optimizing the moisture wicking performance of smart functional fabrics and garments.

Aesthetic judgments are shaped by both visual properties and evaluative knowledge. However, it remains unclear how explicit expert-derived criteria relate to non-experts’ aesthetic judgments of clothing. This study compared non-experts’ judgments under guided and unguided evaluation procedures and examined their correspondence with expert evaluations. Seventeen criteria were developed through a three-round modified Delphi study. Twenty-six experts rated 48 clothing images. Of 60 non-experts randomly assigned to the guided or unguided condition, 59 were included in the analysis (29 guided, 30 unguided). Guided participants rated 17 criteria before giving an overall judgment; unguided participants provided overall ratings only. The guided condition was associated with lower overall aesthetic ratings and smaller absolute deviations from expert evaluations than the unguided condition. At the image level, guided judgments showed a stronger correlation with expert evaluations than unguided judgments (r = 0.771 vs. 0.222). Fifteen criteria showed positive within-person associations with overall judgments after multiple-testing correction, but only visual emphasis remained significant when all criteria were modeled together. These findings suggest that structured evaluation warrants further investigation. Differences in task demands and visual anchors prevent us from isolating the contribution of expert-derived criteria.

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.

Real-world mixed textile waste streams seriously hinder recycling. Herein, we present a two-step flash Joule heating (FJH) strategy for directly upgrading mixed textile waste into ordered multilayer nano onion-like fullerenes (NOLFs). The interaction between different fibers, termed a “scaffolding effect” involving physical confinement and chemical bonding, was strengthened by the precarbonization (280 °C) treatment. Consequently, the polyester/cotton mixture can be upgraded to NOLFs within 5 s with high quality (I2D/IG = 1.47) and yield (41.6%) at 2000 °C, and this technology can be successfully extended to other textiles and solid wastes (polyamide, straws, etc.). The evolution pathway of carbon atoms leading to the formation of the core pentagonal/hexagonal ring structure in NOLFs was systematically investigated in this work. Moreover, an automated FJH prototype was developed to produce NOLFs with 86.4 g·day–1 continuously, and these NOLFs derived an excellent performance as electrode and lubricant.

Directional liquid transport (DLT) is a useful and efficient strategy for liquid transport in nature and in numerous wearable, separation, and energy-related applications. Recent advances in surface-chemistry modification and hierarchical textile structuring have enabled unprecedented control over through-thickness liquid transport, while multimodal characterization approaches have expanded the quantitative assessment of fluid migration across fibrous systems. Although DLT textiles share common features, including asymmetric wetting, capillary-driven liquid migration, and one-way transport, their characterization and optimization priorities vary with the use scenario; differences in measurement methods and testing conditions further complicate the interpretation of reported metrics across studies. In this Review, we present an overview of performance characterization and application-specific optimization of DLT textiles, illustrating how testing methods, evaluation metrics, and practical requirements can guide the translation of laboratory materials toward real-use products. We compare representative gravimetric, optical, and electrical approaches, and discuss how these measurements can be interpreted under different testing conditions. We also highlight the importance of application-relevant testing conditions, standardized evaluation protocols, and long-term robustness, providing a framework for interpreting DLT performance and guiding the optimization of DLT textiles for practical use.

As the second skin of the human body, knitted clothing can provide the necessary thermal insulation, ensuring stable body temperature and comfortable sensations both during activity and rest. Given different thermoregulatory needs under these distinct physiological states, current study presents a double‐layered breathable knitted fabric with adaptive localized regulation. Its engineered structure could transform bio‐mechanical energy from motion into kinetic energy that drives mesh apertures, reducing thermal resistance to enhance heat dissipation. During rest, inherent elastic recovery closes the mesh, increasing thermal resistance to minimize the heat loss subsequently. Experimental results demonstrate exceptional fabric deformability and stretch recovery of DSBF (Double sides breathing fabric). When stretched to 140% strain, the air permeability increased to 300% of its original value. Meanwhile, obvious temperature variation between the inner and outer surfaces of garment occurs with the opening and closing of perforations, with the variation reaching 2.0°C. Infrared thermography tests confirm that, relative to the comparative sample, the modified garment increases the thermal resistance by 0.023 (K·m ² )/W at rest while decreasing it by 0.002 (K·m ² )/W during motion. Dynamic stretch‐breathable fabric panels enable bidirectional regulation of the garment's inner‐surface temperature, with changes ranging from ‐0.8°C–1.3°C between static and activ states. This corresponds to an estimated 12%–19.5% reduction in building energy consumption for climate‐controlled indoor environments.

Heavy protective fencing clothing creates an encapsulated microclimate that restricts sensible and evaporative heat loss during intermittent exercise. This study examined whether a unidirectional moisture-transport base layer (UMB) could reduce thermophysiological strain and perceptual heat burden compared with a conventional polyester base layer (CPB). Fabric characterization, sweating thermal manikin tests, and 100-min randomized crossover wear trials were conducted with twelve trained male fencers. Compared with CPB, UMB showed water vapor permeability higher by 52.6% and overall moisture management capability higher by 19.2%, while being thinner and lighter, with thickness lower by 6.4% and areal density lower by 17.1%. Manikin testing showed that UMB reduced total thermal insulation by 19.6% and evaporative resistance by 12.3%. During the 40-min fencing training phase, UMB reduced peak heart rate by 4.61 bpm, mean skin temperature by 0.45 °C and tympanic core temperature by 0.13 °C relative to CPB, while increasing heat loss by 0.0038 W·m⁻² during the most intensive sets (all p < 0.05). Subjectively, UMB lowered wetness, stickiness, stuffiness and whole-body comfort ratings by 0.7–1.0 scale units during 40–70 min. Regression analyses further indicated weaker coupling between core temperature and heart rate, skin temperature and wetness, and core temperature and whole-body discomfort under UMB. These findings demonstrate that directional sweat transport can enhance evaporative heat dissipation and buffer physiological-to-perceptual heat strain under encapsulated sportswear conditions.

Thermal and moisture management of fabrics is critical for maintaining human comfort during physical activities and across variable climates. Inspired by leaf stomata, we developed a leaf stomata‐like fabric (LSF) that leveraged spatial asymmetry in swelling coefficients to open artificial stomata within 5 s after exposure to moisture. The air permeability of LSF under wet conditions surged by nearly 100% compared to its dry conditions. And the LSF outperformed the reported flap structure fabric (FSF) and conventional fabric (CF) by 70% and 360%, respectively. In terms of thermal regulation, the maximum heat flux ( Q _max ) of the LSF was reduced by 40% and 50% compared to the FSF and CF, effectively alleviating post‐sweating chill. The unique structure decreased wet fabric‐ body skin adhesion by 16% and 70% compared to FSF and CF, respectively, due to stomatal areas bulging, while maintaining tactile comfort. The LSF demonstrated stable, reversible pore actuation and rapid moisture responsiveness after 100 washing cycles. Wear trials confirmed a 0.96°C reduction in microclimate temperature, enabling at least 1°C increase in indoor air‐conditioning temperature setpoints without weakening human comfort, thereby reducing building cooling consumption. Due to high performance with scalable manufacturing, LSF offers a commercial pathway for next‐generation responsive textiles.