Page 316 - Anthropometry, Apparel Sizing and Design

Sizing and fit for protective clothing 309

materials, which not only guarantee the wearer’s thermal comfort but also prevent the
creation of conditions where the clothes “stick” to the surface of the skin and no longer
slide over it because of the sweating, limiting movements or creating “thickenings” in
separate body areas.
The friction of PPE against the body can give rise to redness (erythema) and, if
prolonged, to abrasion. Depending upon the duration of wear, compression of the skin
can cause unsightly marking. Where blood vessels or nerves pass close to the body
surface or are liable to be trapped against hard (bony) body parts, then further adverse
effects can occur. For example, straps passing close to the neck/shoulder junction can
compress nerves or occlude blood flow. Abrasion or compression might cause irrita-
tion or reduce the acceptability of the PPE. Pulse points in the neck, groin, and wrist
are obvious possible areas for concern in relation to circulatory effects
(EN 13921:2017, 2017).
Low tensile and plowing fabrics have a higher risk of mechanical damage. This
may occur in the wear and wash process, when the material is exposed to tensile
and deformation. Mechanical damage may be attributable to the design, wear condi-
tions, or inappropriate grooming conditions of the fabric itself (Siegert, 1964;
Juodsnukyt_ e et al., 2006).
Clothing textiles in everyday wearing are exposed to a range of tensile strength of
different sizes, resulting in a possible deformation of the material. Most frequently,
such deformations occur in parts of the clothing exposed to higher loads, in the areas
of knees, elbows, and buttocks. In these zones, approximately 10%–12% of the max-
imum load held by the textile material shall be applied to the material. As uniforms are
worn in various weather conditions, this increases or decreases the fabric relaxation
period. The permanent deformation deteriorates the aesthetic appearance of clothing
by creating prints ( Juodsnukyt_ e et al., 2006).
Wear is a mechanical deterioration of the fabric by rubbing the fabric against any
other surface. Abrasion is encouraged by excessive rubbing or cleaning of the surface
of the material. Many garment parts, such as collars, bracelets, and pockets, are
exposed to serious wear during use, which limits their worklife. The life of the gar-
ment depends on the individual wear, cleaning, and washing process of each person.
The wear of textile materials is influenced by many factors, such as the subtlety of
fibers, the type of threads, the fabric weave, etc. The rub creates the scaremongering
of the filaments in the thread. Initially, abrasia modifies the top of the fabric, then the
internal fabric of the fabric. One of the results of wear is the gradual separation of
fibers from the thread. The broken ends of the threads appear on the top of the cloth,
which causes a different reflection of light, resulting in a change in color.
During wear, the material is exposed to various types of scrubbing. First, it is the
friction of different clothing fabrics against each other or the friction of the cloth
against itself. As the wearer simply walks, friction occurs with the trouser beams rub-
bing against each other, as well as moving the hands along the body during walking or
running. There is also a friction between the top of the underlying cloth and the inside
of the superseers, the lining or the lining of the casing bag. As a soldier performs a
variety of day-to-day activities, when crawling, creeping, sitting, etc., the top of
the material is exposed to friction against rough surfaces: land, asphalt, stones, grass,