Accession Number:

ADA172010

Title:

Summary of Laboratory and Field Comfort Studies on Candidate Fabrics for a Year-Round Uniform

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. Jan 1979-Jan 1980

Corporate Author:

GILLETTE CO RESEARCH INST ROCKVILLE MD

Personal Author(s):

• Hollies, Norman R.
• Parker, Jr, Mervin O.

Report Date:

1986-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

111.0

Abstract:

The program objective was to choose a year-round uniform from three candidate fabrics to replace the two uniforms lightweight 5050 polyester cotton and 5545 polyesterwool tropical currently in use. The candidate fabrics were 5545 polyesterwool, and 100 polyester. Laboratory techniques employed for psychological assessment of trouser comfort by 27 men, and later 25 women, were the same. A large-scale field study involving 1100 to 1400 Army personnel was conducted to evaluate both durability and comfort of the 3 candidate fabrics for a proposed year-round uniform. Personnel from 28 installations wore a uniform constructed from one of these fabrics for the entire year. The trouser test showed the 5050 polyestercotton control was most comfortable for both men and women, and the 100 polyester experimental least comfortable. The full uniform field test showed that the level of comfort improved with increasing levels of fabric polyester. 100 polyester uniform was judged most comfortable by 78 of the respondents.

Descriptors:

• *PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
• *UNIFORMS
• *FABRICS
• WEAR
• COTTON TEXTILES
• MOISTURE
• POLYESTER PLASTICS
• WOOLEN TEXTILES
• FIELD TESTS
• ARMY PERSONNEL
• LABORATORY TESTS
• LIGHTWEIGHT

Subject Categories:

• Textiles
• Protective Equipment

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE