The effect of dynamic friction with wet fabrics on skin wetness perception.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of cold stimulation (contacting wet fabric) and tactile stimulation (dynamic friction) on skin wetness perception: 1) wetness perception of fabric with different water transfer performance; 2) wetness perception of fabric with different water content; 3) wetness perception of fabric at different friction velocity with skin.

METHODS: Twenty participants were screened as reliable assessors using a 7-point wetness rating scale. The dynamic friction between skin and fabric was simulated by a self-made device with adjustable speed controller. Each participant was asked to finish 18 times of assessments: 3 types of knitted fabric (cotton, polyester/spandex and Coolmax®) × 3 water content (low, medium and high) × 2 friction velocity (30 mm/s and 90 mm/s), the subjective wetness perception and skin cooling rate were recorded during the experiments.

FINDINGS: The fabric type, water content and friction velocity significantly influence skin perceptual wetness. Fabric with good liquid moisture management property is perceived as significantly less wet, especially under heavy sweaty state of human body. The stronger wetness perception is perceived when fabric with a small frictional coefficient rubs skin at a lower friction velocity. The maximum transient thermal flow of fabric has a significantly positive correlation with wetness perception (r = 0.972).