Quick drying is one of the most crucial factors in the comfort and performance of active sportswear clothing. It helps to keep the wearer dry and comfortable by effectively wicking away sweat and moisture from the body. In the light of this, a substantial number of previous researchers have identified fabric properties and types that have a significant impact on fabric drying performance. Studies have also been conducted to examine the impact of fabric drying on human physiology during sports-related activities. However, there are still some technical knowledge gaps in the existing literature related to the drying performance of active sportswear fabrics. This review article provides a critical analysis of the literature on the impact of various fabric attributes as well as the physiological and environmental factors on moisture management and drying performance. The key issues in this field are determined so that future research can be directed and this scientific field can advance in order to improve the overall performance of active sportswear fabrics.

More than 60,000 firefighters’ injuries were reported by the National Fire Protection Association in the U.S. in 2019. Inadequate protection by bunker gear could be a reason for most of the injuries. Firefighters repeatedly encounter thermal hazards due to their job responsibilities. Degradation could occur on bunker gear fabric during thermal exposure. It has been found that the presence of moisture affects performance as well, which may come from wearers’ sweat. Proper evaluation of the tensile strength of the fabrics used in bunker gear could provide information essential for maintenance the overall integrity of the gear. An evaluation of the tensile strength of fabrics when exposed to 10, 15, and 20 kW/m² radiant heat flux in the presence of moisture is reported. In each fabric system, a total of sixty-four different samples were prepared for four different types of fabric and four levels of moisture which were exposed to three different radiant heat flux for five minutes. Heat flux and moisture levels have significant impact on tensile strength. The effect of moisture on tensile strength in a three-layered fabric system is higher than that for a single layer fabric. An understanding of the impact of heat and moisture on fabric strength has been achieved.

Absorption and transportation of moisture from sweat are the crucial properties of the fabrics used in performance clothing. Sweat moisture is a significant factor that may cause discomfort to the wearer. The majority of the injuries and fatalities that happen to the high-risk sector workers in their line of duty may be caused by inadequate comfort provided by the protective uniform. The purpose of this study is to scientifically investigate the sweat drying performance of the different protective fabrics used in high-risk sectors’ workers’ clothing. Firstly, this study experimentally analyzed the sweat drying of protective fabrics with different attributes under various ambient environments and wearers’ internal physiology. Secondly, this study explained the phenomena of sweat drying in protective fabric through the theory of heat and mass transfer. Sweat drying performance of the fabrics used in functional clothing mainly depends on the evaporative resistance regardless of the presence of water and oil repellent coating on the fabric surface. The drying performance increases with the increased wetted area and increased air flow. The wetted area depends on the absorption and wicking properties of the fabrics. The findings of this research will advance the field by developing knowledge on sweat drying performance of fabrics used in protective clothing; in turn, this could provide better comfort and safety to high-risk sectors’ workers.

The color appearance of residential carpets under different illuminants can influence the purchase decisions of consumers, visual merchandisers, and interior designers. This study was designed to investigate and characterize the color appearance of residential carpets under average Noon Daylight (D65), Incandescent (A), and Cool White Fluorescent (F02) illuminants commonly used in retail and household settings. The objective of this study was to identify the key features significantly affecting the apparent color of the carpets under those three illuminants. Four different carpets were dyed with light, medium, and dark shades of red and green colors to identify the difference in color perception when illuminated by different lighting arrangements. A spectrophotometer was used to measure the lightness, chroma, and hue of the carpets via the CIELAB scale developed by Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE). Statistically significant differences among the L*, a*, and b* values of the carpets were evaluated using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Regression analyses were carried out to identify key parameters affecting the L*, a* and b* values. Multiple linear regression (MLR) was applied to generate equations to predict L*, a* and b* values under different illuminant for different carpet features. A decreasing trend in the L*, a*, and b* values have been observed from lighter to darker shades under the illuminants for all the carpets. The deposition of dye molecules over the carpet surface had significant effects on the CIELAB values, and the distribution of dye molecules over the carpet surface was influenced by the constructional parameters of the carpets. The study provides an overview of the effects of carpet structures on color perception under different illuminants, which could help the researcher to determine the apparent color of different carpets under various illuminants.