Laboratories for Functional Textiles and Protective Clothing
The establishment of the research laboratory and team in functional textiles and protective clothing enables us to perform research and development on new textile materials, and clothing systems for human safety and health. The research program includes textile material study and development, mechanism and modeling study, hazards simulation, clothing performance analysis and prediction, as well as new methods and standard development. The fundamental approach of the research and development is to understand mechanism associated with heat and moisture transfer between human body, clothing/system and environment, specifically interaction with hazards existing in various end use scenarios. The research emphasizes on ergonomics and function of clothing system to achieve the maximum performance. The research results obtained in collaboration with industry are mainly used in the fields of occupational safety, sport, military and medical applications. The program collaborates with mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering and kinesiology and unites the expertise of a diverse group from different faculty. Also, this program provides students and faculty a platform to perform innovative multidisciplinary research, education and training on the clothing comfort and protection.
Lab for Heat and Thermal Protection Research
Thermal hazard simulation, textile material and ensemble components and systems performance prediction, modeling, thermal degradation, off-gassing study and new material development. The instrumentation includes the Thermal Protective Performance (TPP), Radiant Protective Performance (RPP), fabric stored energy testing, immersion tester, hot liquid and steam tester, as well as cone calorimeter for thermal degradation study.
Lab for Clothing Comfort Performance
Textile material comfort related property study, the complex heat and moisture transfer nature in textile material, clothing that interact with human body and environment. The major instrumentation includes guarded sweating hot plate (skin model), moisture vapor transmission rate, air permeability test, video-based optical contact angle measuring instrument, sweating hand, sweating manikin test etc.
Textile Testing Lab
Fundamental textile material property testing.
Micro/Nanoscale Thermal Science for Fiber and Fabrics Lab
Fiber, yarn and fabrics thermal property study, such as conductivity, heat capacity, emissivity and relevant modeling. For more photos about this lab, please visit here
Design and Production Lab
Sewing machines, digital textile printer & pattern making, three-dimensional body scanning technology
Biomechanics and Physiology Research Lab
Human comfort, performance interactions with textiles and clothing study