Abstract: In a facemask (100), atmospheric air is filtered by a disposable surgical mask (180) to form respirable air. The facemask (100) has a frame (150) formed with an interior cavity (151) for storing the respirable air to be breathed by the user. A thermoregulation unit (110) mounted to the frame (150) provides air conditioning to the respirable air by using a fan (421) to draw the respirable air from the cavity (151) to a heat exchanger (425) that contacts a thermoelectric module (410) to thermoelectrically transport heat to outside the frame (150), thereby cooling the drawn respirable air and condensing water vapor therein. The condensed water vapor is trapped by the heat exchanger (425). Cool and dry respirable air is released back to the cavity (151), thus providing thermal comfort to the user during breathing. A heat sink (432) contacted with the thermoelectric module (410) is used with a fan (431) to efficiently dissipate heat from the thermoelectric module (410) to outside the frame (150).

Abstract: A sweating simulator has a foundation panel (14), a panel (1) and a temperature control panel (2), a fixture for fixing a specimen, a container (7) for holding simulated sweat, a container (15) for collecting the simulated sweat, and a plurality of weighing scales for measuring masses of the simulated sweat supplied, evaporated and dripped from the specimen, respectively. The panel (1) and temperature control panel (2) constitute a simulated sweating plane for simulating wetting properties and temperature of skin. An upper middle position of the temperature control panel (2) has a sweating zone (3), which has a plurality of sweating pores (4). The temperature control panel (2) has a temperature sensor (8) and a heating element to control the temperature of the temperature control panel (2) around 33-35° C. to simulate the temperature of the human skin surface. The sweating rate of the sweating zone (3) is in the range of about 1 to 624 ml/h or about 0.004 to 2.

Abstract: Provided herein are a controllable liquid transport material, a controllable liquid transport system and a method for preparing a controllable liquid transport material, where a first region of the controllable liquid transport material is treated to be hydrophobic, while a plurality of second regions partially contacted or completely separated with different shapes are treated to have a gradient or varied wettabilities and/or pore sizes for passively controllable liquid transport, and/or integrated with a smart material for actively controllable liquid transport driven by an external force, allowing efficiently and controllably directional transport of a liquid e.g., sweat. The controllable liquid transport system comprises a controllable liquid transport material used as a liquid transport layer and a breathable, waterproof protective layer.

Abstract: Provided are fluorine-free, oleophobic layers including one more or polydimethylsiloxane resin layers. The layers can be disposed on a portion of or all of a surface of a substrate. Also provided are methods of making and using same.

Abstract: Methods and systems for developing a sizing system through categorization and selection of prototypes, which can be regarded as the most appropriate fit model, is described. Once categorized and prototypes are selected, recommendations for the sizing of a target body part may be issued.

Abstract: A fabric having a base layer with an inside and a face side. The base layer may be hydrophobic and/or omniphobic. The fabric also has a hydrophilic transport layer, a portion of which passes through one or more ducts in the side of the base layer for absorbing liquids. The inner portion may have a shape configured to better absorb and move liquids. The liquids are transported to the face side of the base layer. A covering layer may be disposed on the face side of the base layer such that the outer portion of the transport layer is between the base and covering layers. In some embodiments, an inner layer is disposed on the inside of the base layer such that the inner portion of the transport layer is between the inner layer and the base layer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for developing a sizing system through categorization and selection of prototypes, which can be regarded as the most appropriate fit model, is described. Once categorized and prototypes are selected, recommendations for the sizing of a target body part may be issued.

Abstract: An embodiment of a robotic fabric has a first fabric layer and an actuator that is configured to have a first state and a second state. A property of the first fabric layer is different when the actuator is in the first state as compared to the property of the first fabric layer when the actuator is in the second state.

Abstract: Methods and systems for developing a sizing system through categorization and selection of prototypes, which can be regarded as the most appropriate fit model, is described. Once categorized and prototypes are selected, recommendations for the sizing of a target body part may be issued.

Abstract: Described are moisture responsive materials. The materials may have tunable moisture permeability. A material may be a substrate that includes apertures. The apertures are configured to open or close depending on the humidity environment to which the substrate is exposed. The apertures have at least two regions of polymer gel, which may have different amounts of crosslinking. The apertures may be formed from at least two polymer gels having at least two different crosslinker loadings. The materials may be used in articles of manufacture. For example, the materials are used in wearable articles, outdoor articles, medical articles, packaging articles, building articles, filtration/separation articles, and the like.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a garment for regulating a temperature of a wearer is provided. The garment includes a fabric configured to be worn by the wearer. The fabric includes channels parallel to a primary surface of the fabric. The garment includes a branched tube network for circulating a working fluid. The branched tube network is disposed in the channels of the fabric. The branched tube network includes a plurality of tubes wherein at least one end of each tube of the plurality of tubes is branched and connected to two daughter tubes, or more, the connection having a branch angle of between 1 and 359 degrees, inclusive. The tube network has at least two levels of branches.

Abstract: Described are moisture responsive materials. The materials may have tunable moisture permeability. A material may be a substrate that includes apertures. The apertures are configured to open or close depending on the humidity environment to which the substrate is exposed. The apertures have at least two regions of polymer gel, which may have different amounts of crosslinking. The apertures may be formed from at least two polymer gels having at least two different crosslinker loadings. The materials may be used in articles of manufacture. For example, the materials are used in wearable articles, outdoor articles, medical articles, packaging articles, building articles, filtration/separation articles, and the like.

Abstract: Described are fabrics and articles of manufacture. Also described are methods of making the fabrics. A fabric may exhibit directional liquid transport. The fabrics have a plurality of domains. A domain may connect a first side of the fabric and a second side of the fabric that is opposite the first side. The plurality of domains may have a gradient in concentration of hydrophobic and/or oleophobic groups. The fabrics may include nanoparticles. The fabrics may be made by exposing selected areas of a superhydrophobic and/or oleophobic fabric to an oxygen or air plasma.

Abstract: Provided are fluorine-free, oleophobic layers including one more or polydimethylsiloxane resin layers. The layers can be disposed on a portion of or all of a surface of a substrate. Also provided are methods of making and using same.

Abstract: An embodiment of a robotic fabric has a first fabric layer and an actuator that is configured to have a first state and a second state. A property of the first fabric layer is different when the actuator is in the first state as compared to the property of the first fabric layer when the actuator is in the second state.

Abstract: A fabric having a base layer with an inside and a face side. The base layer may be hydrophobic and/or omniphobic. The fabric also has a hydrophilic transport layer, a portion of which passes through one or more ducts in the side of the base layer for absorbing liquids. The inner portion may have a shape configured to better absorb and move liquids. The liquids are transported to the face side of the base layer. A covering layer may be disposed on the face side of the base layer such that the outer portion of the transport layer is between the base and covering layers. In some embodiments, an innter layer is disposed on the inside of the base layer such that the inner portion of the transport layer is between the inner layer and the base layer.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a garment for regulating a temperature of a wearer is provided. The garment includes a fabric configured to be worn by the wearer. The fabric includes channels parallel to a primary surface of the fabric. The garment includes a branched tube network for circulating a working fluid. The branched tube network is disposed in the channels of the fabric. The branched tube network includes a plurality of tubes wherein at least one end of each tube of the plurality of tubes is branched and connected to two daughter tubes, or more, the connection having a branch angle of between 1 and 359 degrees, inclusive. The tube network has at least two levels of branches.

Abstract: A fabric for temperature regulation and a wearable device for regulating a temperature of a wearer are disclosed. The wearable device has a fabric and one or more microtubes woven in the fabric. Each microtube has an inlet and an outlet, and each microtube is configured to transport a gas through the microtube from the inlet to the outlet. A pump moves gas through the microtube to heat or cool the wearer. The fabric may have a plurality of warp yarns in a warp direction and weft yarns in a weft direction. The fabric also has a plurality of microtubes in a warp and/or weft direction of the fabric. The fabric is formed by interweaving the plurality of microtubes with the warp yarns and weft yarns.

Abstract: A thermal insulation structure including a fabric layer and a dual-layer infrared radiation reflective metal coating disposed on a surface of the fabric layer. The dual-layer infrared radiation reflective metal coating includes a first coating layer directly applied on to the surface of the fabric layer, and, a second coating layer applied on to the first coating layer.

Abstract: A fabric having moisture management function, which has a structure simulating plant structure and comprises at least two layers as follows: a bottom layer, which is of a leno or matt structure simulating main stem of plant, in which a number of yarns are grouped together to form a plurality of fabric units; said bottom layer can be adapted to be in contact with human skin; a top layer, which is of a plain weave structure, in which the yarns of said fabric unit further split in the top layer to form such a plain weave structure, simulating the branching in plant structure; wherein, in said fabric, water can be transported from the bottom layer to the middle layer and further to the top layer where it evaporates due to the improved capillarity of the yarns so as to provide better moisture management function.