Design and performance analysis of kids' garments prototypes against electromagnetic radiation - comfort properties of hybrid conductive fabrics
AUTEX RESEARCH JOURNAL, cilt.26, sa.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 26 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1515/aut-2025-0097
- Dergi Adı: AUTEX RESEARCH JOURNAL
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, ABI/INFORM, INSPEC, Directory of Open Access Journals
- Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
The widespread use of electronic devices has increased human exposure to electromagnetic (EM) radiation, raising concerns particularly for vulnerable user groups such as children. While textile-based EM shielding solutions have been extensively studied, limited attention has been given to balance between shielding effectiveness and wear comfort, which is critical for real-life applications. This study investigates the comfort performance of hybrid conductive fabrics developed for EM-protective children's garments. Unlike previous studies focusing primarily on shielding efficiency, this work evaluates the multi-dimensional comfort behaviour of fabrics and garment prototypes, considering both material-level and clothing-level performance. Air permeability, water vapour permeability, thermal resistance, bending rigidity, and surface roughness of the developed fabrics were experimentally analyzed. Also, thermal comfort performance of the garments was assessed using a thermal manikin system under controlled conditions. The results reveal that the incorporation of conductive components significantly influences thermophysiological and tactile comfort parameters. Despite a reduction in air permeability and increased stiffness compared to conventional fabrics, hybrid structures demonstrated acceptable comfort performance for practical use. The findings provide a comprehensive framework for the design of EM-protective textile products by integrating shielding functionality with user comfort requirements, contributing to the development of wearable protective systems for sensitive user groups.