Upper Body of Dynamic Sweat Distributions in Young Males Wearing Fully Encapsulating Chemical Protective Ensembles

Abstract

Fully encapsulating chemical protective ensembles (FCPE) has characteristic of impermeability, which may affect people’s sweat, accordingly influences clothing thermal-wet comfort. This study investigated upper-body dynamic sweat distribution in young males wearing FCPE, and evaluating changes in sweat rates both intra-region and inter-time. Participants were 10 healthy young male college students, aged 23.1\(\pm\)0.8 years. In a climatic chamber (environment temperature 35 ℃, relative humidity 60%), participants exercised on a treadmill at 4 km/h, 5%. A set of absorbent pads with 35 pads was used to collect sweat. Participants change a new set of absorbent pads every 5 minutes until trial stopped. Seven sets of pads were obtained. Average sweat rate of every 5 minutes is 389, 631, 920, 1137, 1100, 1211 and 1105 g.m−2.h−1, respectively. The top five high sweat rates were observed at the medial upper back, lateral lower back, medial upper chest, medial mid back and lateral top back, with average values 1406,1278,1198,1181 and 1139 g·m−2·h−1, respectively. The lower sweat rates were observed at waist (with average values 557, 370, 596 and 332 g·m−2·h−1, respectively) and bottom zones (with average values 373, 398, 661 and 849 g·m−2·h−1, respectively). Wearing FCPE greatly promoted body profuse sweating. Based on the distribution result, upper body can be divided into three levels of sweat rate zones, which could be used to improve clothing comfort. The present study provides basic physiological data and guidance for personal protective clothing design.