Friction and tactile perception of textile fabrics

doi:10.1016/j.triboint.2012.08.018

Tribology International

Volume 63, July 2013, Pages 29-33

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.triboint.2012.08.018 Get rights and content

Abstract

Measuring the friction coefficient between human skin sliding against different types of fabrics has an important role in the development of sport and medical materials.

The characteristics of the skin vary significantly along the human body, so to be able to measure the corresponding friction coefficient at every point of the human body, a portable and easily usable measuring probe is indispensable. The probe developed within the scope of this work is based on a multi-component force sensor whereby the normal and tangential forces can be measured to determine the friction coefficient.

The friction coefficient of human skin against five different fabrics was assessed in two body regions and the average results were compared with the tactile perception. By comparing the answers to a questionnaire about tactile perception with the results of the friction measurements, a positive correlation was obtained especially concerning the slippery and the smoothness properties.

Highlights

► Development of a new portable skin friction tester. ► The friction coefficient of skin/fabric in two human body regions: palm and forearm. ► Tactile perception of fabrics evaluated by a questionnaire about the tactile feeling. ► 19 volunteers have been involved in the study. ► Further the effect of body region and the influence of gender on friction were discussed.

Introduction

Our skin is the largest organ of the body—a complex and dynamic system that is vitally important to our health. Skin is also the outermost part of our sensory system and when in interaction with the surrounding objects, it acts as both a force transmitter and a sensor. The friction between the skin and the counter-contact surfaces reflects this double role, limiting the transferred tangential force and reporting about the counter-surface texture, through pleasant and unpleasant sensations.

However, human skin spends most of its time in close contact with clothing and garments made of different fibres. Therefore, measuring the friction coefficient between human skin sliding against different types of fabrics has an important role in the scientific field and in the research and development of sport and medical materials. The friction coefficient between human skin and fabrics is affected by numerous factors like humidity, the fabric itself and of course the properties of the skin [1], [2], [3], [4]. The characteristics of the skin can be very different along the human body and depend on the conditioners and moisturisers used [5]. Pailler-Mattei et al. [6] have shown that the lipidic film on the skin surface can be related to the skin adhesion, and the kinetics of sorption/desorption of distilled water by the skin will affect the skin friction coefficient. To be able to measure the corresponding friction coefficient at every point on the human body, a portable and easily usable measuring probe is indispensable.

Friction is an important factor in the pleasant feeling produced when touching an object, especially garments. Additionally, friction plays an important role in skin contact injuries. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the correlation between the tactile perception and the friction assessed directly by in vivo tests. In this paper, the assessed values of friction are compared with answers to the questionnaire, and we try to determine the reason for the different frictional behaviours.

Section snippets

Textile materials and body regions

Five types of fabrics were used in the scope of the present work (Fig. 1). The materials tested include two knitted fabrics, one with 82% polyamide and 18% elastane (Fig. 1a), and the other with 100% polyester; and three plain weave fabrics made of cotton, silk and wool (Fig. 1c, d and e) respectively.

The friction was measured on the ventral face of the forearm and then on the palm of each volunteer. Nineteen people, both females and males, of different ages were investigated (Table 1).

Equipment and test procedures

Result of the questionnaire

A summary of the answers from the volunteers about the five materials can be seen in the graphs displayed in Fig. 4. In each case, the scaling is 1–5 and if one represents a feature, the five corresponds to the contrary meaning of the feature. Regarding the tactile feeling sensation (Fig. 4e), the textile materials tested are classed in a similar order for both the smoothness and the slippery sensations they produced (Fig. 4a and c, respectively). As concerns the hardness impression, (Fig. 4b),

Conclusions

The friction coefficient between human skin sliding against different types of fabrics was assessed using a portable friction probe. The probe is based on a two-component force sensor whereby the normal and tangential forces can be measured to determine the friction coefficient. Two anatomical sites were investigated: the palm of the hand and the forearm ventral face. The results obtained allow us to conclude the following:

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The friction values measured in the palm of the hand displayed a marked

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In vivo friction properties of human skin
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There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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Friction and tactile perception of textile fabrics

Abstract

Highlights

Introduction

Section snippets

Textile materials and body regions

Equipment and test procedures

Result of the questionnaire

Conclusions

Wear

Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces

Skin response to fabric: a review of studies and assessment methods

Clothing and Textile Research Journal

Skin friction and fabric sensations in neutral and warm environments

Textile Research Journal

Influence of fibre-type and moisture on measured fabric-to-skin friction

Textile Research Journal

In vivo friction properties of human skin

Prosthetics and Orthotics International