Thermal Comfort Performance of Active Cooling T-Shirt in Agricultural Protective Clothing

Abstract

<p>The purpose of this research aimed to investigate if a t-shirt with printed cooling technology can significantly improve the physiological and subjective thermal comfort of agricultural workers. Chest skin temperature, chest microclimate humidity, and the heart rate of twenty agricultural workers were measured. Daily exit surveys consisting of perceived exertion, comfort, and temperature sensations were gathered along with an additional exit survey consisting of acceptance information from the agricultural workers. Results from this study will determine if novel textile finishing technologies, such as the ones used in this study, can improve comfort for agricultural and industrial work applications.</p>