Heat and Moisture Transfer Through Nonwoven Fabrics

Abstract

The geometric moisture diffusivity model developed by this research indicates that fiber volume fraction and shape coefficient are the most important structural parameters affecting water vapor diffusivity through nonhydrophilic nonwoven fabrics. Water vapor diffusivity decreases with increasing fiber volume fraction and decreases as the flatness of the fiber cross section increases. Although structural properties such as fiber fineness and fabric thickness affect optical porosity, their effect on water vapor diffusivity through nonhygroscopic nonwoven materials is small.