A Two-Stage Sorption Model of the Coupled Diffusion of Moisture and Heat in Wool Fabrics

Abstract

An extended mathematical model that takes into account the water vapor sorption kinetics of wool fibers is presented to describe the coupled heat and moisture transport in a wool fabric. The predictions from the two-stage model are compared with those from the Nordon-David model and a simple Fickian diffusion model, and with experimental observations on a sorption cell. The two-stage model shows the best agreement with the observations from the sorption cell tests.