Cool To The Touch
Cool to the touch is a material characteristic or processing that makes a textile feel cool the moment it is touched by quickly transferring heat away from the skin.
Contents6 sections
Definition and Overview
Cool to the touch is a property in which heat moves to the textile side immediately after skin touches the textile, creating a cool sensation. It is imparted by combining the type of fiber, thread or weave/knit structure, textile density, surface texture, and finishing. It is not the classification name of the textile itself, so it is used for both woven fabrics and knits.
It is a characteristic that expresses coolness at the moment of touch, and it does not necessarily lower body temperature throughout wear. Resistance to stuffiness inside clothing and the feeling of heat are also affected by moisture absorption, quick-drying performance, breathability, and clothing ease.
Characteristics
In many cases, the surface is smooth, does not cling to the skin, and is finished with a crisp, dry hand feel. High-density woven fabrics may have firmness, and some knits combine drape and stretch. You cannot judge the presence or degree of cool to the touch by appearance alone.
The feeling of coolness varies depending on the contact area with the skin, moisture content, room temperature, and the wearer's perception. Fabrics with moisture absorption, quick-drying performance, and breathability tend to contribute to comfort in summer, but these are separate properties from cool to the touch.
- Cool to the touch: a property in which heat moves away immediately on contact, creating a cool sensation.
- Moisture absorption and quick drying: a property that absorbs and disperses sweat and other moisture so it dries easily.
- Heat shielding: a property that suppresses the entry of heat from sunlight and other sources.
Main Applications
It is used for spring and summer T-shirts, shirts, blouses, dresses, pants, skirts, innerwear, and nightwear. It is especially effective for items with a large area in direct contact with the skin, where the tactile characteristics can be utilized.
In sportswear and uniforms, cool to the touch may be combined with moisture absorption and quick drying, stretch, and breathability. It is important to separate the required performance for the intended application and not judge wearing comfort by cool to the touch alone.
Selection and Handling Notes
During planning, while actually checking the touch, select the blend ratio, structure, fabric weight, thickness, sheerness, stretch, and moisture absorption and quick-drying performance to suit the application. Because the display method and test conditions for cooling performance differ by textile, check whether the values are under the same conditions when comparing numbers.
Shrinkage and skew are not caused by cool to the touch itself, but mainly by the properties of the fibers, the textile structure, and finishing. Before mass production, perform washing tests to check shrinkage rate, appearance changes, hand feel, and durability of the functions, and handle the item according to the care label.
Smooth thin fabrics and highly stretchy knits may shift during cutting or develop puckering (seam contraction) or waviness during sewing. Align the grain, adjust the needle, thread, and differential feed to suit the textile, and perform a test sew before production.
Differences from Similar Terms
Moisture absorption and quick drying is a function that handles sweat and dries easily, and its evaluation target differs from the initial coolness of cool to the touch. Some fabrics have both properties, while others have only one.
Heat shielding is mainly a function that blocks radiant heat from sunlight and suppresses heat from entering inside clothing. Cool to the touch is a characteristic related to heat transfer between the skin and the textile, and it should be considered separately from the performance needed for protection from sunlight outdoors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does cool to the touch fabric stay cool while you wear it?
Cool to the touch is mainly a characteristic related to the coolness felt the moment skin touches the textile. Comfort during wear is also affected by how quickly sweat dries, breathability, clothing ease, temperature, and humidity. For summer items, moisture absorption and quick drying and breathability should also be checked as needed.
Does the cool to the touch function weaken after washing?
It depends on how the performance is imparted. Characteristics based on the fibers and structure and characteristics based on finishing do not change in the same way after washing. Before adoption, confirm with the textile supplier the hand feel after washing, dimensional changes, and the basis for the functional claim, and test under practical conditions.
