Outdoor Apparel Insulation

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Outdoor Apparel Insulation

• Jeff Fisher and Matt Maxfield

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Why Outdoor Apparel Insulation?

• Live in Utah with 4 varying and distinct seasons
• Love the outdoors
• Matt works for Klymit
• Noble gas technology company based in Ogden, UT
• BYU Entrepreneurs started the company in 2007
• Use noble gasses to insulate outdoor apparel and
  equipment
• Variable insulation

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Important Terms

• Thermal Conductivity, k
• Thermal Resistance, R
• Clo

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Thermal Conductivity

• Thermal Conductivity K (W/mK)
• Property of a material that indicates it property
  to conduct Heat

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Thermal Resistance

• R Value is a measure of thermal resistance
• High R value Better insulating capabilities

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CLO Value

• Developed in 1941by American Scientists Gagge,
  Burton, and Bazett as a way to describe how much
  clothing one needs to stay warm in a given
  temperature
• 1 Clo is the equivalent of a typical business
  suit
• This would keep a inactive person warm at 21 ?
• Clo 0.155 m2 K/W
• Higher CLO Higher insulating value

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Table Comfort Temperature from test at Leeds University (UK) Table Comfort Temperature from test at Leeds University (UK) Table Comfort Temperature from test at Leeds University (UK) Table Comfort Temperature from test at Leeds University (UK)
Comfort C Clo R K
15 2.5 2.2 0.07
9 4 3.52 0.04
0 6 5.28 0.03
-10 6.5 5.72 0.03
-20 8 7.04 0.02
-30 10 8.8 0.02
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Testing

• With the use of ThermTest Equipment we could
  calculate the keff value of different materials
  which could then be converted into R and Clo
  values

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Procedure

• Calibrate test equipment
• A ThermTest sample with a known value of Keff is
  placed on the heating element, making sure that
  solid contact is made, and the test is run
• Using various samples a calibration curve is
  created
• Using the calibration data new samples can be
  tested for a keff value
• Convert Keff to R and Clo Values for benchmarking
  results
• Compare Results

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More Validation Testing

• Constant heat source
• Thermocouples
• Insulated box
• Measuring k value

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Useful Equations
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Results
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Results
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Results
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Results

• Ranking of Best Outerwear Insulation
• PrimaLoft One
• PrimaLoft Sport
• Argon
• Thinsulate
• Fleece

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Conclusion

• If you want the best insulating capability in
  outerwear you should choose PrimaLoft insulation
  found in many good winter wear or Klymits Argon
  insulation. Both of these will provide the best
  insulating capabilities based upon the thermal
  conductivity of the insulation