COOLED PLATE TESTS ON TEXTILE MATERIALS IN SIMULATED COCKPIT UNDER “SOLAR RADIATION” Kuklane, Kalev

This study investigated if clothing material with reflective properties has an effect on heat gain in pilot, specifically, under solar radiation. Two materials, conventional pilot suit material (Old) and material coated with coldblack® (New, Schoeller Technologies AG, Switzerland) were tested over variety of underwear layers and in a box simulating cockpit. A hot plate was used to measure textile combinations’ insulation. Under the solar radiation simulation with a Thorn lamp (841 W/m) a water cooled plate was utilized. The insulation of New was slightly lower than in Old. New showed about 10 % lower heat transmission under solar radiation than Old. Textile surface temperature in New was several degrees lower than in Old. When placed in the box the heat transmission difference reduced to nothing. The new material has ability to reduce the heat load in the open space. In closed space the advantage disappears, i.e. the effect of the outer layer in cockpit scenario is marginal.