Objective Evaluation of Bedding Materials and Their Application to Bedding Design

最近，对优质床上用品的需求越来越强，这些床上用品能提供健康、舒适的睡眠。为了满足这种日益增长的需求，我们开发了一种客观的方法来评估床上用品的性能因素，如触感、对人体的适应性和温度舒适性。我们还研究了床垫材料的机械性能，如纤维组装、表面性能以及热、湿和空气传输性能。我们的研究成果已经应用于铺垫材料的实际性能设计。我们的研究集中在以下三种类型的垫层材料上：1)蒲团：蒲团垫层的一个重要性能因素是反复压缩时厚度的变化。我们在实验中使用了各种类型的纤维，并开发了一种模拟测试来预测厚度的变化。我们测量了纤维组件的压缩性能、单纤维的形状和机械性能。然后，我们建立了这些因素与填充物厚度变化之间的关系，以获得可用于优质福顿填充毯设计的数据。2)测量了不同类型毛毯的机械和热性能，以阐明这些性能的范围和每种毛毯类型的特点。然后，我们提出了一种通过将这些属性与感官测试中测量的舒适值相关联来客观评估毯子舒适性的方法。我们还检查了反复使用和清洁时发生的物理特性的变化。3)枕头：使用商业枕头进行软度、对人体的适应性、温度舒适性等感官测试。感官测试的结果与枕头的压缩和热传递特性有关。阐明了材料性能与枕垫性能设计之间的关系。

Recently, the demand has been growing stronger for quality bedding that provides sound, comfortable sleep. In response to this growing demand, we have developed an objective method for evaluating bedding performance factors, such as touch, adaptability to the human body, and temperature comfort. We have also investigated the mechanical properties of bedding materials, such as fiber assemblies, surface properties, and heat, moisture and air transport properties. The results of our research have already been applied to the actual performance design of bedding materials. Our research focuses on the following three types of bedding materials :1) Futons : An important performance factor for futon padding is change in thickness with repeated compression. Various kinds of fibers were used in our experiments and a simulation test was developed to predict changes in thickness. We measured the compression properties of the fiber assemblies, the shape of single fibers, and mechanical properties. We then established relationships between these factors and the changes in padding thickness to obtain data that can be used in the design of quality futon padding.2) Blankets : The mechanical and thermal properties of various kinds of blankets were measured to clarify the ranges of these properties and the chanracteristics of each blanket type. We then proposed a method of objectively evaluating blanket comfort by relating these properties to comfort values measured in sensory tests. We also examined the changes in physical properties that occur with repeated use and cleaning.3) Pillows : Sensory tests for softness, adaptability to the human body, temperature comfort, ets., were conducted using commercial pillows. The results of the sensory tests were linked to the compression and heat transfer properties of pillows. We then clarified the relationship between material properties and the performance design of pillow padding.