Optimization of the fabric used in the service khaki's uniform worn by Turkish Naval Forces' personnel to provide the thermo-physiological comfort

This research?s objectives are to examine the ?service khaki?s? uniforms used by the Turkish Naval Forces? personnel according to the thermo-physiological comfort and by developing a suggestion after the findings of the research, to optimize the fabric used in this uniform so that the new fabric will provide thermal comfort for the user. This research subjects for a series of qualitative and quantitative analysis to define and minimize the problems resulting from the present fabric. The universe of the research is the officer, petty officer and sergeant rates working in the ships of the Naval Forces. In order to examine the medium and to develop the data collecting device, a questionnaire is applied on 1245 personnel in various ships located in Aksaz, Erdek and Gölcük Bases. Later the laboratory analysis of the present and the two produced sample fabrics are done and the results are interpreted according to thermo-physiological comfort. Then in order to define the preferance of the personnel, the first and last test is conducted to arbitrary chosen 46 personnel from Gölcük Base, who tried the two uniforms sewn from the newly developed fabrics on for three weeks time and after each period data about related uniform is collected. After the statistical analysis of the derived data by SPSS15.0 programme, findings are interpreted and a report on ?third generation textile fibres? are presented. In the first part of this research report, the importance of this subject, the problem sentence and sub-problems are stated, in the second part the theoretical background about thermo-physiological comfort and related articles are given. In the third part, the material and the method of the research are explained, the laboratory analysis and the characteristics of the equipments are defined. As data collecting techniques, a questionnaire and physical analyzing methods are used and chi-square test and Mc Nemar-Bowker test to define a statistically significant difference vii between the pre and post test questionnaire answers are applied. Among most important findings of the research definite results like; ?personnel sweat while working?, ?the fabric of service khaki?s doesn?t absorb sweat?, ?the fabric of service khaki?s doesn?t transmit air?, and ?the fabric of the service khaki?s doesn?t protect the user from the changes in the environment temperature? are sentenced. The laboratory analysis of the findings conclude that the developed fabrics have better thermo-physiological scores than the present fabric and the first-last test questionnaire results show that personnel prefer the 50/50% polyester/viscose twill fabric and suggestions are stated regarding to the subject of this research. This section is followed by Bibliography and Annex.