The Thermal Colour and the Emissivity of Printed Pigments on Knitted Fabrics for Application in Diurnal Thermal Camouflage Garments

Abstract

This work compares thermal colour and emissivity of different pigments printed on to two types of jersey knitted fabrics (cotton and polyester). In order to analyze and differentiate the thermal colours of the knitted fabrics samples, diurnal and nocturnal thermal images of a female body were captured in an outdoor environment using a thermal imaging camera. Five pigments (white, black, yellow, magenta and cyan blue) were analyzed in a conditioned environment, simulating atmospheric (diurnal/nocturnal) and skin temperature, using a climatic chamber, a thermal manikin and a thermal imaging camera. The thermal tests allowed identifying the thermal colour of the printed pigments for application in the diurnal thermal camouflage garments.