IMPACT OF HEAT ON RECOVERY EFFICIENCY OF CAR SEATS FABRICS.

This paper deals with investigating performance of car seat fabrics in terms of their compression and recovery properties influenced by heat degradation. Polyurethane foam, nonwoven and 3D knitted spacer fabrics are commonly used as padding (in middle layer) in car seats cover. The current work presents an alternative approach to evaluate effectivity of car seat fabrics, namely behaviour of their middle layers before and after heat degradation which simulates hot summer condition. In summary, results show that 3D spacer is the most appropriate middle layer for car seat cover because of its recovery properties is very good at both before and after heat degradation (about 94% from original thickness) on the contrary PU foam. The PU foam is very good at recovery behaviour under standard ambient conditions (temperature about 25°C) on the other hand PU foam recovery significantly decreases (about 40% against 3D spacer) after impact of high temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]