TA PIS
to maintaining a constant temperature
for the occupant. If a product is thermally
insulative, then a passenger’s core body
temperature will increase when they sit in
the seat. If temperature increases beyond
even a few degrees, it triggers the body’s
automated response, which is to perspire.
As the body perspires, it generates
moisture. The moisture in contact with the
body cools by the process of latency of
heat of evaporation. The moisture draws
heat from the body as it evaporates, which
is known as evaporative cooling. On
aircraft where the air is unsaturated (less
humid) the moisture evaporates faster
and easier, increasing the cooling effect.
Water vapour resistance is a measure
of how reluctant a material is to let water
vapour pass through it. The higher the
value, the more moisture remains in
contact with the body, and the more
thermal discomfort is experienced.
It’s the reason why wearing cotton
trousers when flying is widely perceived
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126 ANNUAL SHOWCASE 2020
Tapis offers a full
range of aviation
testing services at its
38,000ft2 facility
as being more comfortable than wearing,
say, polyester track trousers. The cotton
material is cellulosic in nature, and
cellulosic fabrics are extremely efficient
at retaining water vapour, wicking it away
from the body, whereas polyester has very
high water vapour resistance and keeps
the perspiration in contact with the body,
increasing the feeling of discomfort.
This is also the reason why heavily
pigmented leathers are often perceived
as hot and sticky. Their hermetically
sealed, heavily pigmented top coat is not
breathable and causes the perspiration
in Dallas
3. TAPIS HAS A SCIENTIFIC
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO
CREATE PASSENGER COMFORT
4. ULTRALEATHER FOUR-LAYER
TAKUMI TECHNOLOGY
to pool and remain in contact with the
passenger’s body, increasing their
perceived discomfort. It is also the reason
why fabrics are used so extensively in
long-haul aircraft cabins, as they have
the highest breathability of seat
cover materials.
Tapis’ Ultraleather features a
breathable microfoam layer, which has
excellent heat dissipation properties to
assist in the maintaining an optimum
range of body temperature. The backcloth
of Ultraleather is made of sustainable
rayon, which is a cellulosic fibre similar
in properties to cotton. The combination
of moisture dissipation and heat wicking
make Ultraleather comparable to fabric in
terms of its thermal comfort properties.
While it’s true that commercial airlines
are constantly striving to maximise the
number of paying passengers in the
aircraft layout, doing so doesn’t have
to result in an uncomfortable journey.
Innovative designs, combined with a
scientific approach to understanding
what produces comfort – body posture,
thermal neutrality and reducing the
feeling of moisture – can still result in
a net positive experience for travellers.
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4
“ INNOVATIVE
DESIGNS, COMBINED
WITH A SCIENTIFIC
APPROACH TO
COMFORT”
FREE READER ENQUIRY SERVICE
To request more details from Tapis,
visit www.magupdate.co.uk/paii
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Matthew Nicholls has over 15 years’
experience in seat cover manufacturing,
design, development and sales in the
aircraft interiors industry. Matthew has
a solid foundation in innovation in the
fields of material science and is
a subject matter expert in leather
and materials science. He is based
in California and oversees Tapis’
west coast sales in the USA.
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