Study of Stickiness Perception of Fabrics Based on Friction and ERP Method

Sweats within the fabric–skin interface increase friction, cause stickiness perception, and facilitate wearing discomfort. To study the stickiness perception of wet fabrics, subjective assessment, skin friction, and neurophysiological response of the brain were systematically studied. Four fabrics that are commonly used as summer clothing were chosen for the tactile stimulus samples. Different wetness levels were designed by changing the sweat absorption amount. The results showed that the adhesive friction played a dominant role when the skin contacted the dry fabrics. The features of the friction coefficient μ, multiple fractal spectrum width, and P300 amplitude had strong correlations with the perceived stickiness of fabrics. Under dry and moist conditions, the surface roughness and water absorption capacity of fabric were the dominant factors that influenced the friction, vibration, and stickiness perception of fabrics. The parietal lobe and occipital lobe were positively activated and involved in the stickiness perceptions of fabric. Fabrics with low water absorption capacity and high μ tended to excite a high P300 amplitude and large activated brain area. The mechanical stimulation of the tactile receptor is associated with the brain’s cognition during stickiness perception. This study is meaningful for understanding the frictional behavior between fabric and skin surface and the cognitive mechanism in the stickiness perception of fabrics to reduce friction and improve wear comfort. It is also helpful in the evaluation of tactile stimulation of fabrics.