A new thermal camera-based measurement method for wicking in laminated fabrics

Wicking analysis is a widely used method used to evaluate the wetting properties of fabrics. However, accurate measurement poses various challenges. In particular, in multilayer fabrics, inaccurate results may occur due to the different wetting behaviours of the front and back surfaces. Additionally, the inability to clearly observe the liquid on very light or very dark-coloured fabrics is another factor that increases the likelihood of errors. In this study, the wicking behaviour of a three-layer laminated fabric, commonly employed in automotive seat upholstery, was investigated, and a new measurement technique was developed. The method was validated by comparing thermography-derived wicking distance and wetted-area values with gravimetric mass uptake measurements obtained using conventional procedures. A strong correlation was observed between thermal and mass-based data (R = 0.98), confirming the accuracy of the proposed method. Thermal imaging also enabled reliable detection of wetting in internal layers and provided consistent results independent of fabric colour or environmental lighting conditions. Overall, the technique provides an objective and reproducible alternative for evaluating complex multilayer fabrics.