Footwear Air Permeability and Thermal Resistance Tester

Main uses:

The whole shoe air permeability and heat preservation performance testing machine is mainly used to evaluate the air permeability and heat preservation performance of shoes. By simulating the state of the human foot in different environments, the device can measure the aeration rate and insulation effect of the moss under specific conditions, thereby helping manufacturers and designers understand the performance of the product and improve and optimize accordingly.

1. Evaluate the permeability of shoes: permeability is one of the important factors affecting the comfort of shoes. By measuring the rate at which the shoe breathes under a certain pressure difference, the breathability of the shoe can be assessed to ensure that the shoe can maintain adequate air circulation and reduce the feeling of wet and stuffy feet.

2. Evaluate your shoes' thermal insulation performance: Thermal insulation performance is the key to keeping your feet warm in cold environments. By measuring the thermal resistance and wet resistance of the shoes at a certain temperature, the thermal insulation effect of the shoes can be evaluated to ensure that the shoes can effectively block the intrusion of cold air from the outside world and keep the feet warm.

3. Quality control: In the footwear production process, the equipment can be used to detect the manufacturing quality of shoes to ensure that the product meets the design specifications and quality standards. By comparing the air permeability and insulation performance of different batches or different manufacturers, potential quality problems can be discovered in time and improved and optimized.

4. Product development: In the development process of footwear products, the equipment can be used to test the impact of different materials, structures and designs on air permeability and thermal insulation performance. This helps designers optimize product design, improve product comfort and thermal performance.

Applicable standards:

The testing of the whole shoe breathability and thermal insulation performance tester should follow the relevant industry standards or specifications to ensure the accuracy and comparability of the test results. Here are some common applicable standards:

GB/T 33393-2023: This standard is edited by the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Footwear and will be officially implemented on July 1, 2024. It replaces the previous GB/T 33393-2016 standard and provides a standard basis for the heat and humidity comfort of the whole shoe. The standard specifies in detail the test methods, test equipment and test conditions for the air permeability and heat preservation performance of the whole shoe.

SATRA related specifications :SATRA（British Footwear Technical Research Association） has also developed a series of relevant specifications to evaluate the comfort of shoes, such as SATRATM 376 "Sweat Management Test", SATRA TM386 "whole shoe insulation Test", SATRATM 436 "Whole shoe heat and resistance level test", etc. These specifications provide an important reference for the testing of the whole shoe breathability and thermal insulation performance testing machine.

In practical applications, the tester should choose the appropriate test standard according to the specific needs and product characteristics, and follow the test methods and conditions specified in the standard for testing. At the same time, the tester should also regularly calibrate and maintain the test equipment to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the test results.

Product Advantages:

This Footwear Air Permeability and Thermal Resistance Tester offers significant advantages for footwear assessment:

Evaluates Whole Shoe Performance: Unlike material-level tests, it assesses the comfort and thermal properties of the complete footwear system, including all components and construction.

Simulates Foot Environment: Designed to replicate the conditions inside and outside a shoe worn on a human foot, providing more realistic test results.

Quantitative Data: Provides objective, measurable data for air permeability and thermal resistance, enabling precise performance comparisons.

Supports Comfort and Performance Improvement: The test results directly inform efforts to enhance wearer comfort, reduce moisture buildup, and improve thermal protection.

Standard Compliant Testing: Enables testing according to recognized industry standards (GB/T, SATRA), ensuring data reliability and comparability.

Versatile Application: Suitable for use in quality control, product development, and research settings.

Product Features:

A typical Footwear Air Permeability and Thermal Resistance Tester designed to meet the requirements of relevant standards includes the following features:

An artificial foot or last, often heated and possibly capable of simulating sweat (moisture release), placed inside the shoe being tested.

A controlled environmental chamber or system capable of maintaining precise and stable temperature and humidity conditions surrounding the shoe.

An airflow measurement system to determine the rate of air exchange through the shoe under a controlled pressure difference (for air permeability testing).

Multiple temperature sensors placed on the artificial foot, the shoe surface, and within the environmental chamber to measure temperature differences for thermal resistance calculations.

(For thermal resistance testing) A system for measuring heat flow between the heated foot and the environment.

(For wet resistance/sweat management) A system to introduce moisture to the artificial foot and measure its effect on thermal resistance or moisture transport.

A control system for setting and maintaining test parameters (temperature, humidity, airflow, pressure difference, foot temperature/sweat rate).

Data acquisition system to collect readings from sensors over the test duration.

Software for data analysis, calculation of air permeability rate, thermal resistance, and other relevant parameters, and generation of test reports.

The ability to accommodate different sizes and types of footwear.