Study of the Human Stickiness Perception of Wet Fabric on the Volar Forearm via Two Contact Modes: Friction and Adhesion-Separation.

Wet fabric clinging to human skin may cause stickiness perception and facilitate wearing discomfort. This study aims to investigate the stickiness perception of wet fabrics via two contact modes (friction and adhesion-separation) as well as the influences of fabric properties and contact features on stickiness perception. A set of dynamic contact devices was developed to drive the samples to move horizontally or vertically on volar forearms. According to the magnitude estimation approach, 12 subjects were asked to assess the stickiness perceptions caused by 64 types of contact stimuli. The results showed that the water absorption capacity had a significant and negative correlation with stickiness perception under the two contact modes. However, the surface roughness was neither related to stickiness perception under the friction mode nor to stickiness perception under the adhesion-separation mode. There was an interaction between contact pressure and sliding velocity. The sliding velocity at medium or high pressure had a significant effect on stickiness perception, but the separating velocity had no significant effect. Stickiness perception under the friction mode is higher than that under the adhesion-separation mode in most cases. Consequently, the friction mode was considered the main contact mode that evokes stickiness perception.