Thermal Properties of Fur

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Abstract
The guarded hot plate method was adapted for measuring the thermal insulation of fresh, dried and tanned furs of 15 spp. of northern mammals. The insulation per unit thickness of the inner level of fur was obtained by measuring the temperature gradient in the fur through which a known quantity of heat was flowing. The guarded hot plate provided the heat, and the temperature gradient was measured with a ladder-like array of fine wire thermocouples inserted into the fur with all wires running parallel to the skin. The average value of the insulation per unit thickness of the inner fur of fresh pelts from 10 spp. of northern mammals was 4.2 clo/in. (1.1 x 104cm2sec[degree]C/gmcalcm). This value is representative within [plus or minus] 10%. The highest total insulation obtained was 7 clo (tanned coyote) and several pelts had total insulation values above 6 clo. The insulation per unit thickness was increased about 1% for each degree C decrease in the temperature of the air pervading the fur. Fresh pelts were somewhat poorer insulators than dried or tanned furs due to evaporative transfer of heat in the former. Erecting the fur fibers increased the total insulation and decreased the insulation per unit thickness of the inner fur. The insulation per unit thickness of fur was increased about four-fold by replacing the air in and around the fur with the common refrigerant gas, Freon. From this it was concluded that the important avenues for heat transfer through dry pelts with air pervading the fur are air conduction and natural convection of the entrapped air. Heat conduction by the fur fibers and radiation transfer are negligible.
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