High performance textiles for protective clothing

Fabric systems used in firefighters' thermal protective clothing should offer optimal thermal protective and thermo-physiological comfort performances. However, fabric systems that have very high thermal protective performance have very low thermo-physiological comfort performance. As these performances are inversely related, a categorization tool based on these two performances can help to find the best balance between them. Thus, this study is aimed at developing a tool for categorizing fabric systems used in protective clothing. For this, a set of commercially available fabric systems were evaluated and categorized. The thermal protective and thermo-physiological comfort performances were measured by standard tests and indexed into a normalized scale between 0 (low performance) and 1 (high performance). The indices dataset was first divided into three clusters by using the k-means algorithm. Here, each cluster had a centroid representing a typical Thermal Protective Performance Index (TPPI) value and a typical Thermo-physiological Comfort Performance Index (TCPI) value. By using the ISO 11612:2015 and EN 469:2014 guidelines related to the TPPI requirements, the clustered fabric systems were divided into two groups: Group 1 (high thermal protective performance-based fabric systems) and Group 2 (low thermal protective performance-based fabric systems). The fabric systems in each of these TPPI groups were further categorized based on the typical TCPI values obtained from the k-means clustering algorithm. In this study, these categorized fabric systems showed either high or low thermal protective performance with low, medium, or high thermo-physiological comfort performance. Finally, a tool for using these categorized fabric systems was prepared and presented graphically. The allocations of the fabric systems within the categorization tool have been verified based on their properties (e.g., thermal resistance, weight, evaporative resistance) and construction parameters (e.g., woven, nonwoven, layers), which significantly affect the performance. In this way, we identified key characteristics among the categorized fabric systems which can be used to upgrade or develop high-performance fabric systems. Overall, the categorization tool developed in this study could help clothing manufacturers or textile engineers select and/or develop appropriate fabric systems with maximum thermal protective performance and thermo-physiological comfort performance. Thermal protective clothing manufactured using this type of newly developed fabric system could provide better occupational health and safety for firefighters.

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Development of high performance thermal protective clothing

Thermal Protective Clothing for Firefighters ◽

10.1016/b978-0-08-101285-7.00004-6 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 27-55

Keyword(s):

Protective Clothing ◽

High Performance ◽

Thermal Protective Clothing

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Investigation of composite fabric impregnated with non-Newtonian fluid for protective textiles

Journal of Composite Materials ◽

10.1177/0021998319873067 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 54 (8) ◽

pp. 1013-1021 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Danmei Sun ◽

Fuyou Zhu ◽

George K Stylios

Keyword(s):

Newtonian Fluid ◽

Protective Clothing ◽

High Performance ◽

Sports Injuries ◽

Surface Friction ◽

Pull Out ◽

Body Armour ◽

Shock Impact ◽

Weight Test ◽

Protective Textiles

Commercial high-performance fibre materials for body armour have very low surface friction and this has become an issue in the effectiveness of ballistic impact energy absorption. Also, the incidence of sports injuries in high contact sports is high. The severity of injuries of police and sportsman can be reduced by wearing enhanced protective clothing that have the ability to absorb the shocks. In this study, a type of non-Newtonian fluid has been developed. It became hardened upon a shock impact which was observed through a drop-on-weight test. The non-Newtonian fluid was successfully applied on to a traditional plain weave body armour fabric made of Twaron®. The treated fabric was studied by scanning electron microscopy and a yarn pulling-out test. It shows that the force to pull out a yarn from the non-Newtonian fluid treated fabric is four times higher than that of the untreated one. The flexibility of the non-Newtonian polymer treated fabric remains unchanged. The polymer can be used for applications where impact protection can be a highly desirable property.

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Dyeing of m-Aramid Fibers in Ionic Liquids

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym12081824 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 1824 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Klaus Opwis ◽

Bilal Celik ◽

Rainer Benken ◽

Dierk Knittel ◽

Jochen Stefan Gutmann

Keyword(s):

Tensile Strength ◽

Ionic Liquids ◽

Flame Retardant ◽

Protective Clothing ◽

High Performance ◽

Aramid Fibers ◽

Dyeing Process ◽

High Consumption ◽

Near Future ◽

The Way

Aramids represent a class of high-performance fibers with outstanding properties and manifold technical applications, e.g., in flame-retardant protective clothing for firefighters and soldiers. However, the dyeing of aramid fibers is accompanied by several economic and ecological disadvantages, resulting in a high consumption of water, energy and chemicals. In this study, a new and innovative dyeing procedure for m-aramid fibers using ionic liquids (ILs) is presented. The most relevant parameters of IL-dyed fibers, such as tensile strength, elongation and fastness towards washing, rubbing and light, were determined systematically. In summary, all aramid textiles dyed in ILs show similar or even better results than the conventionally dyed samples. In conclusion, we have successfully paved the way for a new, eco-friendly and more sustainable dyeing process for aramids in the near future.

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New Development in Flame Retardant Finishing of Cotton Blend Fabrics

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.671.157 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 671 ◽

pp. 157-172 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

C.Q. Yang ◽

Hui Yang ◽

Qin Chen

Keyword(s):

Flame Retardant ◽

Protective Clothing ◽

High Performance ◽

Low Cost ◽

Strength Loss ◽

Synthetic Fibers ◽

New Development ◽

Fabric Strength ◽

Hydrolysis Resistance ◽

Blend Fabric

Blending cotton with synthetic fibers drastically improved durability for use in protective clothing. Developing new flame retardant finishing technology for cotton blends was critical for producing low cost, durable and high performance fire resistance military protective clothing. In this paper, we discussed the flame retardant finishing of the Nomex/cotton (65/35) blend fabric using a hydroxy-functional organophosphorus oligomer (HFPO) in combination with 1,2,3,4-butane-tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) as a bonding agent and triethanolamine (TEA) as a reactive co-additive. Because cotton was a highly flammable fiber, the Nomex/cotton blend fabric containing more than 20% cotton required flame-retardant finishing treatment. BTCA reacted with HFPO, cotton and TEA to form BTCA/HFPO/TEA/cotton crosslinked polymeric network, which improved the hydrolysis resistance of HFPO, whereas TEA provided synergistic nitrogen to enhance the performance of HFPO. The Nomex/cotton blend treated with the HFPO/BTCA/TEA system shows high flame retardant performance and excellent laundering durability at relatively low add-on levels. We also discussed the flame retardant finishing of the 50/50 nylon/cotton blend military fabrics using the combination of HFPO and dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU), which formed HFPO/DMDHEU crosslinked networks on both cotton and nylon in the blends. The treated blend fabric passed the vertical burning test after 40-50 launderings cycles with negligible fabric strength loss. The heat release rate data indicated that the nylon and cotton fibers interacted with each other during their thermal decomposition on the blend fabric treated with the HFPO/DMDHEU system.

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Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Fabric Systems for Intelligent Garment Design

MRS Bulletin ◽

10.1557/mrs2003.167 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 28 (8) ◽

pp. 568-573 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Jim Barry ◽

Roger Hill ◽

Paul Brasser ◽

Michal Sobera ◽

Chris Kleijn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fluid Dynamics ◽

Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽

Protective Clothing ◽

High Performance ◽

Low Cost ◽

Dynamics Modeling ◽

Textile Materials ◽

Property Data ◽

Materials Used ◽

Garment Design

AbstractProtective clothing provides laboratory and hazardous-materials workers, firefighters, military personnel, and others with the means to control their exposure to chemicals, biological materials, and heat sources. Depending on the specific application, the textile materials used in protective clothing must provide high performance in a number of areas, for example, impermeability to hazardous chemicals, breathability, light weight, low cost, and durability. Models based on computational fluid dynamics have been developed to predict the performance of protective clothing materials. Such models complement testing by enabling property data from laboratory materials tests to be used in predictions of the performance of integrated multilayer garments under varying environmental conditions.

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Evaluation of Transfer Wicking Behavior of Fibrous Material Ensembles Used by Wildland Firefighters

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.730.595 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 730 ◽

pp. 595-600 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hua Ling He ◽

Zhi Cai Yu

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Fibrous Material ◽

Protective Clothing ◽

High Performance ◽

Air Permeability ◽

Thermal Protective Performance ◽

Firefighter Protective Clothing ◽

Technical Basis ◽

Protective Performance ◽

Further Development

Moisture is widely recognized as one of the most important factors that influencing thermal comfort and thermal protective performance of firefighters. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of liquid moisture on the transfer wicking behavior from the wet underwear fabric to the dry outerwear layer within two-layer fabric assemblies, which is typically used by wildland firefighters. The obtained results indicated that the transfer wicking behavior between the entire two-layer clothing systems selected is not very obvious. Results indicated that the transfer wicking ratio was low 5 percent of water content initially held in wet fabric. The greater amount of liquid water initially held in two-layer fabric assemblies, the greater the amount of water transferred. The effect of moisture level on air permeability of bi-layer fabric constructions associated with thermo-physiological comfort properties was also investigated. Results show that the air permeability of multilayer fabrics decreased with an increase of moisture content. Compared to having no water, the air permeability reduced to 50 percent when the water content reached up to 70%. The perception gained from this work could serve as technical basis for further development of high-performance firefighter protective clothing.

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Applying of Different Fabrics For Design of the Protective Military Clothes

Quality of Life (Banja Luka) - APEIRON ◽

10.7251/qol1701056r ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 15 (1-2) ◽

Author(s):

Sanja Risteski ◽

Vineta Srebrenkoska ◽

Silvana Zhezhova

Keyword(s):

Protective Clothing ◽

High Performance ◽

New Products ◽

Design Activity ◽

Materials Used ◽

The Right ◽

Fabric Materials ◽

New Generation ◽

Selection Of

The process of designing protective military clothes is a long process based on the application of new generation of materials and searching for new trends in the field of protective clothing. The first step in the process of designing protective clothes includes the entire design activity for new products development with special emphasis on the applying of the types of new high-performance fibers for protection of the soldiers. The right selection of materials means better protection and higher satisfaction of both, the wearer and the technologist.In this paper the main characteristics of the fabric materials used in protective clothes design are presented and the selection of the best materials for the required level of protection is made. The selected materials for design of protective clothes are analyzed and their main characteristics are presented. It is also clear that the armour should be as comfortable as possible and appropriately light.

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