Structural firefighters can receive second-degree burns while working in thermal exposures considerably lower than flashover conditions. These exposures are usually several minutes in duration, and the exposure levels are generally not sufficient to degrade the turnout shell fabric. There is considerable interest in the role played by moisture, absorbed by clothing materials exposed to perspiration from a sweating firefighter, in burn injuries received in these conditions. Recent studies have shown that moisture, present in firefighter turnout systems, has a complex influence on heat transmission and potential for skin burn injuries [1,2]. At the same time, there is significant current interest in developing laboratory thermal protective performance testing protocols that incorporate reliable and realistic moisture preconditioning procedures. This paper describes an analysis of the effects of moisture on the thermal protective performance of turnout systems exposed to a low-level heat source. Sweat Absorption in Firefighter TurnoutsDuring fire fighting, firefighters 1 can sweat profusely causing moisture to accumulate in their turnout garments. This accumulated moisture can affect the ability of the turnout clothing materials to protect against prolonged exposure to heat in a structural fire within a room that has not reached flashover condition. This research was conducted to study the effects of moisture on the thermal protective performance of firefighter turnout materials in this type of radiant heat environment.Abstract This paper describes research on the effects of absorbed moisture on the thermal protective performance of the fire fighter turnout materials exposed to thermal assaults lower than flashover conditions. A thermal testing platform and sensor are used to measure thermal protective performance of turnout systems exposed to a sub flashover heat flux range 6.3 kw/m 2 (0.15 cal/ cm 2 s). The effects of moisture level on predicted second-degree burn injury for turnout systems having different moisture vapor permeability and total heat loss are discussed. Heat transfer analysis and experimental results show that, for selected test conditions, moisture negatively impacts protective performance most severely when the amount of added moisture is at a comparatively low level (15-20% of turnout system weight).

This research developes a numerical model to predict skin burn injury resulting from heat transfer through a protective garment worn by an instrumented manikin exposed to laboratory-controlled flash fire exposures. This model incorporates characteristics of the simulated flash fire generated in the chamber and the heat-induced changes in fabric thermophysical properties. The model also accounts for clothing air layers between the garment and the manikin. The model is validated using an instrumented manikin fire test system. Results from the numerical model help contribute to a better understanding of the heat transfer process in protective garments exposed to intense flash fires, and to establishing systematic methods for engineering materials and garments to produce optimum thermal protective performance.

The influence of fibers on the fatigue cracking resistance of asphalt concrete is investigated using fracture energy. Nylon, a popular facing yarn of carpets, is used for the actual recycled carpet fibers in asphalt pavement. The experimental program is designed with two phases: the single fiber pull-out test and the indirect tension strength test. Through pull-out tests of 15-denier single nylon fibers, the critical fiber embedded length is determined to be 9.2 mm. As for indirect tension strength tests, samples of asphalt concrete mixed with nylon fibers of two lengths, 6 and 12 mm, based on results of the pull-out tests (critical embedded length) and three volume fractions, 0.25, 0.5, and 1%, are prepared and tested. Asphalt concrete samples fabricated with fibers of 1% and 12 mm results in 85% higher fracture energy than non-reinforced specimens, showing improved fatigue cracking resistance. Although an optimized asphalt mix design with fibers has not been developed for this study, the increased fracture energy represents a potential for improving asphalt fatigue life, which may be facilitated through the use of recycled carpet fibers.

A novel type of hybrid membrane has been fabricated by incorporating superacidic sulfated zirconia (S‐ZrO2) fibers into recast Nafion for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). With the introduction of electrospun superacidic fiber mats, a large amount of protogenic groups aggregated in the interfacial region between S‐ZrO2 fibers and the ionomer matrix, forming continuous pathways for facile proton transport. The resultant hybrid membranes had high proton conductivities, which were controlled by selectively adjusting the fiber diameter and fiber volume fraction. Consequently, the superacidic S‐ZrO2 electrospun fibers are promising filler materials and hybrid membranes containing S‐ZrO2 fiber mats can be potentially used in high‐performance fuel cells.

A higher amount of post industrial and post consumer fiber waste has been accumulated, due to the growth in world population, overall improvement of living standards and global fiber consumption. General descriptions of fibrous waste, statistics, material characteristics (compositions) and sources in the world were provided. The state-of-the-art of textile wastes recycling has been presented. Varied recycling technologies have been developed so as to maximize the use of the fibrous waste collected. Prevailing recycling technologies, including reusing, recycling, incineration, and landfill, are reviewed. Some promising recycling techniques, such as dissolution and deploymerization, which are applicable to valuable PET or nylon, were focused upon in this paper. The summary on some selected recycling technologies and products from the recycling processes was also offered. Different combinations of incineration, materials recycling, and biological treatment of biodegradable waste, or landfilling could be an expectable choice, a system analysis should be done for diverse waste textile treatment options. Observations on future trends and needs for further development are discussed in the end. Intensive research and development that make lower added-value recycled products from waste textiles should be encouraged, which can consume the largest volume low value waste textiles.