A new thermal protective clothing design with silica aerogel filled acrylic nanofibers

Abstract

PurposeFirefighters are exposed to high outdoor temperature and heat stress caused by metabolic activities during firefighting and should wear protective clothing to ensure their safety and health. Traditional firefighter protective suits are bulky and heavy garments with reduced thermal comfort properties since the fabric thickness and moisture barrier layers prevent heat transfer of the garment and cause additional heat stress. The aim of this study is to reduce heat stress by creating a new fabric design with silica aerogel membrane as a moisture barrier for three-layer fabric system.Design/methodology/approachPolyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers were produced with three different silica aerogel contents and used for three-layered clothing system as a moisture barrier for giving desired protectiveness and thermal comfort to firefighters. Different fabric combinations were designed using two types of outer shell fabrics, two types of moisture barrier fabrics, two types of thermal barrier fabrics and PAN/silica aerogel membranes.FindingsThe results show that a lighter fabric system with improved wearer’s mobility and thermal comfort properties (thermal resistance and moisture permeability) is achieved with the use of PAN/silica aerogel membrane as an intermediate layer compared to commercial thermal protective fabric systems.Originality/valueDifferently from traditional thermal protective clothing, which may not provide adequate protection in long-term heat conditions or when exposed to flash fire, a new thermal protective clothing has been developed to be used in extremely hot environments, providing desired technical and performance properties, ease to wear comfort.

Preparation and performance study of waterproof and breathable layer of alginate/aramid-based fabrics and flame-retardant multilayer combination

“…Activated charcoal fabric as a base fabric laminated with an ePTFE membrane can add chemical and biological protection to the waterproof and breathable layer [ 23 ]. The use of PAN/silica aerogel membranes as a waterproof breathable layer allows for a lighter fabric system with improved wearer mobility and thermal comfort [ 24 ]. However, no one has yet used nonwoven fabrics after blending alginate as a base fabric for waterproof and breathable layers, so this study starts from the study of new material alginate fibers, which in turn expands the application field of alginate fibers and expands the range of material applications for waterproof and breathable layers.…”

Testing Deicing Force of Fire Preventive Clothing by Introducing Universal Testing Machine Based on Modified Aided Equipment

“…Then the icing time would be shorter on the smoother new layer shell. Some studies were carried out to introduce sweaters or flocculus for better warmth properties [9] . To determine the warmth property or thermal resistance under steady-state, the measuring standard GB/T 11048-2018 could be referenced.…”

A Three-Dimensional Fiber-Network-Reinforced Composite Solid-State Electrolyte from Waste Acrylic Fibers for Flexible All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries

“…As the main substitute for wool, acrylic fiber has developed rapidly. At present, its output is second only to polyester and nylon, and it is in third place for synthetic fiber. − In the industrialization process, some fibers cannot be used because they do not meet the specified standards, forcing them to become waste products. At present, waste acrylic fiber is mainly recycled by a chemical method wherein the nitrile group of the waste acrylic fiber is hydrolyzed by an inorganic acid, an alkali, heating, or pressure, and transformed into hydrophilic groups such as carboxyl or amide groups with strong polarity, thus forming a random copolymer of acrylamide and acrylic acid .…”