Fire resistance protective textiles

Polybenzimidazole fibre forms one of the most fire-resistant textiles (mp 760 °C usable to 540 °C) and, although very expeusive, is used for high-tech applicatious, such as protective clothing for fire fighters, astronauts and motor-racing drivers. 

Haase has extensively reviewed the topic of fire resistant clothing standards and regulations, and Shaw also discussed the use of standards in the selection of protective clothing materials. Horrocks lists many standard test methods for flame resistant textile applications. 

Loftin D. Care and maintenanee of fabrics used for flame resistant personal protective equipment (PPE). In Kiline FS, editor. Flandbook of fire resistant textiles. Oxford Woodhead Publishing 2013. p. 94—107. 

Different types of protective clothing need to withstand attack from specific environmental hazards and thus require the constituent textile materials to have high performance in specific properties. For example, a body armour system requires the textile materials used to have superior mechanical properties firefighters clothing requires its component materials to have exceptional fire resistance properties and chemical protective clothing requires the materials to be resistant to the attacks of chemical agents. 

Key words protective textiles, fire resistance, heat resistance, aramid, thermoset, ceramic, intumescent, nanotechnology. 

It is probably evident from the above introductory discussion, and important to realise, that the whole issue of heat and fire protection with respect to textiles is a complex area involving knowledge of elements of fire science, flame retardant treatments, development of heat and fire resistant fibres and derived textile structures and the inter-relationships between regulations, applications and markets. The bibliography lists a number of prime sources of information in these areas, and for an overview of textiles for fire and heat protection the reader should refer in particular to a recent article by this author. In this chapter, the focus will be only on high performance textiles in which fire and heat protection are essential requirements. 

Zylon or PBO is a more recently developed fibre than PBI and has outstanding tensile properties, as well as thermal and fire properties superior to any of the polymer-based fibres mentioned in this chapter (see Table 4.2). While there are at least two variants of the fibre, Zylon-AS and Zylon-HM, of which the latter has the higher modulus, both have the same thermal and burning parameter values. Principal examples of thermally protective textiles include heat protective clothing and aircraft fragment/heat barriers, where its price, similar to that of PBI, restricts its use to applications where strength, modulus and fire resistance are at a premium. 

Floors— Where combustible materials such as paper clippings, wood shavings, or textile fibers are on the floor, the floor must be swept clean for a radius of at least 35 feet (OSHA requirement). Combustible floors must be kept wet, covered with damp sand, or protected by fire-resistant shields. Where floors have been wet down, personnel operating arc welding or cutting equipment must be protected from possible shock. 

In general, the military specifications are normally set at higher levels or reqnire specific modifications. Military textiles are normally tested and certified for textile ballistic resistance, textile safety, UV protection, antimicrobial effectiveness, fire resistance, and many other technical features. The wear comfort, fit, and design are equally important and this chapter focuses on these areas. 

Song, G., Lu, Y, 2013. Structural and proximity firefighting protective clothing textiles and issues. In Kilinc, F.S. (Ed.), Handbook of Fire Resistant Textiles. Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge, pp. 520-548. 

Folyvinyl butyral is the acetal usually selected for adhesion to natural surfaces. Application to wood " confers good holdout, intercoat adhesion, moisture resistance, flexibility, toughness, impact resistance, and protection against discoloration. Application to textiles, natural and synthetic improves stain and water resistance without noticeably affecting feel, drape, or color. Textiles with improved fire resistance, dyeability, or leatherlike char-... 

The Fire Tests for Flame Resistant Textiles and Films, issued by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) ia 1989, is the method most used by iadustrial fire-retardant finishers (ca 1993) (50). It has been approved by the American National Standards Institute. 

PPS fiber has excellent chemical resistance. Only strong oxidising agents cause degradation. As expected from inherent resia properties, PPS fiber is flame-resistant and has an autoignition temperature of 590°C as determined ia tests at the Textile Research Institute. PPS fiber is an excellent electrical iasulator it finds application ia hostile environments such as filter bags for filtration of flue gas from coal-fired furnaces, filter media for gas and liquid filtration, electrolysis membranes, protective clothing, and composites. 

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