Protective clothing high performance textiles

The types of textile materials used in protective clothing are determined by the performance requirements of the clothing, which come from the analysis of the specific human-clothing-environment system. In this chapter, the application of high performance textile materials in the firefighters clothing, body armour and chemical protective clothing are reviewed, and the effects of the properties of those new materials on the overall performance of those PPE products will be briefly reviewed. 

On the other side, the textile industry takes a considerable leap in the field of the strong added-value textiles, mainly in the high-performance textile and fibre sectors. The use of new materials, development of new structures, as well as the development of new integration processes make it possible to develop supports able to convey information, while being based most of the time on properties of electric conduction. These new achievements of the textile industry enable direct electronic device integration into the textile structure, therefore modifying the functionality of the apparel. Besides the main apparel functions, which are protection and passive communication, the clothes become a second skin or the interface with specific functions between the individual and his environment. 

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