Protective textiles

The neutral and basic forms of copper(ll) chromate are used as mordants in dyeing textiles as fungicides to protect textiles from damage by microorganisms and insects and as wood preservatives. 

A modest but important use of certain tributyltin-contain-ing formulations is in hospital and veterinary disinfectants. Similar formulations are applied to protect textiles against fungal and bacterial attack, both in the industrial and the hygienic sector ("sanitizing"). 

The major constituent in the extract of madder, Rubia tinctorum (Rubiaceae), was identified as lucidin-3-O-primeveroside (342), a commonly used food pigment. It exhibited antifeedant activity against the carpet beetle, Attagenus japonicus 50 This opens the window for using dyes from either R. akane or R. tinctorum to protect textile against these textile pests. 

HE. Schreuder-Gibson, P. Gibson, K Seneeal, M Sennett, J. Walker, W. Yeomans, et al. 2002. Protective textile materials based on electrospun nanofibers. Journal of Advanced Materials44-55. 

The oldest repellent finish is to repel water. The purpose of this finish is self evident. Drops of water should not spread on the surface of the textile and should not wet the fabric. The drops should stay on the surface and easily drip off. Similarly, oil repellent finishes should prevent oily fluids from wetting treated textiles. In a similar manner, soil-repellent finishes should protect textiles from both dry and wet soils. In all cases, the air permeability of the finished fabric should not be significantly reduced. Waterproofing treatments will not be covered in depth. A waterproof textile should withstand the hydrostatic pressure exerted by a column of water from at least aim height before the first drops of water penetrate through the fabric. In practice this is mostly achieved with coatings which have the disadvantages of stiff handle, lack of air and vapour permeability and consequently poor wear comfort. 

Hatch K L, Standards for UV-protective textiles, from High Performance and Functional Finishes, an AATCC Symposium, Charlotte, NC, January 2000. 

Repellent finishes are important components of many protective textiles. Apphca-tions for repellent textiles range from medical textiles to raincoats. The low surface energies provided by repellent finishes can keep solid and liquid soils from adhering to treated fiber surfaces. Finishes based on hydrocarbon and silicone chemistries can yield water repellent textiles, while fluorochemicals are necessary to achieve the low surface energies needed for dry soil and oil repellency. "... 

USE In fungicides, seed protectants, and wood preservatives as mordant in dyeing textiles in protecting textiles against insects and microorganisms. 

The various benchmark values set by EN 13795 for surgical gowns, surgical drapes, and clean air suits are found in Tables 5.8—5.10, respectively. The industrial test methods, in addition to common strength tests (tensile, tear, and bursting), comfort, and absorbency, normally carried out on hospital protective textiles are presented in (Table 5.11). 

Table 5.11 Industrial test methods for hospital protective textiles...

The need to enhance the infection-free environment in hospitals by using protective textiles and antimicrobial wound dressings that are discussed in this chapter would be a valuable subject for the reader to understand the multidisciplinary areas of medicine and smart textiles. The tests, standards, and benchmark values for surgical gowns, drapes, and clean air suits highlighted are a ready reference for the reader. 

The reported world tonnage in 1990 was 20001 [688]. One of the major limitations to its use in visible applications is that it is available only in black. For protection against intense heat, however, it offers considerably more protection than conventional fire protection textile fibers. A PANOX-based fabric is reported to maintain a barrier against a 900°C flame for more than 5 min. In addition to its low flammability, it has an exceptionally low thermal conductivity [689]. 

Notwithstanding the above, heat and fire protection afforded by any material is environmentally and time dependent and the concept of a perfectly heat protective textile should be dismissed. Levels of protection are therefore relative rather than absolute and so, for example, should be qualified by time of exposure to a heat source having a defined character (e.g. radiant versus flame), intensity, and temperature as well as a measure of access to oxygen as mentioned above. 

Table 8.4 Maximum service temperatures for heat resistant fibres in thermally protective textiles ...

In this chapter, issues in personal thermal protection are discussed, focusing on the needs of workers in selected sectors energy (oil and gas), electrical, other industry sectors, and both structural and wildland firefighting. The important protection concerns for workers in each sector are discussed, followed by a discussion of potential trade-offs between thermal protection and thermal comfort. Clothing issues such as fit, comfort, and other ergonomic factors are briefly discussed. Recent developments in protective textile materials are followed by a diseussion of serviceability concerns, including durability and maintenance. A review of international performance standards is followed by a summary of the development of test methods to assess protection from heat, flame, hot liquids, and steam. Issues for future development of technical textiles for personal thermal protection are then discussed briefly. 

Mettananda CVR, Crown EM. Quantity and distribution of oily contaminants present in flame-resistant thermal-protective textiles. Textil Res J 2010 80(9) 803-13. 

Mettananda CVR, Torvi DA, Crown EM. Characterization of the combustion process of flame resistant thermal protective textiles in the presence of oily contaminants effects of contamination and decontamination. Textil Res J 80(10) 917-34. 

Haase J. Standards for protective textiles. In Scott RA, editor. Textiles for protection. Cambridge Woodhead Publishing 2005. p. 31-60. 

Antimicrobial agents may also be applied using normal finishing technologies as well as films or coatings however, as with other protective textiles, their effectiveness will depend on the fabric constructions used and whether single or multilayers are... 

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