Technical textiles for personal thermal protection

Batcheller University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada 

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. 

Handbook of Technical Textiles. http //dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-l-78242-465-9.00009-4 Copyright 2016, 2000 Elsevier Lid. All rights reserved 

Workers in the energy and electrical sectors have many different and sometimes conflicting needs for protection. In Canada alone, approximately 500,000 workers are employed in the oil and gas industries. Despite strict safety protocols, the potential for explosions, flash fires, and/or electrical arc is always present. Although individual workers may never experience such hazards over the course of their working life, they normally wear PPE, including protective clothing, as a precautionary measure. Again, the presence of moisture in the form of steam or hot water is an additional hazard for these workers (Fig. 9.1). 

In a recent interview, a senior safety and technical advisor with Imperial Oil Resources (Canada) and ExxonMobil Production Company (USA) related  

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Of great significance when technical textiles are used in contact with the human body are aspects such as moisture transport and breathability, as described in Chapters 2 (waterproof breathable fabrics), 5 (medical textiles), 9 (personal thermal protection) and 10 (survival). Medical textiles (Chapter 5), which has been a particular growth area in recent years, demonstrates the need for novel fibres, fabric structures and treatments that are revolutionising chnical science. 

Volume 2 - Technical Textile Applications offers an indispensable guide to established and developing areas in the use of technical textiles. The areas covered include textiles for personal protection and welfare, such as those designed for ballistic protection, personal thermal and fire protection, and medical applications textiles for industrial, transport and engineering applications, including composite reinforcement and filtration, and the growing area of smart textiles. 

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