Thermal Characteristics, Mechanical and Comfort Properties of Heat-Protective Textiles

Article; Early AccessSpecially developed protective textiles are the greatest armor for people who are exposed to high heat or struggle against flames in their working environment. When the protective clothing worn is constantly exposed to these conditions, changes in their performance can be observed over time. Therefore, in this article, the effects of wetting on breaking, tearing, and seam strength are comparatively examined. A total of five fabrics used in the study were chosen from among the inherently heat-protective blends that are widely used commercially. Extensive research was conducted by combining different techniques such as differential scanning calorimeter and thermogravimetric analysis to characterize their thermal behavior. People working in high temperatures or firefighting often exhibit intense physical activity while performing their jobs, and the comfort of the protective clothing worn becomes even more important due to the adverse conditions of the environment they are in. For this reason, as a part of the study, parameters affecting thermo-physiological comfort such as air permeability, water vapor permeability, and thermal resistance were discussed for heat-protective fabrics selected within the scope of the work. Also, these comfort parameters are examined in terms of variables such as fabric weight, fabric structure, and fiber blend ratio. Based on the results of the study, it appears that the fabrics used are suitable for workwear at temperatures up to about 300 degrees. It is recommended that woven fabrics be chosen when strength is the primary concern, while knitted fabrics are ideal when comfort is the priority.This study was supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye [Grant number 123M122]; and the Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit [Grant number FGA-2021-23033].Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkiye [123M122]; Ege University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit [FGA-2021-23033