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Hot steam transfer through heat protective clothing layers
René Rossi1, Eric Indelicato, Walter Bolli
1Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, St.Gallen, Switzerland. rene.rossi@empa.ch
International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics : JOSE
|September 21, 2004
Summary
Impermeable textiles offer superior hot steam protection compared to semi-permeable ones, with thickness and permeability being key factors. Sweating, however, showed a beneficial effect on heat and mass transfer in protective clothing.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Textile Engineering
- Thermal Engineering
Background:
- Understanding heat and mass transfer in textiles is crucial for protective clothing design.
- Assessing the performance of different textile layers against steam exposure is essential for safety applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze steam transfer through various textile layers.
- To evaluate the impact of sample parameters like thickness and permeability on steam transfer.
- To investigate the influence of simulated sweating on heat and mass transfer.
Main Methods:
- Testing steam transfer through textile samples of varying thickness and permeability.
- Utilizing a moisture-releasing cylinder to simulate human body conditions and sweating.
- Assessing heat and mass transfer dynamics under different conditions.
Main Results:
- Impermeable materials generally provide better protection against hot steam than semi-permeable ones.
- Steam transfer is influenced by water vapor permeability, thermal insulation, and sample thickness.
- Increased thickness enhanced protection more significantly in impermeable materials.
- Pre-wetting samples reduced steam protection, while simulated sweating showed a beneficial effect.
Conclusions:
- Textile selection for steam protection requires consideration of material type, thickness, and permeability.
- Simulated sweating can positively influence the thermal and protective properties of textiles.
- Further research into optimizing textile structures for both protection and comfort is warranted.
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