Exploration of Textile-Silicone Composites and Materials for Personal Impact-Resistant Protection

Mei-Ki Chan ¹, Pui-Ling Li ¹, Kit-Lun Yick ¹

⁰School of Fashion and Textiles, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.

Materials (basel, Switzerland) +

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March 28, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

New textile-silicone composites offer improved impact protection and comfort. These materials reduce heat and moisture, outperforming traditional cushioning for protective gear.

Area Of Science

Materials Science
Textile Engineering
Protective Equipment Development

Background

Conventional silicone cushioning causes heat and moisture discomfort.
Increasing demand for comfortable and effective personal protective equipment (PPE).

Purpose Of The Study

To develop and investigate textile-silicone composites for enhanced impact protection and thermal comfort.
To analyze the effect of composite structure and thickness on material properties.

Main Methods

Systematic investigation of mechanical and thermal properties of textile-silicone materials.
Comparative analysis against inlaid spacer fabrics.

Main Results

Textile-silicone composites significantly improved tensile properties (up to 315%).
Moderate improvements in thermal conductivity (up to 16%) and compression elasticity (up to 18%).
Outperformed inlaid spacer fabrics in tensile strength, compression elasticity, force reduction (up to 43%), and thermal conductivity (over 38%).

Conclusions

Textile-silicone composites offer a cost-effective solution for optimal impact protection and wear comfort.
These novel composites address limitations of conventional cushioning materials in PPE.
The study provides valuable insights for designing advanced protective textiles.

Keywords:

force protection impact resistance inlaid knitted spacer fabric physical and mechanical properties textile–silicone composites