Development of phase-change protective clothing for improving safety of firefighters in low thermal radiation

To enhance firefighters' safety in fire environments, new phase-change protective clothing was developed using a drip molding process to improve thermal protection and thermal comfort. The effects of the droplet interval (1, 1.5 and 2 cm) and droplet diameter (4, 6 and 8 mm) on the thermal protective performance under low thermal radiation were examined by the stored energy tester (SET). The results demonstrate that the drip molding process extended the second-degree burn time compared to phase change material-coated fabrics, reducing skin heat absorption and alleviating heat storage injuries. The optimal drip molding parameters (1.5-cm droplet interval and 8-mm droplet diameter) were identified based on the observed negative correlation between the second-degree burn time and the total heat loss. The drip molding process used in this study effectively improved the thermal protective performance and thermal comfort of protective clothing, offering enhanced protection for firefighters in low-radiation environments.