Aging of fire protective textile materials in service

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Protective clothing is most often the last line of defense for firefighters and others at risk of heat and flame exposure such as workers in the oil and gas industry. For that purpose, high performance materials and designs have been developed over the last fifty years for the manufacturing of fire protective clothing: fibres that display high mechanical properties and are chemical-, thermal-, and fire- resistant; impermeable yet breathable textile laminates; and 3-layer structures that provide resistance to hazards while maintaining comfort properties. However, the various conditions the materials are exposed to during the lifetime of the clothing will reduce their performance over time. For instance, destructive testing generally records considerable loss in performance before any sign of damage is visible to the naked eye. Yet, there is no non-destructive technique available so far to assess the residual performance of the materials while in service. Thus, workers have no way of knowing if their clothing is still able to protect them from the hazards associated with their tasks. In addition, knowledge is still missing regarding the accelerated aging conditions that could simulate the effect of long-term service damage. The general objective of the research program is to develop knowledge, methods, and tools to ultimately allow determining when the residual performance of fire protective materials reach the unsafe limit as a result of use. Textile materials typically used for fire protection will be subjected to accelerated aging treatments under various conditions to better understand the mechanisms of action of and synergies between the aging agents: temperature, UV, moisture, abrasion, and laundering. We will also collect samples of the same materials from used or retired protective garments so that accelerated aging programs simulating the effect of service life can be identified. Based on these data, we will then be able to develop predictive aging models for fire protective textile materials that are relevant to typical service conditions. This research draws on the very close relationship of the applicant and her new department with fire protective fabric/clothing manufacturers and users. It will train HQPs in the rather neglected, yet critical field of materials aging as well as generate new knowledge on materials aging behavior. In addition, the research program will lead to improved safety for workers potentially exposed to heat and flame. Ultimately, the knowledge generated in the research program will create product development opportunities for Canadian textile manufacturers, for instance with new fabric blends offering better resistance to service aging and embedded sensors monitoring the residual performance of the fabrics based on changes in the material chemistry resulting from the aging process.