This study explores the behavior of textile fabrics under thermal exposures. The performance of thermal protective textile fabric systems with different structural features was evaluated under laboratory simulated thermal exposures. The study demonstrated that the protective performance of textile fabric systems varies with different types of thermal exposure. To provide effective protection in flame and radiant-heat exposures, the most important fabric properties to address are emissivity, absorptivity and thermal resistance. In hot surface exposures, the compression property of the fabric systems is the primary feature to consider for protection. Hot water and steam exposures produce mass transfer through fabrics. In the presence of water or steam jet pressure, fabric compression is a primary factor in protecting the human body. The findings obtained in this study can be used to engineer fabric systems that provide better protection from various thermal exposures.

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A laboratory simulation was performed to study the thermal protective performance of fabric systems under low level thermal hazards in the range of 6.3—8.3 kW/m2 . Two approaches were used. The first used a method similar to the ASTM F 1939, radiant heat resistance test, while the second used a modification designed to capture the contribution to skin burn injury due to energy stored in the test specimens being released after the direct exposure had ended. Both dry and wet specimens were tested. In order to accommodate the prolonged exposure time a water cooled heat flux sensor was used to calibrate the radiant heat source and measure the energy directly transmitted through during the exposure and discharged later from the fabric systems. The Henriques Burn Integral (HBI) was adopted and programmed with a three layer skin model to predict the time required to achieve a second degree skin burn injury. The study investigated the thermal protection provided by the clothing with different layering and examined the effect of moisture under low level radiant heat exposures. In addition, the physiological burden associated with wearing the clothing was predicted and compared. The results obtained show the difference in measured protection level under low radiant heat from these two approaches and demonstrate that the stored thermal energy released from the clothing system significantly lowers the measured thermal protective performance.

The thermal protective performance of fabrics against hot liquid splashes was investigated under different configurations. The air gap of 6 mm between specimen and sensor was simulated and compared with direct contact configuration. Three liquids (distilled water, canola oil, drilling mud) at 85℃ were applied as challenge hot liquid hazards. The results showed that fabric permeability significantly affected heat transfer due to the occurrence of mass transfer both with and without a spacer. The absorbed energy and second-degree burn time presented significantly negative correlation. The effect of air gap on thermal performance was investigated. The findings demonstrated that minimizing mass transfer could effectively improve thermal protection against hot liquid splashes and the existing of an air layer could improve thermal performance.

Within the kitchen the potential for burn injuries arising from contact with hot surfaces, flames, hot liquid, and steam hazards is high. The chef's uniform can potentially offer some protection against such burns by providing a protective barrier between the skin and the thermal hazard, although the extent to which can provide some protection is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine whether fabrics used in chefs' uniforms were able to provide some protection against thermal hazards encountered in the kitchen. Fabrics from chefs' jackets and aprons were selected. Flammability of single- and multiple-layered fabrics was measured. Effect of jacket type, apron and number of layers on hot surface, hot water, and steam exposure was also measured. Findings showed that all of the jacket and apron fabrics rapidly ignited when exposed to a flame. Thermal protection against hot surfaces increased as layers increased due to more insulation. Protection against steam and hot water improved with an impermeable apron in the system. For wet thermal hazards increasing the number of permeable layers can decrease the level of protection due to stored thermal energy. As the hands and arms are most at risk of burn injury increased insulation and water-impermeable barrier in the sleeves would improve thermal protection with minimal compromise to overall thermal comfort.