Analysis of Physical and Thermal Comfort Properties of Chemical Protective Clothing

Research regarding chemical protective clothing (CPC) focuses on human comfort, clothing performance, and the heat strain associated with wearing protective materials. These studies are usually limited to one or two fabric/garment characteristics (e.g., garment weight, barrier permeability), and most of the research has been specific for certain tasks or garments. A systematic approach is needed in order to offer a comprehensive analysis on the performance of CPC and provide a technical basis for predicting comfort. This research measures the physical and thermal comfort related properties of CPC with available bench-scale methods and predicts the comfort level and heat strain based on the mechanical and physical properties of the material. Five articles of CPC and one fabric sample, with various chemical protective qualities, were evaluated with respect to mechanical and comfort related heat and moisture transfer properties. The results obtained were analyzed, and the physical burden and heat stress a human would experience when wearing these CPC fabrics were investigated. Comparisons and correlations between these properties and their contribution to clothing performance and human comfort are discussed. A full analysis of the physical and moisture related properties of the selected CPC fabrics is provided.

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